The Zimbabwean government yesterday said it would not recognise Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) unless an inclusive government was formed in the oil-rich country while analysts said the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the Libya strongman, should be a wake-up call to other repressive leaders that they will one day face similar downfalls should they refuse to reform.
A wounded Gaddafi, who had been in power for 42 years, was executed by NTC fighters on Thursday after he was captured hiding in a drainage pipe.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha said Zimbabwe’s stance towards the NTC would remain the same unless Gaddafi loyalists were incorporated into the new government.
“Our position on the transitional government is very clear and has not changed. There must be an inclusive government in Libya. Once an inclusive government is formed we will recognise it,” said Bimha.
“We will not recognise the Libyan government unless it is inclusive,” he said and refused to comment on Gaddafi’s execution.
“The writing is on the wall for dictators around the world, that they will die at the hands of their compradors in the globalised and info supersonic, technological village,” said political analyst Hopewell Gumbo.
Another analyst, Blessing Vava, said: “It is a call to all leaders that you have to uphold democratic systems of governance that are in line with the wishes of the citizens.”
But Africa University social science student Shingi Chimwaza said he was worried Gaddafi’s killing denied the world an opportunity to know his side of the story.
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“I think what happened here is, in actual fact, an act of trying to remove evil using even more evil means,” Chimwaza said from Mutare.
I believe this was a deliberate act, of course crafted by America, to deny Gaddafi a chance to explain his side of the story in a competent court (if any could be provided without any bias).I don’t condone murder, even when committed to save Christ.” Former ambassador to China, Chris Mutsvangwa, said those responsible for Gaddafi’s killing should be tried because they committed a war crime by executing a prisoner of war.
“Once one is a prisoner he deserves treatment under appropriate international conventions on captured prisoners in a situation of war,” Mutsvangwa said. “Gaddafi should have been treated as such. There is evidence of summary execution and clearly a war crime has been committed.
It has to be investigated and appropriate judgment is meted out on the perpetrators under international conventions on the treatment of prisoners captured in a situation of war. We are getting into a dangerous geopolitical environment where there is no respect for the weak.”
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn president Simba Makoni said while he felt sad that human life was lost, “deep lessons must be taken from Gaddafi’s demise, particularly by those people with leadership aspirations.
“Those aspiring to be leaders must know there is time for everything. Gaddafi outlived his lifespan as the leader of Libya, that is why he died a painful death.
His fate should send poignant lessons for those who want to cling to power that they should not overstay or ignore the will of the people.
He had eight months to accept the people of Libya no longer wanted him and he had time to negotiate a peaceful exit, but he jettisoned all that and caused for himself the brutal death that he encountered,” said Makoni.
