You want to know what makes leaders effective? One word: credibility. And credibility comes from consistency, reliability, loyalty and honesty. Once credibility is established, it is easy to get people to follow your lead; since they trust you as a leader. So this is a column about two so-called leaders living oceans apart; one is Robert Mugabe and the other is NYC councilmember Charles Barron.
In the past, both of these men have flattered to deceive. They started out with so much promise, but in the overall analysis: they both fail on many levels. Barron came to the City Council with optimism and flair, and even though he has gained nationwide popularity by skillfully “playing” the media and race cards ad infinitum, the end result is that his accomplishments are few, insular and personal. Mugabe was a hero of the colonial struggle in Rhodesia (later: Zimbabwe), but since the overthrow of Ian Smith, he has dismally failed to lead a rich African country- with enormous potential to be a big time player on the continent, and on the world stage– to the kind of stability and prosperity that all well-wishers anticipated.
After Barron got to the city council in January 2002, he openly castigated mainstream media’s perpetual criticism of Mugabe; that was his prerogative. This drew the ire of Wayne Barrett – from the New York Village Voice weekly newspaper- who was one of those who continually attacked Mugabe for his many failings. Barrett had uncovered where Mugabe’s murderous regime was brutally eliminating people who opposed his policies. There were also claims that his regime was eliminating homosexuals too. Beyond this, international media sources were adamant that Mugabe was stifling the press, and had set himself up as a dictator. Opponents said that Mugabe had created a sham-democracy. The evidence needed to support all these claims flowed regularly.
As time went by refugees kept fleeing Mugabe’s despotism and terror; the economy went further south with each passing year; elections were said to be stolen over and over. Reports coming out of the country went from depressing, to outrageous, to appalling, to horrific and worst. Then the economy of Zimbabwe plunged into obvious decay; Barrett looked like he knew what he was writing about all along. Barron took umbrage. After all, to him: it was nothing but imperialist propaganda. Many who held on to anachronistic snapshots and/or romantic notions, of Mugabe as a “freedom fighter” and “hero”, agreed with Barron, who then became the premier voice defending Mugabe’s controversial regime in NYC.
Barron organized a fact-finding trip to Zimbabwe for NYC council members; only one of his 50 peers went along (James Davis/deceased). NYS assembly member Adam Clayton Powell jnr. also went- probably to chase some African skirts. They were all guests of the Zimbabwean government, so is it any wonder that Barron came back to claim that everything was fine. In summation, he seemed to say that opposition parties were free to “politick”; the economy was okay; the prosecutions of gays were exaggerated; in general the people seemed normal; democracy was flourishing- since opposition parties were functioning; and that there was freedom of press. Many believed him; many others and more: didn’t. But the issue of Zimbabwe took a back seat to other pressing issues of the day; so with time, it faded into the background of mainstream media as these things usually go.
Then a few weeks ago, the issue of Zimbabwe returned to one of mainstream media’s front burners: there was an election in Zimbabwe. Many pre-election indicators suggested that Mugabe was in serious trouble (again). The prevailing wisdom was that he would lose all around (parliament included). Millions lined up in the heat to vote. The eyes of the international community turned to the country. Mugabe still refused to let international referees and/or arbiters oversee the elections: so much for transparency. When the elections ended, the results were held in abeyance. Mugabe’s regime has still refused to release the results after a month. In the meantime, opposition members have been eliminated or have had to flee for their lives. Terror, brutality, intimidation and the like are routine to those who oppose the Mugabe regime; and there is an international outcry (again) for Mugabe to step down.
Look, elections are one of the cornerstones of all democracies. That’s why fair ballot-access for all citizens; freedom to recruit supporters, canvass others, mount campaigns, and to vote; freedom to participate in safe and unencumbered Election Day operations; and authorities which insure accurate vote-counting and honest results; must all be treated as holy. Any failure to safeguard these planks of democracy renders any leader as disingenuous. And for a guy who loves news cameras as much as he does, the deafening silence of Charles Barron- as Zimbabwe goes through this human crisis- is shameful. Once again: Barron disappoints. He was handed a perfect opportunity to demonstrate honest leadership and he failed to seize the moment (again).
Stay tuned-in folks.