Much of the internet news on Zimbabwe of late has focused upon one man and Mugabe’s resistance to his departure. And much of the criticism he has been the subject of is well-placed.

For the head of the central bank to excuse himself for committing theft from foreign currency accounts by deflecting the blame to a need to commit ‘unorthodox’ banking procedures because of the financial constraints placed on the country though sanction is just a load of bull…

During the chimurenga (the armed struggle against the Rhodesian armed forces) the Rhodesian economy flourished. Yes, there was sanctions busting - but then Rhodesia was facing full economic sanctions.

Mugabe and his cohorts are the subject to targeted sanctions only. The country is not the subject of full economic sanctions.

And yet the Mugabe regime has failed the people insofar as the country has fallen into wrack and ruin - the economy is in tatters and the entire population (except for a few highly placed ZANU PF politicians) is broke.

Yet the much argued about Gideon Gono claims that the economy has been the subject of full economic sanctions…

If the truth be told, in the very early 1980s, Mugabe was the blue-eyed boy of the West. The British government had assisted in his rise to power, but very quickly the world found out about his reluctance to give anything back.

Money that Zimbabwe has borrowed has not been repaid - and much of it was channelled into political pockets and personal purses, never to be seen again.

When a country’s finances are in such a mess that their own currency is shelved, when the central bank steals the money from accounts held, then it isn’t just a case of failing, it is a case of total and utter betrayal…

And to attempt to cover up their crimes by not only keeping the top dog in place, but to block any audit of the bank’s performance in recent years, is unforgivable and criminal.

No one should have the right to block an audit. I don’t care who the person is, President or not. If Mugabe wants to win over the people, and let’s face it – Mugabe’s has little concern or care for the population - then he should allow a full audit of not only the central bank, but any public funds, and the paper trail to each and every transaction that have been conducted on behalf of the Zimbabwean people.

And where there are transgressions - to wit, the removal of money without authority (theft) - then the person who perpetrated that crime and the person that ordered that crime should be tied in a criminal court for their actions.

The only way in which the Zimbabwean will ever be able to trust government again - and I mean any government - is if they are able to participate in cleaning up the Mugabe regime. If that means that big names are convicted and spend time in the disgusting prisons - that they have allowed to become almost uninhabitable - then sobeit…

And where crimes against humanity, murders, beatings and abductions can be proved, then those responsible should be occupying adjacent cells…

No second chances, no favours, no immunity from prosecution and no excuses…

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man