The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
What should be Zimbabwe response? | |||||
Controversial Zanu-PF policies like Operation Murambatsvina (Drive Out Rubbish) have seen people's homes destroyed and residents forced to moved to rural areas. Government ministers in the UK have issued a letter to the International Cricket Council urging them to suspend Zimbabwe.
Do you live in Zimbabwe? How should other countries respond to the situation in the country? Can politics and sport be separated? Send us your comments and experiences using the form on the right.
Is a ban on sporting events really the best way to punish the Mugabe regime?
Surely we as the West can come up with something a bit more harsh than that,
given the Zimbabwean government's actions. If a country's human rights record is reason enough for banning them from
sporting events, why are the next Olympics in Beijing? Other countries should respond to the situation in Zimbabwe with caution. Its
sovereignty has to be respected even though what is happening there is pathetic
and incomprehensible. Politics and sport are different entities and as such,
should remain independent of each other. The cricket players are not responsible
for Zimbabwe's woes. They should be allowed to compete in any international
competition. If Mugabe is determined to act like a pariah, then treat him as such. Whether
or not the cricket boycott takes place (and it should), I shall continue to
boycott Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean goods, as Zimbabwe is on my list of countries
not to be subsidised or aided until they stop treating their people like dirt.
To do otherwise is to tolerate, and give approval to the
unacceptable. The ban on sporting links with South Africa was a major signal to white South
Africans that apartheid was not acceptable and most certainly influenced their
government. Of course Zimbabwe should also be boycotted. Any stand against Zimbabwe should be taken by our government, not our sports'
teams. Why punish either the team or the fans when they may not agree with the
regime they have to live under. Do not mix sports and history/politics. Support Mugabe in his efforts to
return the land to the rightful owners, and then give them time as well as
material and technical support to build their country. Funny isn't it how so many of the people who screamed so loudly to have
racist South Africa isolated in the 70s and 80s both in business and sport are
now turning a blind eye to Mugabe, now that the boot is on the other
foot?
No. Sport and politics should remain separate.
Anon, Harare, Zimbabwe Best to prevent them from competing in any such events until their government
snap out of their archaic ways and grow up - Set an example by showing these
lunatics that the rest of the world won't tolerate it. Stiff sanctions with exception of food and drugs must be enforced to bring
President Mugabe to his knees. No, Zimbabwe should not be prevented to take part in the international sport.
If we do we will be victimising innocent Zimbaweans not Zanu-PF who initiated
this dirty policy campaign. Therefore, politics and sport should be definitely
separated at any time not only in Zimbabwe but also wherever in the
world. Given what was done to South Africa before the apartheid system came down, I
think it is only right that Zimbabwe should suffer the same fate. The West also
seems to be ignoring the way the South African premier is covertly supporting
Zimbabwe, (as Hendrik Verwoerd did in the 60s) and so action should also be
taken against South Africa. |