Mugabe went all the way from Marxist revolutionary to despotic dictator. Somewhere in between he lost what he initially may have had of humanist ideals. He repeated some of the errors of East European Socialism and added several of his own.

So, yes, we should care of course. But it will help the poor people there more if the necessary political pressure comes predominantly from African neighbours and not from very afar. We (West) should show we care and offer help if other African nations ask for. But it is in my opinion a task for Africans to begin with and to lead the way.

As awful as it feels to do not much more at first but send open letters like the one you have posted, we should be aware that more of Western interference as that at this moment could be even worse than doing nothing.

Wolfgang