Archive for the ‘Zimbabwe’ Category
Encouraging news from Zimbabwe
A partial recount of the Zimbabwean parliamentary election votes has failed to overturn the MDC majority. It now looks virtually certain that the majority will stand.
This is incredible news. I assumed the votes had been taken away for Farmer Mugabe’s shredder treatment. But the Election authority is proving to have some independence of action. I only hope this now becomes infectious and they finally release the presidential election result.
Today is a world day of prayer for Zimbabweans, whether they be in Zimbabwe or outside it.
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The shame of Thabo Mbeki
It seems to me that Thabo Mbeki is the key to a just Zimbabwe solution. Zimbabwe depends on South Africa. It was the same in Ian Smith’s days when he relied on support from the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Up until now Mbeki appears to have behaved like a complete wuss in respect of the Zimbabwe elections. His pathetically lax attitude to Mugabe can be sharply contrasted to that of Levy Mwanawasa, Zambia’s President. Indeed, in an excellent leader article in the Guardian today, they report that Morgan Tsvangirai has called for Mbeki to be replaced as mediator for the Southern African Development Community in favour of Mwanawasa.
The VIP status afforded to Tsvangirai at the recent SADC meeting is encouraging. But they now have to step up to the plate to ensure that the second round of voting is fair. The signs are not encouraging. The votes for the recount (which just happen to be mostly where the MDC won) have been taken away from view for days. The electoral commission says that a lot of work is involved in the recount. Round spherical objects.
What also shows up the revolting lassitude of Mbeki is the completely contrasting view of his own party (who incidentally have dumped him as their leader) – the ANC. The Citizen reports from Johannesburg today:
…the ANC is going over President Thabo Mbeki’s head in a new initiative to meet Zimbabwean political parties in an attempt to harmonise the situation in Zimbabwe.
A source within the ANC told The Citizen the decision was taken because President Thabo Mbeki had failed to act on Zimbabwe, as he had a “soft spot” for Robert Mugabe, the “caretaker president” of Zimbabwe.
“Mbeki has failed the people of Zimbabwe, African leaders and international leaders. He also made disturbing comments, saying there is no crisis in Zimbabwe while people are being beaten up, evicted and killed.
“The ANC had no choice but to take action directly to speak to political protagonists in Zimbabwe,” said a source
Has Robert Mugabe suddenly become sane?
It would seem possible. The official Zimbabwean parliamentary election results show the MDC with a majority. The Presidential vote is on a knife edge as to whether a second ballot is needed. One presumes and hopes that Mugabe will be fatally damaged by the need for a run-off.
A senior ZANU (PF) official has told a BBC correspondent in Zimbabwe that he believes Mr Mugabe has been fatally damaged:
The official, who did not want to be identified, said that by not declaring victory on Sunday or Monday, Mr Mugabe had shown weakness.
Now, he told our correspondent, civil servants and police were determined to show even-handedness in their treatment of the Zanu-PF and the opposition.
Another way at looking at that is that perhaps Mugabe has finally woken up and smelt the coffee.
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Burbler-in-chief
