The role of "The Elders" in Africa

Recently, several members of the group so-called "The Elders" were refused entry into Zimbabwe. I, most definately, do not endorse the Mugabe regime. I, in no way, see it as beneficial to the people of Zimbabwe or the advancement of the African continent. Mugabe represents the old, dying lion who tries to hold on to power knowing that his youth and vitality have left him and younger lions know it too. He know at any moment a young lion will tear him up if he doesn't relinquish his power. However, he knows that he is finished should he be forced from the top spot. This makes him roar louder and use all tools available to him to discourage his challengers. Sooner or later, the game will be over. Unfortunately for Africans, and especially the Zimbabweans, that time is taking much longer than is necessary.
Having said that, I feel that Mugabe is much braver than many Africans. We should not be pushovers. I am not endorsing being defiant and always saying no to what western and eastern countries say or suggest to us, I am just saying that we need to bring ourselves to their level. There is still this level of master and servant when it comes to the relationships with western countries. I feel that African countries are always begging for more aid and they are willing to do whatever it is their 'masters' ask of them for it. We need to stop being beggars. We are their equal. We make their economies run. We provide for them. They need us. We need them. Mugabe has stood level with the West and they are making him more of a monster for it. He might have chose the wrong way to do so, but he, nonetheless, did it.
This week he did it again when he stopped Koffi Annan, Jimmy Carter, and Graca Machel from entering Zimbabwe to assess the situation there. Assess?????Who on earth doesn't know what's going in Zimbabwe? Zimbabwe is an economic disaster, not a warzone. The damage done is knowledgeable to anyone remotely interested in that country, let alone the so-called experts.
I am against groups, such as The Elders, who think they know what's best for everyone and they go around raising money and padding their pockets while the people they are supposed to be looking out for go on starving and dying.
Although they might not realize it, The Elders are old lions and lionesses trying to hold on to their positions while refusing to acknowledge that their time has already passed by. What such people should be doing is grooming up the next generation. They are only interested in themselves and how they can retain influences gained in their former positions. Mugabe realized this, after all they say criminals know each other, and kept them out of Zimbabwe. They have not helped any place and they have not raised their voices to stop the atrocities in Congo. I refuse to even acknowledge anyone who professes to care so much about Africa and has no clue as to what is going on in Africa's largest, oldest, and longest-running genocide. We should examine groups such as The Elders and try to find what their motives and driving motivations are. I know who they are and what they accomplished, that was a different time. Today is different, we need a new breed of leaders. We need to raise ourselves. To respect ourselves. That, not old lions and lionesses who still link us to a past we are more than ready to leave behind.