Are There ZNA-Armed Robbers in South Africa?

When Thabo Mbeki was stupidly trotting around the globe preaching about his quiet diplomacy when dealing with ZANU(PF) banditry within Zimbabwe, ordinary Zimbabweans were alarmed. The South African Government, through the president, seemed to be encouraging lawlessness by ZANU(PF). When a mad person living in a homestead with a perimeter fence constructed out of bone-dry elephant grass, the same combustible fence within which is a collection of grass-thatched huts, torches his own house, it is a foolish neighbour who encourages the mad man by incredibly and remarkably thinking that the fire in that mad man’s compound is going to be doused by casual talking and wearing suits and collars of flower garlands.

The situation becomes suicidal for the neighbour if his compound's perimeter fence abuts that which is ablaze. The fire consuming everyone and everything next door will set ablaze the whole neighbourhood in due course. Mbeki behaved as if he was not aware of this inevitability. The trouble and state-aided lawlessness in Zimbabwe was bound to spill over into neighbouring countries. Owing to its still-robust economy, South Africa was bound to feel the sharpest end of that brunt by attracting the most desperate economic refugees, among them hardened criminals with military training and knowledge. If what you are saying is true, and I am inclined to accept your observation and concern as factual, it becomes a matter of chickens coming home to roost when such an eventuality was totally avoidable. History teaches us this.

In the 1970s, when Ian Smith was facing an armed insurrection by the natives, John Vorster pulled the Mbeki quiet-diplomacy schtick of that era. Vorster backed Smith. In international diplomatic circles, the two men were often described as a very effective pair akin to a tennis-playing duo. Smith behaved arrogantly and acted with utter impunity as if he truly believed the partnership was going to be effective and endure deep into perpetuity. Initially, Vorster may very well have espoused the same wishes and foolish notions.

As the intensity of the heat of the Rhodesian war increased, Vorster dispatched some military hardware and personnel to prop up his partner who was getting badly singed in battlefields located in place like Mount Darwin. In spite of the help, it was not possible to put out the raging fires of war. From what I have heard, Vorster had a few of his choppers knocked out of the sky somewhere in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. Some South African military personnel may have lost their lives, too.  That is when the harsh and death-laden reality dawned upon Vorster that his partnership with Smith was futile. He abandoned the previously intransigent Ian Smith. Vorster forced Smith to engage in serious negotiations with the fighting natives. Smith tried some shenanigans like engaging in delaying tactics. When that failed to bear fruit, he tried a version of a government of national unity nominally headed by the opportunist Abel Muzorewa.  In the setup, it was marked by the deliberate exclusion of the fighting parties. This, too, proved to be fatal. What matters here is that there was what I have been calling the Vorster Moment in the chronology of the events that led to the demise of the Rhodesian Establishment.

Here is the point, as long as Zimbabwe and South Africa share more than the waters of the Vembe/Limpopo River, trouble in one of the countries is bound to spill over into the other.  Have no doubt about it.  Some may argue that the movement of the trouble or mayhem is unidirectional – Zimbabwe as the source and South Africa acting as the sink.  History tells us such a postulation is not entirely true.  I say take a cursory look at our shared history. The effects of Tshaka and his Mfecane madness haunt Zimbabwe unto this day. It has been more than 200 years since the troubles in present-day KwaZulu-Natal. Chaos in Zimbabwe affects South Africa today as much as yesteryear chaos in South Africa affects Zimbabwe. There is no immunity for either country.

For the ANC Government and its unstinting backing of the lawless gangs in the corridors of power and military barracks in Zimbabwe, the John Vorster Moment is afoot. The bitter fruits of Mbeki’s nonsensical quiet diplomacy are upon us. He ignored history even when some of us tried to sound the alarm sirens. Ramaphosa can pull the Vorster card, a move that will bring immediate peace dividends to both countries.  Mnangagwa’s residence and sustained capture of the reins of power will not last a year if a John Vorster is pulled on him and his government.  He operates with impunity much like Ian Smith because South Africa is protecting his back.  As matters stand right now, ZANU(PF) is a millstone on the back of a South Africa that is out at sea. Discard that stone or it is going to sink you to the bottom. Learn from Vorster or perish in the fires consuming Zimbabwe.

I apologize for the long-winded response.

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