Mugabe and the Politics of Security in Zimbabwe by Abiodun Alao

Author:Abiodun Alao
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
Published: 2012-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

The above succinctly explains South Africa’s reasons for destabilizing Zimbabwe. A point that needs to be stressed, however, is the extent of Mugabe’s anti-apartheid rhetoric and the interpretation given to it by the “South African decision makers favouring destabilization.” Although, since independence, Zimbabwe had ruled out the possibility of its territory’s being used as a base for attacking South Africa, it nevertheless believed that it should be more vociferous than other states in its condemnation of South African apartheid. The Mugabe administration always went a step further than any other in its criticism. Zimbabwe believed it owed this to weaker states in the region. Expectedly, South Africa used this as a reason to classify Zimbabwe as an enemy state and to justify whatever course of action it desired to take. For example, Magnus Malan, the minister of defence and obviously one of the decision makers who favoured destabilization, once accused Zimbabwe of effectively declaring war on South Africa and of exporting revolution and tension to the republic:

While Mr. Mugabe leaves no stone unturned in accusing South Africa of destabilization, and other horrendous deeds, his country’s official policy includes moral, political and financial support for the ANC… clandestine military support and help, as well as transit facilities… The number of terrorist acts that could be traced back to Zimbabwe had increased by 52% last year, compared with 1986 … the weapon cache found in the Broedersroom raid… had been brought in through Zimbabwe.18

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