Similarities of Maduro, Mugabe

Maduro’s regime has brought economic ruin to a country rich in oil and gas; Mugabe has done the same to Zimbabwe, a country rich in mineral resources and was once the food basket of southern Africa.

Shortages in basic food are the order of the day in Venezuela; there is a similar situation in Zimbabwe.

Maduro blames foreign intervention for his country’s woes; Mugabe blames Britain. Maduro also blames foreign interference for the public demonstrations against his government; Mugabe also does the same when his people mobilise against him. Maduro operatives infiltrate the security and judicial systems to crack down on dissent; Mugabe continues to do the same with more brutal force. Maduro has moved viciously on the Opposition; Mugabe had done it for years but has now eased it up considerably. And the list goes on. Calderon is acting out the playbook in precise terms when she says, “President Maduro loves Venezuelans and is committed to his people.” Mugabe’s spin doctors were saying the same thing in 1984 when he sent in over 15,000 troops and a hated unit called 5 Brigade to Matabeleland to blockade food supplies to over 400,000 Zimbabweans.

He instituted the brutal blockade to smoke out about 200 dissidents who were opposed to his ZANU-PF party. Hundreds of thousands of his people were reduced to desperation.

Mugabe’s government’s response was, “First you will eat your chickens; then your goats; then your cattle; then your donkeys. Then you will eat your children, and finally you will eat the dissidents.” That’s the mentality of a dictator. While this was happening the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), now called the African Union (AU), was silent. However, the Organisation of American States is not prepared to be silent, but we are.I will continue to trust the reports on the situation in Venezuela coming from the media rather than what comes out from the Venezuelan Embassy.

HARRY PARTAP former high commissioner to South Africa (Zimbabwe)