Please do not forget my country and leave us at the mercy of a cunning demagogue

I WISH to emphasise the grave situation facing all Zimbabweans around the world now.

As you might be aware, an agreement has been reached between the three major political parties — MDC led by Morgan R Tsvangirai, ZANU pf led by President Robert Mugabe and the other MDC faction led by Arthur G Mutambara.

As a Zimbabwean, I request the Irish Government not to remove Zimbabwe from its agenda as a signature on paper is worth nothing without action. I ask the Irish Government to monitor the progress of the agreement in Zimbabwe for three to five years as the old guard (Mugabe and his criminal gang) are still virtually in power defeating the objective of many Zimbabweans which was to remove them from holding any form of authority because they have destroyed the lives of their own citizens.

As history has previously shown, Mugabe is a cunning dermagogue who in 1987 managed to broker a unity accord with the then ZAPU led by the late Joshua Nkomo. ZAPU was eventually swallowed up by Mugabe’s ZANU to form what we all call ZANU pf. Many of my countrymen fear this may happen again with the current agreement.

Meanwhile, my countrymen and women at home face uncertain times while abroad many endure a life of limbo within the various asylum processes around the world.

They appeal to your sensitivity, humanitarianism and goodwill.

Many of them do not know how they can resume a life at home and fear for their safety if they were to return while the old guard still remains.

Many of my countrymen and women are not allowed to embark on third-level education which would be helpful in rebuilding their homeland, nor are they allowed to work.

Many of them also fear for their families who are facing a humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe.

I urge the Irish Government not to change its policy on Zimbabwe until drastic changes have become visible over the next three to five years.

Garikai G Musekiwa

Emo

Portlaoise

Co Laois