Mbeki must account for HIV/Aids

PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIR... Thabo Mbeki and his successor Jacob Zuma at the ANC's December 2007 elective conference in Polokwane. Picture: Cedric Mboyisa


THE Oxford dictionary defines politics as “the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or a society”.

Governments come and go, but what remains the same between democratic and undemocratic regimes is that they are all about attainment of power. What separates the two is how they use the power at their disposal – that is, whether to suppress a particular group of citizens while rigorously advancing the interests of a select few or endeavour to tirelessly improve the lives and economic status of the citizens in general while, of course, consolidating power by creating a stinking rich elite and deploying trusted cadres to powerful, strategic positions.

What is critical about power (whether acquired by democratic or undemocratic means) though is the principle of accountability. Those in power must be able to account for their actions or inaction. Governing people comes with anonus to rule responsibly in the interests of the public. Democracy is all about the people, for it is the people who govern through elected public representatives. Putting certain individuals in power is not tantamount to giving them a licence to do as they please, but to always act in the interests of the citizenry.

The main problem, especially in Africa, is that people with power such as former President Thabo Mbeki, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, Zanu-PF and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota become so arrogant and inebriated with power that they see themselves as invincible, untouchable and above the law or accountability.

These individuals fail to comprehend a simple fact – that their being in power is not a birthright, but a choice of the people who can dislodge them any time. Even more importantly, they must face the consequences of their rule or misuse of their power.

A recent study by Harvard University found that about 300 000 South Africans died unnecessarily of HIV/Aids related illnesses during the period of 2000-2005. No prize for guessing who was in charge of the country during this period. As the head of the executive, Mbeki was called upon to “uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the Constitution”. The same Constitution, in section 27, accentuates everyone’s right to health care services.

Perhaps Mbeki was so engrossed in some research papers and documents that made him advertently or inadvertently neglect his constitutionally mandated duties. But many lives were lost while Mbeki and his government were dithering. As the man who was in charge Mbeki must answer for this before he goes to the grave. For Young Communist League national secretary Buti Manamela to call for Mbeki to be charged with “genocide” is a bit extreme, but he is absolutely right in demanding that Mbeki account for his government’s failure to furnish HIV/Aids sufferers with anti-retroviral drugs at the time.

As for the power-blotto Malema to say “you will never touch one of our own” in defence of Mbeki, just proves once again what a despot in the making he is. Malema is teeming with the arrogance and intolerance of Lekota. Malema belongs in the league of Mbeki and Mugabe.

Those in power are subject to the laws of the land. Mbeki is no exception. He must account for his deadly stance on HIV/Aids.

Cedric Mboyisa is political editor of The Citizen. This article first appeared in The Citizen.