Comments on: West must lift sanctions on Zimbabwe

By: MrK

MrK — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:34:15 +0000

(Continued…) money kept going out. This is why the government responded with the printing press, and why Zimbabwe had world record hyperinflation. And notice that Hillary Clinton is a co-sponsor of these sanctions.

My guess is that Clinton is involved, because a certain contributor and long time family friend (Maurice Tempelsman – google: tempelsman lumumba) has huge concessions in the DRC, which President Mugabe threatened when he helped out ‘renegade’ president Laurent Kabila, against the US/UK sponsored coltan ‘rebels’ in the Eastern DRC. And of course the ultimate threat to western property rights is the discontinuation of private ownership of the world’s largest goldmines in South Africa.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- The term `international financial institutions’ means the multilateral development banks and the International Monetary Fund.

(2) MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS- The term `multilateral development banks’ means the

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the
International Finance Corporation, the
Inter-American Development Bank, the
Asian Development Bank, the
Inter-American Investment Corporation, the
African Development Bank, the
African Development Fund, the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the
Multilateral Investment Guaranty Agency.

The institutions these sanctions applied to, were the institutions where the Zimbabwean government had most of it’s credit lines. It is an obvious abuse of US veto power in the world’s financial institutions, to put sanctions on a country, outside of the United Nations.

By: MrK

MrK — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:29:32 +0000

Craig, Julian,

” @Traps – I always thought the sanctions on Zimbabwe were preventing dealing with the leaders, not the country. Are you able to clarify? ”

You have bought into the MDC/UK/USA propaganda, which tried to blame Robert Mugabe for the effects of US sanctions, instead of the sanctions and Bush Administration themselves. Their ultimate victory would be to blame the victim for the acts of the aggressor.

Zimbabwe (that is the government and economy) has been under a credit freeze since 2002, when the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 came into effect. From this act, I quote:

(c) MULTILATERAL FINANCING RESTRICTION- … the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against–

(1) any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or

(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.

End Quote

Source: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s107-494&version=enr&nid=t0%3Aenr%3A30

Notice the mentioning of ‘the government of Zimbawe’ twice – no mention of ‘Mugabe and his cronies’, ‘members of ZANU-PF’, etc. but the government of Zimbabwe. These are financial sanctions against the government, equivalent to the credit freeze the West is going through today. Notice the combination of no new money or credit coming in, but no existing loans being rescheduled or cancelled…

By: Zimbabwe » L. Robinson, on "Race in Popular Culture"

Zimbabwe » L. Robinson, on "Race in Popular Culture" — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:28:50 +0000

[...] Thought Leader » Michael Trapido » West must lift sanctions on …Without doubt this is not the time for lifting sanctions in Zimbabwe on the part of the United States and the European Union. As SADC has made patently clear, they are the biggest danger to Africa. ..In reality they are the biggest threat to elitists because they expect accountability …. Frédéric Mitterrand,the nephew of François Mitterrand, the late Socialist leader of France was named by President Nicolas Sarkozy, as his culture minister in a major cabinet reshuffle. … [...]

By: Nad Ko

Nad Ko — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:33:31 +0000

Despite all the tricks Mugarbage has tried to con the west in ripping them off, nothing worked as well as he thought it would, for the simple reason that the west is not so naive as they to be in just pouring money into the pockets of African dictators, regardless.
They got wise after their trillions into the bottomless African pit for humanitarian aid achieved absolutely ZERO results.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:06:59 +0000

There are a number of countries that do not have sanctions against Zimbabwe and they are probably the culprits who are propping up Mugabe’s ZANU-PF with donations to them.
This aid certainly does not seem to be finding its way to the desperately poor, nor will any further handouts.
If there was a mechanism that ensured that the needy were to benefit from the lifting of sanctions I would give it my full support, otherwise they must remain until change is implemented and guarantees are in place.

By: japes

japes — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:52:22 +0000

Ah the lure of all that lovely lolly in US$. This is just some spin on a wheedle to get the more affluent countries to pay off Mugabe and his mates credit cards. As a few have said, you put in some cash, let SA politicians put in some personal cash, then maybe. Traps has really embraced the ANC model.

If you are going to sell your soul, at least get a good price. Ask for aid to Zim to resume but through the offices of M Traps & Ass.

By: David

David — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:17:53 +0000

Did the world lift sanctions when PW Botha (supposedly) held out some form of olive branch? Certainly not. And if they had, imagine the outcry. I sense what the West needs to see is some positive action in Zim before they contemplate lifting sanctions. GNU (window dressing) is not enough. Investor confidence is absolutely right mundundu!

Looking at it another way, Iran is seen as a threat; Zimbabwe isn’t. All things being equal, then we could have a discussion about fairness in the application of sanctions.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:02:10 +0000

Poor article. Typical flip-flop knee-jerk liberal thinking conveniently “forgetting” your previous blogs.
Bob and his generals are fixated with power, enrichment and survival – not power sharing.
Any weakness by the West would only play into Bob’s hands.
JZ is merely (conveniently) following Thabo’s lead.
Does he have a mind of his own?

By: Chuma

Chuma — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:21:42 +0000

The MDC and other organisations stands accused of terrorism.I wonder what would happen if those accused and left to dry by Tsvangirai by some means implicate him in the alleged plots. I just heard the Letta Mbuli song go “Mhlaba wakithi bo usemindawonye, akukho mehluko kulelizwe. Thina asinavoice,sihleli ovalweni, qhawula lapha Madhuku, Kagoro, Magaisa, Chibhebhe*2. Not yet Uhuru, Not yet Uhuru”.

Mugabe has not reliquinshed his hold on the forces of repression. Zanu PF ministers do not respect the authority of the Prime Minister.

As an aside my suggestion is while Tsvangirai heads West with the begging bowl Mugabe should take another bowl and head East. Surely the likes of Russia, China, oil rich Gadaffi, Chavez, Ahmadinejad whom he has always ingratiated himself with can assist? or maybe it is case of forced and claimed friendship

By: Bothwell Phiri

Bothwell Phiri — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:16:19 +0000

Far be it from me to be abusive but i am sorry to read such absurd sewer material from a person who is obviously ignorant and been brain washed by the Zim regime. What sanctions are you talking about? Are you so ignorant to the extent you are not aware these are sanctions supported by the generality of Zimbos? Have you ever heard of a company stopped from doing business except what would benefit Mugabe and his friends being denied or censured by the west? You need to come to Zim and see what is happening before you waste resources to prop up a derelict and defunct government. The west did what had to be done and for your info it was not enough. ZANU peoples kids are in school in RSA and europe whilst the rest of the nation suffers. They buy their groceries from RSA and Asia as they plunder the country. Travel sanctions that exist were put in place to try and stop the rot and the Mbeki you credit with whatever has business interests in Zim too. So before you starting representing me Mr writer ask me first.

Tiger