This weekend what is being described as a “top-level delegation” from the European Union will be visiting Zimbabwe. After their visit the group will determine their future course of action with regard to providing economic aid and other support for the state and its coalition government.
My plea to these visitors: Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The situation is not ideal and will not be for a long, long time. We all would like to see Robert Mugabe go, one way or the other, and to have organ Tsvangirai be given a legitimate chance to rule the country. But if the ideal Zimbabwe existed your trip would be unnecessary. Yes, restoring aid to Mugabe’s Zimbabwe and providing other support runs the risk of fueling the machine of misgovernment. But the only way change will take place will be with the support of the outside world, even if some of that support gets sucked into the vortex. These are the realities.
