In amongst all the local election fall out, the fact that the Zimbabwean opposition won the Presidential election seems to have been virtually ignored. We hear nothing of any international pressure being put on Mugabe and we hear little of what the South African government thinks. If anything.
The Opposition is threatning to boycott any runoff. This would be a mistake. They are the protectors of democracy in that strife ridden country, but they need the support - both overt and tacit - of Zimbabwe's neighbours.
If there is to be a run-off, surely South Africa needs to step up to the mark and use its economic might to ensure it is organised on a fair and equitable basis with a clear timetable for the count - and more importantly to ensure that the count is conducted fairly.
8 comments:
Not sure who is emulating whom.
Both party leaders and generallisimo's seem to heve adopted the Ostrich position. Though I would suspect that Gordo the Ineffectual Twat(GIT) secretly admires the ability of "eh bah gum" to adopt a policy of brutal physical violence.
GIT is no doubt screaming and tossing his toys from pram, at the lost opportunity of having the police and armed forces swear fealty and loyalty to NuLab or prefably him, a la Adolf.
Perhaps Gordon Brown might recover some popularity by invading Zimbabwe?
It wouldn't be the first time a polititian has improved their poll rating that way.
I can't see S Africa doing anything to harm Mugabe. They condoned the appallingly corrupt election process, to the despair of other African observers, and Mbeki is, I believe, Mugabe's brother-in-law.
I'm boycotting ALL South African products. Again.... Looks like Spitting Image's song:- 'I've never met a nice South African' is applicable again- but this time referring to blacks. Amazing.
Mbeke is the real 'lame Dick' here Iain. He secretly admires Mugabe I suspect, and probably has a similar view of the white man as Mugabe does. So don't expect anything from RSA over this.
The only way RSA will do anything is if the tide of people fleeing Zim becomes an unstoppable flood. Then they will have to intervene.
I suspect Mugabe will intimidate and stuff the ballot boxes, then rig the count, then declare himself victor. I suspect that Mbeke will send him flowers to congratulate him before inviting him for a long weekend in JoBurg, where they will have a nice family gathering!
Invading Zimbabwe (even if we had the means, which we do not)would elicit no thanks from the potential liberated. "Freedom" is preferable to white intervention & if they have to live under a bastard he is, at least 'their' bastard.
That what was the second richest country in sub-Saharan Africa is now a basket-case is criminally appalling; not least for those, black & white, who made it so rich.
Africans must go through the dreadful experience of learning to sort out their own problems. Untold billions of 'white' money has been thrown at them...to absolutely no avail but we still continue the largesse. (We are STILL throwing money at Mr. Mugabe who spits at everything British, but that's the way we stupidly do things...thus salving our consciences which should have been free from guilt generations ago.)
'Africa for the Africans' was the pre-independence warcry. Agreed in spades.
Oh, and while we're at it, what about 'England for the English'?
(goodness...simulated horror)
The governments of southern Africa have cravenly decided to abandon the people of Zimbabwe to their fate.
It is only thanks to the dock workers in SA, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola that Mugabe's regime has been denied the means for further mass slaughter.
It makes me misty-eyed for the days of internationalism and workers' solidarity!
Remembering things is not the point. The issue is that since the black leaders of other African countries obviously don't care what happens to ordinary black Africans why should we?
Post a Comment