It is now ten days since the Zimbabwean Presidential election. Everything indicates a victory for the Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, yet Mugabe refuses to release the results. It's clear he won't go down without a fight.
South Africa has the capacity to force the issue, yet sits on the sidelines doing nothing, wanting to maintain a "quiet diplomacy". For years South Africa has failed to act, and bring Mugabe into line. Now is the time to do it. If Mbeki fails to take action. He and his country should hang their heads in shame.
40 comments:
100% well said.
Oh come on, Iain, do you really see the "brethren of the struggle" failing to support each other in their hour of need?
This was always going to happen. You could equally argue that Mbeki was being cowardly by not explicitly standing up and supporting his fellow liberator from the oppressive white man.
Who is this Morgan Tsvangirai anyway? Just some Johnny-come-lately who foolishly believes in democracy. What did he ever do to liberate Zimbabwe? I bet he hasn't even personally killed anyone!
South Africa is going the same way, that's why.
I think some them in the ruling party there are looking at Zimbabwe as an instruction manual, their ambition being to bleed the place dry.
http://tinyurl.com/ypq9q8
So, just what can South Africa do Ian?
The last time I looked Zimbabwe was an independent state not a province of SA.
Yes, the Bush - Brown - Blair overthrow of Saddam Hussein worked just fabulously, didn't it? Time the British stopped blaming everybody else for their appalling blunders (ie forcing a Westminster-style constitution on Zimbabwe.)
Did you really expect anything else of Mbeki? Everything he has done since becoming South African president, from HIV denial to sustaining Mugabe in power, has smacked of a third-rate politician.
Mandela should have stayed on until he had managed to groom a worthier successor.
Perhaps we should consider a boycott of the South African World cup to show what we think?
" Everything indicates a victory for the Opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai"
Really? Such as??
You're right, of course, Iain, but yet again you've used the phrase "should hang its/his/her head in shame" in a blog post.
Can you think of anything more original?
The difference between South Africa and Zimbabwe is fourteen years. They know it and we know it. Just a matter of time until South Africa reverts back to the mean for African nations, just like Zimbabwe has.
You have made the fundamental error of assuming that Western European standards of civilization are on a par with African ones.
South Africa itself is not much further along the road to enlightenment. With a health minister who recommends the eating of fresh vegetables as a guard against infection from HIV, what can you expect?
We in the West are supposed to "hang our heads in shame" over the slave trade, after 200 years, and yet, far more people are suffering and dying in Africa today due to self imposed famine, medical ignorance and genocide, than was ever the case with slavery.
For the president of South Africa to pursue his current policy, he must believe in it, that is, that keeping a tyrant in power, who has destroyed the infrastructure and murdered thousands of its own people, is acceptable.
What does that tell you about the state of democratic evolution in Africa?
Mrs Thacher did not stand up to Maugabe either but it OK for the "greatest PM in history" I suppose. After all she was too busy with the saudi arms deal.
Don't be silly, 11:54. If the South African government simply denounced Mugabe's actions in words, it would have an enormous effect given that the country is so influential in the region. And then there are the economic and other sanctions they might apply.
I agree with Iain's statements.
We should impose sanctions on mugabe's main backers namely china and S Africa. This would get rid of him instantly. Shame on the people above who castigate Iain for raising this subject.
South Africa is a beneficiary of zimbabwe's meltdown. As we speak, millions of teachers and doctors are being used in that country to clean toilets and harvest tomatoes while zimbabwe's health and educational systems have virtually collapsed. Those who think that Zimbabwe's story is a romantic case of standing up to the west should consider this: the millions of people who are being bashed, silenced and starved are neither white nor western. And who says some people are more qualified to rule african countries than others?
Was it out of their cleverness that our leaders remained safe in jail (where they were not bashed and bullied as they do to their opponents now) during the liberation struggle, while now unsung heroes actually 'died' to liberate the now monopolised continent. Shame on the likes of Mbeki and those who think that the tragedy of zimababwe's people is a way of getting back at the whites. What, i say, about the millions of blacks who actually have to live a constricted existence?
Iain I share your views.
It makes me sad as an African when leaders like Mbeki and Mugabe create the impression that we have no regard for democracy.
The vast majority of Africans are striving to better themselves. They are thoguhtful, caring and intelligent.
Its a shame that our leaders refuse to listen to us but instead, spout marxist mantra which they learnt from their overseas education.
Anyone who knows anything about teh region knows:
1. SA supplies Zim with 90% of its electricity and could bring Zim to its knees overnight.
2. It will not because Mugabe is an elected leader with freedom fighter crednetials.
3. The UK cannot preach about it cos our election system has as much blatant fraud through postal voting as Zim .. at least in the absolute number of fraudulent votes.
4. Did the UK help SA get rid of apartheid? Nope.
So in conclusion we have no moral authority and no favours to call in.
The bleaters should get real. Are we going to invade? Nope.
And Zim is a lot better than say Egypt or Iraq... or Saudi. Where are teh cries in the UK to do something?
Hypocrisy.
Well said.
I have travelled quite a bit in South Africa in recent years.
The apparently popular view there is that if they cut off Zimbabwe, South Africa will get a refugee crisis. Its a fig leaf of course. The real problem is half the ANC are cut from the same cloth as Mugabe.
It's all about getting rid of Whitey. SA is declining, Mbeki won't use his influence with Mugabe, why would we be surprised ? (Hint: ANC). Land "reform" has already started there tho' you don't see much in the newspapers, but the usual litany of rape, murder and intimidation is in progress tho' not yet widespread.
Namibia is next for land "reform", to be followed by Botswana.
Zimbabwe is a basket case as are many other African states, even some that masquerade as democracies.
For a long time it has been the economic power of South Africa that has stopped the region from collapsing into anarchy and a hundred tribal wars. When the timid Mbeki gives way to Jaob Zuma - an Idi Amin-like character - we will see the worst come about.
Absolutely Iain.
Understand that Mbeki has been on the phone, giving advice to Mugabe as to how to fiddle and fudge the vote count and come out smelling of roses.
Mbeki and his ANC cronies are terrified, that if ZANU are kicked out, this sends a message to the voters that the post-colonial governments, the so-called freedom fighters, are vulnerable and untrustworthy. We all know that, the locals don't, 'cos the party controls the media.
Mbeki is not a cuddly little man. HE IS A THUG AND LEADER OF A MURDEROUS THUGGISH PARTY.
Zimbabwe is going to have a blood bath, as Mugabe and Zanu will not yield to the MDC.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WAKE UP. MBEKI AND MUGABES' WIVES ARE SISTERS. DIGEST.
NOW THAT YOU ARE AWARE I CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS THE NEXT TIME SOME POLITICAL PUNDIT/POLITICO SPEAKS OF 'QUIET DIPLOMACY', AN 'AFRICAN SOLUTION' OR APPEARS TO RELY ON/HOLD OUT HOPE FOR MBEKI TO TAKE ACTION.
Mrs Thatcher did not stand up to Maugabe either but it OK for the "greatest PM in history" I suppose. After all she was too busy with the saudi arms deal.
Mrs Thatcher PBUH, left the scene 18 years ago. At the time, Zimbabwe wasn't doing too badly. Comrade Bob was actually winning elections without major intimidation or relying on the votes of the dead.
The world has moved on, the situation changed. But then you're a socialist so probably a little intellectually challenged.
Iain
I've been quiet recently because I've been travelling not because I've been driven away by Verity or anyone else. Back soon! In the meantime just to say I agree with you 100% re. South Africa and Zimbabwe. But the time for action by Mbeki and the West has to be as soon as it is clear that the repulsive Mugabe is gone for good. At that point there is a chance that Tsvangari can lead Zim back from the dark ages. We must all give him 100% support to try and make this happen.
Paul Linford is right here.
south africa has a head? To hang? Its head? Their heads? South Africa? jesus. this is why you hardly ever get to write in newspapers.
A laughable comment for so many reasons.
"He and his country should hang their heads in shame."
Why should the rest of South Africa "hang their heads in shame" for Mbeki's idiocy? By the same token, I should hang my head in shame for all the rubbish the Labour Government has done. Why should I take responsibility for Gordon Brown's stupidity? Why should South Africans for Mbeki's?
Soth Africa should hang its head in shame?
Not when the UK is locking up political prisoners like this brave Lady it shouldn't.
About time we put our own house in order first.
Africa seems to be overrun with "freedom fighters". Perhaps they now need a new lot to remove the old lot. The black South Africans are in a for a big surprise if they think they are just going to walk in a take over the Transvaal region just like that.
Meanwhile our glorious PM pontificates about "democracy" and "fair elections", whilst no doubt considering any number of ways of maintaining power in 2010 (including changing the entire voting system)...
Welcome back, Paddy Briggs!
It's good to see your rosy cheeked grin and syrup back on Iain's blog.
Mbeki is a coward, plain and simple. I despair at the state of African politics.
Does anyone really trust Morgan Tsvangarai to do better, or behave more democratically? I'm not holding my breath.
Zimbabwe was one of the food-baskets of Africa under colonial rule - what special kind of evil turned it into a dustbowl?
Who is Emily 'Maitless' ???
Welcome back Paddy Briggs.
We need a banal statement of the bleedin' obvious at this time.
Brown and Rudd were rubbing shoulders with Mbeki at the 'progressive' meeting this weekend. Where WAS the pressure on Mbeki? Nothing. Pathetic!
Until they can face up to the fact that they sold their own people into slavery those many years ago, sub-Saharans will continue to be 'helpless victims'.
But always good to have 'whitey' to blame.
Most sub-Saharans have been independant now for 50 years or so &, despite untold billions from 'the former oppressers' it is no better, if not worse than in (British) colonial times.
When they have driven out the remaining whites...and Indians...they will be able to turn out the lights & revert to normal.
Paddy Briggs: Continue travelling...please ;-))
Nothing will change in Africa until black people care as much about other black people as white people care about black people, end of story!
What makes you think that politicians in South Africa give any more of a sh*t about Zimbabwe than the politicians here. Their only collective concern is stuffing their pockets as fast as they can.
Post a Comment