JOHANNESBURG — President Obama has offered to extend a hand to repressive rulers who unclench their fists.On Friday, he will meet Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwean politician who is trying to loosen the grip of an autocrat whose party’s very symbol is the clenched fist: Robert Mugabe, 85, in power now for 29 years and counting.
Mr. Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s prime minister, received more votes than President Mugabe in an election last year but was pressed by regional leaders into an unsatisfactory power-sharing deal four months ago.
It left Mr. Mugabe in control of the police, the spy service, the media and the criminal justice system, and he has used his power to countermand Mr. Tsvangirai’s recent efforts to re-establish the rule of law and freedom of the press.
Therein lies the puzzle for Mr. Obama and the leaders of other wealthy Western democracies whom Mr. Tsvangirai is meeting during a three-week tour of the United States and Europe: How do they help Mr. Tsvangirai and Zimbabwe without bolstering Mr. Mugabe?
Mr. Tsvangirai has insisted that he is not walking around with a begging bowl, but clearly he and his party hope that the United States and other Western democracies will provide more aid to help rebuild Zimbabwe’s devastated health, education and sanitation systems. If they are successful, they would be strengthened for the next election.
* NY Times
