tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13073631.post8319160292744274617..comments2024-01-04T07:21:18.243-05:00Comments on John In Carolina: Zimbabwe this fraud “election day”Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13073631.post-9907923009144596112008-06-27T17:16:00.000-04:002008-06-27T17:16:00.000-04:00John,Mugabe can act with impunity, because he know...John,<BR/><BR/>Mugabe can act with impunity, because he knows the rest of the world, specifically the US and Britain, lacks the political will to do anything but protest, or impose further sanctions.<BR/><BR/>The only real threat to him is South Africa. In the same way that the Rhodesian Government of Ian Smith was forced, by then SA Prime Minister John Foster, to enter into negotiations with Britain to end UDI, so SA will ultimately be the only country that will end Mugabe's rule. It is his support mechanism and his economic life line. Unfortunately with Mbeki as President that is unlikely to happen.<BR/><BR/>Food, fuel, arms and ammunition, and electrical power are all supplied to Zimbabwe by or through SA. It would be simple enough to cut off those essential commodities; or even threaten to do it. That would be sufficient to force negotiations. It will not happen with an ANC government.<BR/><BR/>I remarked in an earlier post that Mbeki is duplicitous; this is borne out by an article in the SA newspaper the Mail and Guardian today that lists, in great detail the flow of arms, ammunition and military equipment, including helicopter spares, over the past few years; the same years that Mbeki has been the SADC chief negotiator. Even this most recent Chinese arms shipment, the one stopped by the SA High Court from being offloaded in SA, was to be shipped to Zimbabwe by a the government armaments company - Armscor. Mbeki, in a cabinet meeting, insisted that the ship be allowed to dock and offload its arms.<BR/><BR/>I think the rest of the world lost the initiative on Zimbabwe with the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US. Mugabe was faced with the reality of having lost a referendum on a new constitution that would,<I> inter-alia</I>, have virtually guaranteed him the Presidency for life. That is when the new opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) began to show its strength. It is also when the destruction of Zimbabwe began, including the theft of the commercial farmland. There is no doubt that he stole the 2002 elections as well. With 9/11, the focus of the US and the UK moved obviously and immediately away from the trivialities of problems with Zimbabwe. <BR/><BR/>The question of why Mugabe refuses to back down, retire or hand over power has a lot to do with the African psyche. The true concept of a democracy is totally foreign, [the problem with a democracy is that you have to <B>be</B> a democracy to <B>have</B> a democracy] and there seems to be a genetic predisposition to absolute power forever. If you have any doubts, consider such luminaries as (in no particular order) Idi Amin Dada, Jean Bedel Bocassa, Mengistu Haile Miriam, Charles Taylor, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Mobutu Sese Seko, Samora Machel...... <BR/><BR/>If ever there was a more apt saying that applies to Zimbabwean politics than "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely", I do not know what it is.<BR/><BR/>Further, Mugabe and his henchmen have grown used to running a kleptocracy; there is no concept of division between what belongs to the country and what belongs to the politicians in power. It does not take much effort to go through the list of political heavweights that dominate ZANU-PF, and see exactly what 'misconduct' each and every one has been involved in. Mugabe may be the most visible, but they are all involved.<BR/><BR/>Finally, there is the small problem of war crimes. Mugabe's self confessed "moment of madness" - the Gukurahundi Massacre of 1982/83 - is a major obstacle to any form of handover of power. While Mugabe may be able to avoid prosecution as a <I>quid pro quo</I>, no such amnesty would ever be given to his subordinates. Specifically the 'Generals' who keep him in power would never be granted amnesty; they were too directly involved, so therefore he must be kept in power.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13073631.post-66548418993549064222008-06-27T14:20:00.000-04:002008-06-27T14:20:00.000-04:00There are about 200 or so top government officials...There are about 200 or so top government officials who are living in luxury in Zimbabwe and who are keeping Mugabe in power. Let's face it, they all fear the International Courts and are not about to give up power and face trial for their crimes. In addition to what Njoroge suggests, the world community could freeze all the assets and financial transactions of these individuals, all international travel could be banned, the visas of all their children studying overseas could be revoked, all international banking suspended. At least they would be feeling some of the pain. Mbeki has been exposed and should be hanging his head in shame. Steve in New MexicoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com