Last Wednesday saw Ratko Mladic, 75, aka the Butcher of Srebrenica, jailed for life by the Hague’s International Criminal Court.
Convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, he was responsible for the horrific murders of over 8 000 people.
Last Friday, Emmerson Mnangagwa, also 75, was sworn in as president of Zimbabwe on a tsunami of adulation after Robert Mugabe’s long overdue resignation.
His nickname, “the Crocodile”, originated from his involvement in the Matabele massacres or Gukurahundi of 1983/1985, in which, as David Coltart points out in his book, The Struggle continues. 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, over 20 000 men, women and children were horrifically murdered.
During this time, Mnangagwa was Minister of State Security.
Latterly, Mugabe himself described the massacres as “a moment of madness”. They were anything but; being carefully planned and orchestrated by Mnangagwa.
Genocide is a strange crime where political expediency plays an important role.
In Mladic’s case, it led eventually to prison. But, in Mnangagwa’s, it has transformed him into a redeeming hero. I just hope he lives up to it.