President Thabo Mbeki is right. There is no crisis in Zimbabwe.
Next to hyperinflation, mass starvation, brutalisation of the population, Gukurahundi, 80% unemployment and any number of other plagues Mugabe has visited on the people of Zimbabwe, why would failing to release the presidential election results constitute a crisis?
Indeed it would seem mere footling next to other abominations carried on by Zanu-PF — all the while ignored or in certain instances underpinned by the support being received from South Africa and other members of SADC. The fact that the rape of Zimbabwe has occasioned destabilisation of the entire region and cost this country billions and billions of rands seems to be lost on the government.
The cost of medical treatment, feeding, housing, clothing and otherwise supporting the exiles cannot be measured in millions. On top of that, factor in how many jobs are being taken up by cheaper labour, as well as the enormous increase in crime that the Zimbabweans bring to South Africa. Then round it off by estimating the amount of investment lost by those who look at the instability of Southern Africa, the example of Zimbabwe and the pathetic response of South Africa and other countries in the region to Mugabe and his henchmen.
Over the weekend, SADC had the opportunity to call an end to the farce that was the Zimbabwean election — to demand the result and that Mugabe resign and hand over the reigns to the MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai. Instead, it elected to call for the results of the presidential election and requested parties to accept the outcome whatever it is.
If Tsvangirai accepts anything short of his presidency, then he gets what he deserves. There can never be a run-off in a country where Mugabe is in power — no international observers, no independent media, war veterans who weren’t even born at the time of the war running rampant, police and military intimidation of voters, and on and on; where the only independent observers are the gutless wonders from this region who declared the parliamentary vote free and fair.
If the MDC achieved a majority under the conditions I described above, then the only person who voted for Mugabe was his cousin from Bulawayo. It must have been the landslide of the century for Bob’s your tyrant to concede defeat. Of course the fact that the ZEC refuses to release the presidential results confirms who controls the ZEC.
A run-off? You must be taking the piss.
Even the fact that Mugabe snubbed the weekend crisis summit — called to solve the problems in his country — did not deter our president from going to see this thug in his own backyard, where the right response to his absence would have been to tell him to start packing because it’s time to sod off.
Instead we are first informed by our president that there is no crisis in Zim, followed by a pathetic call from SADC to release the results. I wouldn’t touch those results with a barge pole, even if I had a barge pole in the first place. The only thing we can accept is that Mugabe is a rogue and we have allowed him to butcher his people for far too long.
Contrast this with Cosatu’s single-minded approach to Zimbabwe.
Where the ruling party has been soft on Zim, its alliance partner has been scathing. It has repeatedly called for proper free and fair elections and slammed the conduct of the Zimbabwean government over and over again — not for them the softly-softly-catchee-butcher approach. This is the way South Africa should have dealt with it as soon as Bob went off the rails.
If this country is to act as mediator in any way, then allow Cosatu, a trade-union federation which has demonstrated its concern at the plight of the Zimbabwean people, to go in there and, duly mandated by its own courage, tell Bob’s your tyrant where to get off.
This will not only retrieve our position in the eyes of the world, achieve the end of the butcher and release billions in aid to Zimbabwe, but also allow South Africa some credit while discharging it of the burden of the exiles.
It’s the least that we can do.
Not surprised Mbeki is behaving this way. He is a disgrace to your country. May be he is married to Mugabe’s sister Put simply RSA is too big for him to rule and cant make right decisions about his own country.
I am Malawian living in Scotland. Praying that Zimbabwean will have the dignity they once had back soon. SADC leaders cant speak against Mugabe because some of them rigged votes to get to whare they are. I am not going to mention names.
Zimbabwe lies in ruins while mugabe plays the colonialist card to divert peoples attention from the sins he is committing.
God Almighty is the best judge. No matter how long Bob tries to hang on to power one day he will be haunted by his actions and his sidekicks will not be spared either.
God bless innocent Zimbabweans
Maxwell Kalamula( Malawia) please feel free to publish my comments
Maxwell Kalamula on April 14th, 2008
Aren’t COSATU in some sort of a pact with the ANC and don’t they make up the biggest number of people in that pact. Do COSATU really need permission from the ANC government to act against the tyrant next door?
They should just get on with it and take whatever action they feel appropriate and to hell with the silent diplomat.
I am keen to hear what our new president (Ian Khama)had to say in Lusaka. I hope he didn’t just join in with the old cronies club in endorsing mad Bob for another trouble free term in office.
cosatu will never do anything. can we ask that what they vavi did not go to the election.
There is a drug on the market,that is available without prescription. All members of the ANC Governemnt in South Africa are required to take this drug because it leads to clear and good governance. The drug is called DENYITALL. One dose and all probelms dissapear. Get yours NOW!
God help us if this is part of the African renaissance.
As they say :The most violent time in a countries history, isnt when it is at its most oppressive stage,but rather when the first reforms are introduced or when the first cracks in the oppressive regime start appearing. Denialist-No-crisis-Mbeki hasnt seen this yet, but when the pot eventually does completely fracture – its going to be interesting to listen to his reasoning. No doubt, he will find a reason why it was the way to go…and the rest of his ilk, will nod agreeingly…but maybe not! God only knows, Africa deserves better than these buffoons.
Does Mugabe have the freedom to step down? Will the Joint Operations Command (his top generals who are effectively running Zimbabwe) let him leave? Perhaps someone should negotiate with the JOC rather than Mugabe?
Will Mugabe even let COSATU into Zimbabwe? The last time that they headed North, they were summarily deported. Sure, I like what COSATU has been saying about Zimbabwe in the last few years. But Mugabe has never listened to them. And I don’t imagine that he would start listening to them now.
Michael – I understand your point, but it is ridiculous to think that we should even have to consider COSATU taking the lead in this matter rather than Mbeki. He should be all over this issue.
His lack of leadership in this matter is really breathtaking. He seems to be lost in some “liberation struggle” glory days time warp in his ongoing deference to Mugabe. Those days are long gone Thabo. There are more pressing problems these days. With Thabo at the helm, I doubt if South Africa will ever be rightfully considered a leading African nation.
I hate to say it, but Mbeki’s poor performance on Zimbabwe is starting to make Zuma look good.
Your summary of the “crisis” in Zimbabwe and its impact on South Africa is excellent. How can Mbeki possibly claim that the 3 million Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa is not a “crisis”.
Mugabe’s thugs begin to murder and torture opponents (Headline story Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article3746879.ece
Zim cops threaten crackdown on unrest + Security forces fan out accross Zim :
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=336970&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080414195848691C180237
Traps, my good man, here’s an uncompromising look at the Zimbabwean issue. I have posted this elsewhere; I’m pretty sure that I will be criticised roundly. Here goes:
Here is a radical thought: Mbeki should do absolutely NOTHING for and about Zimbabwe. His involment there causes more harm than good.
By extension, NOBODY should do anything for and about Zimbabwe. I remember a story from last week that people in Haiti have been having riots about rising food prices….after about a month of spiraling prices. The image that is etched in my mind is that of Zimbabwean QUEUEING for non-existent food….for YEARS!!! If these people will not liberate themselves, who are we to want liberation for them?
Let them starve. Let them allow the dictator to rule them, to steal election after election, confiscate their property etc. They have the leader they deserve.
Excuse my hard message; I’m fresh out of empathy for the people of Zimbabwe.
@Bonginkhozi – I agree 100%. If we do anything in Zim we will have to become their guardians like the US in Iraq.
However, I think we should seal the border and throw in some boxing gloves.
When Bob’s ground forces / troops / police get tired of beating and killing their fellow countrymen and family members then and only then will a solution come about.
@Bonginkhozi
I have to admit that your stance has considerable merit. Let the people of Zimbabwe decide what to do with their lives.
The state has started killing people again today in an attempt to intimidate them into submission and acceptance of the status quo. SADCC is just a talking shop where heads of state can show off their new jets and iphones.
Let the market sort out who can and who cannot afford to eat. Then the party will be over.
If there was a game of poker between Mbeki and Mugabe, Mbeki would never win a single hand. He would fall for the bluff every time, and with four kings in his hand he’d probably fold in case Bob has five aces (yes five, like extra votes). So we need the best of poker players to call Bob’s bluff, stare him in the face and say, Yes, I have all the aces, you fold!
There is a greater moral case for the invasion and liberation of Zimbabwe than there ever was to invade Iraq.