Mugabe on Genocide

As in, literally on genocide.

Bev Clark posted a review on Kubatana.net of the recent Harare Festival of Arts, which included no shortage of political satire --- which, just a few short months ago, would've been unheard of, in the streets of Harare. (Or anywhere else, for that matter.) Bev writes (hyperlinks added, for your reading pleasure):

"Ben Voss the star of Beauty and the B.E.E. had the jam packed Reps Theatre rolling in the aisles with a cutting satire on South African politicians. He also set his sights on Robert Mugabe who he situated in a horse race with the likes of Zuma and Zille. Mugabe was riding Genocide and Zuma was on Corruption. He ended his time on stage with a very pointed eulogy to Mugabe. The basic message was just get out of here already. It was curious to sense the discomfort in the audience as Ben moved from generally criticising South African politicians to specifically gunning for Mugabe. Have we ever experienced such direct public criticism of Mugabe, where we Zimbabweans have been encouraged to laugh at the small dictator? Bare our teeth at him in public? It showed me how far we all have to go to shrug off the effects of decades of oppression. I reckoned that Ben might be deported before his next show. I lost the bet. And I'm pleased I did."

Despite the litany of problems facing the new Government of Sort-of-Unity in Zimbabwe --- as in, Mugabe and all of his violent, corrupt cohorts maintain significant power --- might Mr. Voss's open criticism of Mugabe be a real signal of change? Whether that change is sustainable, however, is the real question --- or will Mugabe and ZANU's thirst for power trample the precarious new democratic opening before it has a chance to fully take root?