Does the UK care about Zimbabwe?

Last night I was in conversation with a friend, who has worked in press and PR in national politics, including a stint at the House of Commons. I asked him what is the key to raising Zim as an issue for national political consideration.

His view was that Zimbabwe is a very low priority issue in UK politics. Given the awful press coverage of events in Zimbabwe over the last couple of years, e.g. the bulldozering of homes by Mugabe's thugs, there has been every possible opportunity for action on Zimbabwe by the UK government. Yet main stream politicians are for the most part indifferent largely to the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans suffering under the present regime. He also felt that the general position is that (and we have heard this mantra many times) "Africa must find a solution to Africa's problems". Our withdrawl from Zimbabwean affairs began in 1923 and accelerated under the Wilson government of the mid-1960's. The policy line taken by the Thatcher government after the 1979 election sealed the position with the election of Mugabe as Prime Minister, even after direct evidence of subversion of the electoral process and intimidation arguably skewed the election results. Today it is hard to generate any genuine political velocity over Zim in the UK.

What is therefore the alternative? It seems that given this backdrop, that the only line is to focus on the humanitarian crisis that will follow the economic crisis that has already developed. By focusing on individual stories of suffering it may be possible to generate a level of interest and concern on the part of the public in the UK. A long term patient campaign of awareness raising is required. ITN have shown the way by focusing on simple human tragedies.

I take the view that it is not simply a question of Africa finding a solution to Africa's problems. I think that is too simplistic. Where it is a matter of finding a path to responsible government and wise economic policies then I would say that it is for Africa to develop a general infra-structure of leadership capacity. However, in situations of extreme suffering by children and adults due to governmental incompetence, corruption or just plain poor management then the point does come where other nations have to show an interest. At that point, I would support liberal interventionism for the purpose, if nothing else, of providing aid to crisis situations. Naturally this has to be led by an international forum such as the UN or the pan-African governments' conference.

I am minded to give myself to a campaign of quiet and patient long-term awareness raising in the UK.