Six days after the reprehensible and internationally discredited one-man election in Zimbabwe why am I still blogging about this appalling story? Robert Mugabe has no plans of restoring peace in Zimbabwe, and he knows that. South African President Thabo Mbeki and the African Union have no intentions of sanctioning Mugabe, and they know it. After 28 years of dragging Zimbabwe into social and economic dumps, I bet that if Robert Mugabe did not learn anything at all, he learned that allowing free and fair elections with an opponent who is favored by most and respected by an international community will not be good news. Robert Mugabe may be a ruthless dictator but surely he is not stupid.The rest of the free world stands back either disgusted or angry (mostly nonchalant), and waiting for someone else to jumpstart the ‘removal process’. Removal? Since the United Nations (not the African Union) has to back any pro-democratic ideal, I assumed they will lead the charge. Oh snap! United States is too overstretched to jump on this one. Iraq is left a bitter taste for every American, and if it ever dreams about embarking on another ‘cleanup project’, Zimbabwe will be last on the list.
Commonsense will suggest that South Africa and the other former frontline states merely need to do what John Vorster did to Ian Smith in 1978. Quietly demand that Mugabe step down or electricity and fuel supplies might suddenly flow very slowly or not at all. In fact, they do not need to say anything at all - they just need to do it. They could bring down the regime within a matter of days. The major flaw in that proposal is that Mugabe cares. That I am not too sure of.
African leaders have called on Zimbabwe’s leadership and opposition to form a national unity government following last week’s disputed election. Prudent as it may appear, don’t bet on that. Benazir Butto worked a similar power sharing proposal with Musharraf in Pakistan, and we all know what happened to that deal. I sat home watching excerpts (keyword: excerpts) of the AU summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and the delegates seem to think they have concocted a resolution to resolve the crisis. Nice; but I don’t buy it. They seemed more passive than concerned and lets face it, last week’s election (sham or not) killed any prospect of a negotiated settlement. Where is Zimbabwe now? Your guess is as good as mine, but when a country is in line with Armenia, Belarus, Iraq and Afghanistan as the worst places to be, it is not good stuff.
The problem is that you and the rest of the word care about Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe apparently doesn't.
26 comments:
I think countries of Africa should come to the table conference and should make win win situation to both the parties before further carnage takes place. So that both will have their power in the country rather than taking strong sanction.
Please I want to say to all "western interest" leave them alone, they don't need interference. Democracy is a process and it lakes long time, so please don't rush it because you will ruin it. Let us learn from Iraq war.
The behavior of Mugabe's bullyboys at the AU summit speaks for itself.
The issue about Zimbabwe is a difficult one. First because although at independence he was seen as a leading light in the region interms of struggle for freedom, he consistently failed the test as far as expectations and honouring the aspirations of the citizen go. Mr. Mugabe did not become a despot the other day?!
The clamour for 'justice' for the 'Zimbabwe' people just starting immediately Mugabe took possession of White-owned farms and distributed them to Blacks.
South Africa suported by AU is the only power that can force Mugabe(ZanuPF)to go. Put pressure on South Africa to force Mugabe out.
! It was through pressure on South Africa that Ian Smith was pushed to the negotiating table. The free world put much effort into helping the ANC gain government in South Africa. It is now their time to stand up and be counted! They will have to be pushed though, because the present leadership of the ANC are to comfortably close to Mugabe.
There needs to be a clear and unambiguous statement from the International Community towards the African Continent.
A military operation should be launched to free the people of Zimbabwe from Robert Mugabe's tyrany.
Zimbabwean citizens should then be asked to return to reconstruct their ruined country.Robert Mugabe should be tried, at the International Court, for genocide against his own people.
African leaders when agreeable are not villains the world should let the Africans stay in their ignorance. Africans are corrupt with leaders who have no knowledge therefore the world should continue to maintain this view and spare these ignorant people.
I love your blog but i onlly have one thing to say abt this. Leave them to their follies after all they cannot do much-Look what has become of Zimbabwe these people never learn. Just like the previous leaders who have dared to voice independence their countries lay in shambles economically
Africa needs to have the compassion to remove Mugabe from power, all our leaders needs to except his failure as a leader and take steps to remove him from power. This has to be done in a forceful manner and as soon as possible.
Mugabe is not a legitimate president he should be forced out of office by the UN as the african unoin has failed to tell him the truth
Mbeki will never and has proved that he will not negotiate, as he support the dictator yet he preaches democracy in his on country.Mugabe can be removed by force,the question which remains is who will impose the force?l only wish we had oil in Zimbabwe.
I am afraid but the UN is apparently becoming a toothless bull dog whose bark has no direct significant effects on law breakers.
The UN needs reformation to put in place some able global problems solvers; cos the UN our grand fathers knew then is gradually loosing its mandate today.
Sanctions have failed, elections have failed. The AU has failed, SADAC has failed, its time to talk mugabes language. Blood. Mgabe needs a bullets to get him out. Zimbabwe cannot survive another five minutes with him let alone another five years.
It is becoming quite apparent that Zimbabwe and the other ex-Empire countries are not able to rule themselves.
Leave them alone, they don't pose a threat to global relations. Zimbabweans won't be worse off than before, they already have like 1,000,000% inflation. I guess it's easier for the US to invade Zimbabwe than Iran, though. I'm just bringing than up because Bush HAS to invade someone before his term ends.
Pity they have no oil, or we'd be liberating them as I write.
The reason Mugabe is holding on to power so ruthlessly and with no care for the international consequences is that he is 84 yrs old. The Hague will not prosecute those over 85. He is merely trying to hold out long enough not to be tried later by the Hague over his crimes to humanity. If he can survive, arrange to leave country and take his billions with him then he will have succeeded. He cares little for anything other than his own survival and not spending his last yrs in prison
If Musharraf can rig the elections and stay on as President; and if Gore can be cheated to loose so that Bush becomes President, what’s the problem with Mugabe. Aren’t they all same?
democracy has got a new definition. democracy simply means: Morgan tsvangirai being president of zimbabwe, even though he VOLUNTARILY pulled out of an election; hamas being an unrecognized 'terrorist organization' even though it worn elections in gaza; pevez musharaf being president of Palestine, even against the wish of Palestinians... a perfect world order.
Good job, leaders of Africa. You had a chance in the last few days to make tough decisions, and set precedents the RIGHT way. Since you were too weak to do this, the precedent you just set will lead to another few decades of misery.
The only way to stop this man is to put a complete exclusion zone around the country. No entry or exit from Zimbabwe, no aid or allowance of import or export. This man is killing the soul of Africa it would not be enough to allow the UN to insist on peace keeping forces to be allowed to enter. Zimbabwe's Children are dying daily. until he understands what the condemnation is from the world then he must be isolated from it!
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