via Zim needs our support — Mbeki November 10, 2013 The Standard from International New York Times
President Robert Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has certainly kept a ruthless hold on Zimbabwe. The implementation of his land reform programme, which sought to redress an odious system imposed under white minority rule, was marked by appalling human rights abuses and precipitous economic decline. So too was the presidential election campaign of 2008, when violence and intimidation culminated in the forced withdrawal of the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who pulled out of the runoff even though he had won the first round of elections that year.
What angers many Africans, however, is that Mugabe’s overwhelming re-election this past July has done so little to change attitudes in the West. Britain and the United States insist the election was rigged but offer no convincing evidence to show that flaws on voting day amounted to systematic tampering that would have changed the outcome. The African Union and Southern African Development Community observers declared the election valid.
Nor would Mugabe’s victory have surprised anyone who saw the findings of a Freedom House survey last year that found that support for Tsvangirai had fallen steeply among those Zimbabweans polled, to 20% from 38% following his lackluster stint as prime minister in a unity government formed after the disputed 2008 election.
In fact, some analysts say the identification of the opposition with western nations imposing harsh restrictions on Zimbabwe hurt Tsvangirai’s chances and did no harm to the ruling party’s electoral prospects.
Belgium, which has been a lone voice in calling for the lifting of sanctions and recently persuaded the European Union to allow trading with the main Zimbabwean diamond mining company, estimates that they cost Zimbabwe US$400 million a year in lost revenue.
China, an increasingly assertive presence in Africa, has been quick to step into the breach left by banned western businesses. Chinese firms are taking an ever bigger role in the gold, coal and diamond-mining sector.
The broader message this sends to many Africans is that the European Union and the United States, in pursuing a rigid policy that carries a high cost to ordinary Zimbabweans, is not ready to engage the continent on equal terms. Nor do they forget that the same western powers once favoured a policy of “constructive engagement” with apartheid South Africa and imposed only limited sanctions on its racist government.
“The Zimbabweans have been in the frontline in terms of defending our right as Africans to determine our future,” Mbeki said in the same speech, “and they are paying a price for that.
“I think it is our responsibility as African intellectuals to join them, the Zimbabweans, to say, No!”
Mugabe, who will turn 90 in February, will not be in power forever. With its current policies, the West is effectively surrendering a chance to influence Zimbabwe’s future, and ensure that he is not succeeded by an even more radical authoritarian ruler.
COMMENTS
So says the man who denied the existence of AIDS. So says the man who could not release the report on the the Zim elections of 2002. Up now the SA Presidency is fighting not to release this report. Why why ?? This is the man who engineered the GNU in Bob’s favor. I don’t respect him as an intellectual. He is a chartalan just like the other political professors we have in Zim who have PHD degrees but are still uneducated!!
U listen to Mbeki at your own peril,uyu ndiye munhu arikufarira zzviri kuitika kuZim for SA’s benefit labour yedu iri ikoko zvinhu zvavo varikutengesera Zim, Bots, DRC, Moza, Lesoto, Swazi, Zambia, Namiba etc saka tikaita bhoo market yavo inofa. Hanzi ndiri intellectual kkkkkkkkkkk still uneducated my friend educated people vano taura chokwadi pari kurasika mumwe vake kwete iwe unotokuridzira kurasika
All Mbeki is doing, is feeling sorry for his friend Mugabe.
There are also rumors that he and Mugabe were mining together.
Well the truth is most africans all they want is easy life which is under economical bondage but claiming they are free from there colonisers who continue to let them sink and go to their graves as poor as idiots while they cannot stand up against this West’s heinous attitude towards africans. Most africans they want slavery than freedom. Let Mr Mbeki speak and support the Zimbabweans. Not their studge and puppet MDC-T
Your comment makes no sense and your English is atrocious! Get a grip!
SHUT UP YOU IDIOT!
No Mbeki, we won’t sing along with you. You always misuse NO, NO aids, NO crisis in Zimbabwe. Let SA do thimgs her own way not in the guise of solidarity with Zimbabwe. Mugabe has adequate cheerleaders, NO support is needed, approve workpermits for his people in your country then from your intellectual, don’t ask him to allow them to cast their ballot NO. Its time we say NO.
Mbeki, you are part of the problem. you helped Zimbabwe to loot your nationals, You used Zimbabwe as a test to see what if they take the land (that is still lying mostly unused ) This backfired . Hence South Africa is rethinking the Land policy. Zimbabwe must address the land issue 1st ,before you start looting the factories
Stop your sniveling about who likes or dislikes your rights to determine your own destiny and just get on with determining it.
Hello Mbeki Hello there You come again like boils. You think Zimbabweans are so stupid to forget your hypocrisy huh. You betrayed Zimbabweans and you thrill in their misery you miserable bafoon. SHUT UP TRAITOR!
Anold Anderson, how blind you are, the “heinous west” is the only group giving help to many thousands through food aid and NGO assistance. They only do it because they care, unlike ZANU. If you call the damage done by Mbeki “support” you need help, seriously. Bite the hand that feeds you!
Mbeki continues to be a significant voice for old guard leaders in Africa and clearly does not believe that elections on the continent should meet any international standards of being free and fair. Unfortunately for him, though, you cannot convince the Europeans and the Americans from whom you need funds that there is an international standard for all humanity, then there is a separate and unique Afrivan standard. Mbeki was unsuccessful in his efforts to preserve Laurent Gbagbo’s hold on power in Cote d’Ivoire, but thus far has been one of few international figures to be in Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s good books. He was instrumental in helping President Mugabe cling on to power despite losing the first round of presidential elections in 2008, and despite the brutalities that finally forced Morgan Tsvangirai to withdraw from the run-off. If it’s old ways Africans are looking for, then Mbeki is certainly the torch-bearer. Forward never, backward ever.
How intelectual can this halfwit mbeki be to lose to a dimwit jacob zuma in the anc.There is absolutely no hope for africa if mbeki is looked upon a an intelectual.
Mbeki maybe you should start by getting rid of the great big chip on your shoulder!!
It is not just a rumour that Mbeki has business ties with ZanuPF. They indeed have businesses. The ANC is looting gold from How Mine outside Bulawayo. This is just one of many mineral deals that they have. Since independence Mugabe has ruled the country through the barrel of the gun. Is it being intellectual to support a president who massacred over 20000 members of another political party forcing them into subjugation? Is it intellectual to support a President who sends armed man to beat up publicly opposition political leaders like what Mugabe did to Tswangira and Chamisa? Is it being an African intellectual to support a sitting president who engages an Israeli Nikuv organisation to work together with his military to rig elections and claim victory after barring other parties from a free press and even barring them from holding meetings like what Simon Khaya Moyo did in the Plumtree area? If this is being intellectual then it is a cursed defition of the word. There are many people who benefit from Zimbabwe’s minerals especially members of the ANC of South Africa. Their women like Nkosazana Zuma was a girl friend of one Zanupf Mudenge. The West has its propblems but Mugabe is a vicious dictator who employs every evil tactic. Every dictator no matter how evil he is. During his terror of he has supporters. Mbeki and Nkosazana Zuma together with other Africans are not an exception. Delirious intellectuals have always existed. But the people are not stupid. Nor will they be hoodwinked perpetually.
Taona you are 100% right
Does Mbeki mention the human rights abuses over the past 13 years? Does he mention electoral fraud? Why does the ANC refuse to release the report on the 2002 elections? Because that report states that the election wasn’t free and fair. Does Mbeki mention the fact that the Zimbabwe diaspora were denied the vote, all 1.6+ million of them. Does he mention the fact that farmers haven’t been compensated – not even for infrastructure? What about the income form the diamonds – where does that go? And the Chinese – are they providing financial assistance to get the economy re-started? No.
Mbeki is stupidity personified. Listen to him at your own peril. Zuma is the epitome of ignorance. God help Africa and God help South Africa even.
Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans Mbeki, let Mugabe keep his Zimbabwe and you keep your Mzansi.
Hang on – is this news for real? I can’t find any other reports of this online. That’s either because Mbeki is no longer relevant [the West thinks that he’s a moron because of his medieval opinions on HIV] – or because this is just recycled news from years ago.
STUPID BUFOON MBEKI. YOU MUST TALK WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT. Zimmabweans are suffering because of the lawlessness in the country and and high level kleptomania whereby diamond revenues cannot be accounted for. If any money comes from the IMF it will benefit the mafia and nobody else. Why should they give money to a people who are totally irresponsible. We need credibility and accountability first. Imagine instead of announcing the budget and focusing on the economy they are focusing on what they know best DEMOLITIONS. This demolitions party cannot be taken seriously by any reasonable person. Guys who in their right mind would extend a hand. Mbeki is part of Zimbabwe’s problems as an accomplice. We never forget that “no crisis Mbeki’ was the devil that caused many deaths in Zimbabwe!!!!!!
Mbeki, you are the most hated South African in Zimbabwe. Don’t think that Zimbabweans will ever forget your hand (or should I say underhand tactics) in dealing with the Zimbabwe issue. Just stick to your pipe smoking and whisky and let us sort our own problems here.
One thing you said Mbeki is the decrease in popularity as per freedom report of 38% to 20% or whatever, the explanation is clear Thabo, 1.6 million refugees and worker who migrated to RSA, 600k in UK, 600k in Canada, 400k in Australia and over 300 k in USA were forced by Mugabe policies to leave Zimbabwe. 60% of them are intellectuals who saw no future in Mugabe, and left. Mugabe will never achieve anything no matter how much support. You have always supported him as SA President, what did he achieve save 6.5 sextrillion percentage inflation?
Mbeki-can you assist us to get the electronic voters roll for the July elections? Why is the South African government apealing to the ruling for prosecuting zimbabweans who tortured fellow zimbabwaens because they had different political opinions? Mbeki-you are not an interlectual. Why did you keep quiet when the Zimbabwe Electrical Commission delayed the release of presidential election results in 2008?
Well said Mr. Mbeki, but where is the money ? Stop talking and support Zimbabwe.
Every thief hides their tracks; they hide evidence of their stealing. So this nonsense that people are accusing gukurahundies of rigging elections without providing evidence is absolutely foolish.
For straters why cant we have sight of the voters roll? Why is the Electoral Commission refusing with the voting material?
Then stupid Mbeki has the guts to say there is no evidence? Why did his government hide the report on the 2002 elections, which even Zuma is still refuse to hand over to the M&G and the public, despite several Court rulings? Why apeal and appeal against these rulings, if all in that report is above board?
Mugabe is not radical. he is simply incomptent despot. Greedy and deriven by greedy, selfishness. In the 1979 lancester house, he agreed to compromises so as to gain favours with the British while ensuring his power and Prime Minister against the real radical leader Joshua Nkomo and the likes of Dumiso Dabengwa, look Out Masuku, Josiah Tongogara and Maurice Nyagumbo, and Edgar Tekere. The reason Mugabe is apprearing radical, is becauses his power base is threatened by misgaovernance, he realised that real democratic processes would vote him out, hence he is behaving like a caged leopard. Screaming at everyone, and shallow minded africans thing is radicallism
@FUNGAI
We will leave Mbeki alone if he also leaves our country alone and stops causing confusion and helping prolong our suffering by supporting the gukurahundis at every turn.
Mbeki should worry about his own country SA; they have more than enough problems to handle!
Well said Bruce. Even the communist leader Lennin wrote a book entitled “Left Wing Communism an Infantile Disorder” in which he tried to point out not all “radicalism” is genuinely for the people. Our living example is Julius Malema a Robert Mugabe admirer and devote imitator. Mugabe is definitely void of anything good that a reasonable, mentally sound and intelligent African intellectual can imitate. Calling on intellectuals to support him is a
calling on African intellectuals to support Mugabe is an insult to all sanity and dignity of intellectuals. Those who have received money from him can eat that money. They believe that is how the poor African masses will be empowered. Our country can sell to anyone in the world if we produce and find markets but we cant produce and sell anything. Insulting the West is not production. No one wants to buy insults to Amercians while dining and wining with the Almerican protegés of Israel. Only foolish African intellectuals will believe that this man has a cause except justy exa
I have always wondered why Mbeki is taunted as an intellectual with the kind of statements he issues devoid of intellectual reasoning.
Mbeki was toppled by his own comrades bcoz he is incompetent. He helped mugabe stay in power in 2008. We r in this mess bcoz of him so for some time to come he must shut his mouth and leave Zimbabwe alone.
Shut up Mbeki. You are the one who helped Mugabe to rig our elections