Is Mbeki finally waking up to reality?

I hope that my attempts to join with others in organizing and promoting a Boycott of the World Cup in 2010 is done with an even-handed approach. The 2010 World Cup should be a celebration for all of Africa, so it was always a tough decision to push for a boycott of the World Cup. But we have done so because we have recognized that Mbeki has been grossly negligent, at best, with regard to his response to Mugabe. At worst, he has been complicit in prolonging a tyrant's destruction of Zimbabwe.

This blog has always called on Mbeki to change his ways, leaving open the possibility that it is not too late for Mbeki and South Africa to get things right. There are some signs that Mbeki is in fact starting to get things right when it comes to Zimbabwe. I am encouraged by these reports that Mbeki has realized that Mugabe's future role in Zimbabwe should be restricted to that of a figurehead. In my personal opinion, this is more than he deserves. However, for Zimbabwe to recover from its wounds, it is obvious that its future leaders will have to be noble in dealing with those who have caused so much damage.

The world must continue to pressure Mbeki to act. The G8 has done this during the Japan summit. This pressure needs to continue, as it's obvious Mbeki's possible change of course came from external pressure, and not from any late night soul searching he did on his own.