Tsvangirai shakes hands with murderers

Morgan Tsvangirai must be a very brave man. Thursday, he met face to face and shook the hands of those who executed Robert Mugabe's murderous campaign spanning three decades.

One can only imagine what was discussed during this meeting but no amount of smooth-talking or smoke-screening will change the fact that these so-called security chiefs have the blood of innocent Zimbabweans on their hands. Talking to Tsvangirai after receiving instructions from South African president Jacob Zuma does not mean that these men will stop conspiring to destroyTsvangirai.

They should be held accountable for their actions. Clearly, if they are going to face justice, the people of Zimbabwe should insist on it because Tsvangirai does not seem to be willing to demand it, probably calculating that that may derail his own plans to succeed Mugabe. To suggest that financial compensation should be given to victims is hardly a solution: why should the people of Zimbabwe have to pay for the sins of their persecutors? Compensation yes, but justice first.

Now, it may be that the people of Zimbabwe could be willing to forgive these murderers if they accepted responsibility for their actions and resigned from their positions so that they can be replaced by more professional people. I do not think that these are the kind of people who would do such an honorable thing mainly because they have been hardened by tasting blood too many times. They think they can get away with anything, including murder. They yet may, unless we demand justice now!