Western Propaganda Turns Mugabe into a Tyrant

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Tuache denial waafrika. Matatizo yetu mchawi wake ni sisi wenyewe, tuache kuwasingizia wazungu. Kwamba Mugabe ni tyrant sio propaganda, ni ukweli, ni hali halisi iliyopo Zimbabwe.

Kila siku nawauliza hao wanaong'ang'ania swala la ardhi kwamba ndio tatizo, nawauliza kwa nini iwe Mugabe tu ndiye anayefaa kulitatua kati ya mamilioni ya watu wa Zimbabwe?

Haya hao wanaoilaumu MDC kwa kuungwa mkono na UK na US, tatizo liko wapi hapa? Nitajieni nchi gani Africa leo inayoishi bila handouts za hao jamaa? Kwa nini iwe tatizo nchi kuunga mkono vyama vya upinzani lakini ni sawa kuunga mkono vyama tawala?

Jamani tuache kujificha kwenye matatizo yetu, tuanze kuyatatua sasa. Tukubali kuchukua lawama pale tunapokuwa tume-bore. Kwa hapa mshikaji wetu Mugabe katota, kachemsha, katuvua nguo waafrika wote, kuendelea kumtetea ni sawa na kukimbia uchi barabarani baada ya kuvua nguo, ni aibu kubwa ndugu zangu!

Baba yetu Mandela, icon ya Africa, amekwisha sema kuwa a tragic failure of leadership, not only in Zimbabwe, but in the region as a whole. Huyu naye ni puppet sio? Tuone aibu. Mambo mengine kama haya tunahitaji sauti ya pamoja, vinginevyo sisi ndio tunawapa akina Mugabe kiburi cha kuendelea kuua wananchi waliopaswa kuwalinda.

 

[Kungurumweupe]

Jana waingereza wamemnyang'anya Mugabe honorary knighthood waliyompa! Hii nayo tutasema ndiyo sababu hali ya Zimbabwe iko hivyo? Waafrika wakati wa Iddi Amin, waliwashutumu mataifa ya magharibi kwa kum'demonize'. Mwaka 1975-76 wakampa uenyekiti wa OAU na mwaka unaofuata(1977-1979) Uganda ikaingia kwenye United Nationa Commission on Human Rights, bila shaka kwa msukumo wa mataifa ya kiafrika. Wakati wote huo Idi Amin alichukuliwa kama shujaa ati kwa vile aliwafukuza wahindi.

Leo, wote tunashuhudia, ndugu zetu wakiteswa na kuuawa kwa sababu tu ya kusupport upinzani. Leo hii tunaangalia nchi iliyokuwa ni bread basket na moja ya mataifa yaliyoendelea katika afrika, wananchi wake wakigeuka kuwa omba omba na wauza vitambaa vya kushona nchini mwetu. Bado tunakataa kumwita mchawi, mchawi, ati kwa vile aliwanyang'anya wazungu mashamba akawapa cronies wake! Mugabe ni abomination na heri Mwenyezi angemchukua mapema awanusuru wananchi wa Zimbabwe.

Mkuu Fundi Mchundo,

Naamini Mungu atakipitisha kikombe chako mbali na Mugabe.

 

[MiratKad]

Issue ya Zimbabwe ni Ngumu. Sidhani kama inawezekana kuwa Black or White on it. Mugabe is feeding on some things that happened in the past, especially in connection with the Lancaster Gate agreement with the British-which the Blairs government tried to annul. And most recently powerlessness of most Zimbabwe citizens.

I think Mugabe lost the first round, not because Tsvangrai is better, but because Zimbabweans wanted to GET RID OF him.

Kwa kuwa Mugabe bado anang'angania kuwa rais (living in the PAST GLORY and thinking that he is the only best candidate), while many are suffering and dying he should not be in power.

 

[Kungurumweupe]

Watu Wenye Mtazamo Wa Wazungu Wanamuona Morgan Mshindi......!
Wenye Mtazamo Wa Kiafrika tunamuona mugabe Mshindi........!
mugabe Fight For Your Land....! Dont Let Vibaraka Wachukue Ardhi Huku Wewe Ukiangalia.....!
anachofanya Mugabe Sasa Ndicho Ilichofanya Tanzania Miaka Ya Nyuma.....! mugabe Uzi Huo Huo, Mpaka Kieleweke......!

Hakika ningekuwa na uwezo wa kisiasa na kiuchumi ningemsaidia The Real African Leader Mugabe.

MUNGU MUBARIKI MUGABE.

AMEN.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Mkuu Fundi Mchundo,

Naamini Mungu atakipitisha kikombe chako mbali na Mugabe.

Idi Amin Dada, Mengistu,Francisco Macías Nguema, Kamuzu Banda, Samuel Doe, Siad Barre, Mobutu,Bokkasa and so on and so on. Wote REAL AFRICANS.
I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you!

 

[Kitia]

Mugabe, like most of the old genre of African leaders, thinks he is indispensable, that affairs in Zimbabwe will further go wrong without him. That is why is so adamant not to let the opposition take over. This kind of thought disregards the plight of many poor Zimbwabeans, whose lives could improve if another leader steps in.

 

[Kungurumweupe]

Sasa utamwambia nini mtu anayeamini kuwa jeshi ndiyo lenye nchi? Kama Mkuu mwenyewe alivyosema; yaani kweli niondoke kwa sababu ya ki X kwenye karatasi wakati nina bunduki?

Halafu bado mnahoji kwa nini tunaonekana kama vikaragosi?

Lord have mercy.

By the way, kwa nini usiwe kunguruMWEUSI!!!?

Mkuu Fundi Mchundo,

Kunguru ni ndege mwenye rangi NYEUSI na mstari wa rangi NYEUPE.

Kwa kifupi ni kwamba, neno KUNGURU kwangu linabeba UAFRIKA wangu wa KWELI, na neno MWEUPE linabeba WEUPE wa matendo yangu ya kuitetea HAKI YA MNYONGE, kama Kunguru ateteavyo HAKI YAKE kwa nguvu zake zote bila kumwogopa binadamu aliyejaa kila aina ya UWEZO, UFISADI na UOVU wa kupindukia hata kuipindisha HAKI ya VIUMBE WANYONGE!

 

[Mahesabu]

thanks Comrade!

Pls Fight For Righteousness! And Justice!

God Willing Like I Believe Or Like All Patriots Sees Something Like A Light In A Tunnel!

We Will Be Victorious!

Say Hi To The Fellas Who Believe In The Cause!

Lets Get In The History!
Lets Fight For The Coming Generations Just Like Our Beloved Grand Grand Parents Fought For Our Immediate Freedom!

We Are In Aother Freedom Fighting!
Freedom Not To Die For Hunger Or Preventable Diseses!
Freedom To Be Frr Of Corruption So That We Can Make Our Own Decision Without Fear!

........freedom Is Coming Tomorrow....!
Lets Open Our Brothers & Sisters Konshas About Freedom.....from Oppression, Corruption, Invasion, Inferiority Complex.....!

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Mkuu Fundi Mchundo,

Kunguru ni ndege mwenye rangi NYEUSI na mstari wa rangi NYEUPE.

Kwa kifupi ni kwamba, neno KUNGURU kwangu linabeba UAFRIKA wangu wa KWELI, na neno MWEUPE linabeba WEUPE wa matendo yangu ya kuitetea HAKI YA MNYONGE, kama Kunguru ateteavyo HAKI YAKE kwa nguvu zake zote bila kumwogopa binadamu aliyejaa kila aina ya UWEZO, UFISADI na UOVU wa kupindukia hata kuipindisha HAKI ya VIUMBE WANYONGE!

Kwa hiyo unautukuza WEUPE kama kipimo cha matendo mema? Hutaki kuwa kunguru mweusi kwa vile ni kibaka? Mbona huyo kunguru "mweupe" hakuweza kustahimili mapigo ya kunguru "mweusi"?

Nimeyasema hayo kwa sababu naona mmejitishwa vitu ambavyo hamvielewi kwa undani. Hauwezi ukajiita mtetea wanyonge kwa kumkumbatia anayewagandamiza. Mmekuwa jingistic mno kiasi kuwa i doubt kama kweli mkiitwa to put your lives on the line kwa ajili ya hao mnaodai kwa sauti kubwa kuwa mnawatetea,mtakuwa tayari kufanya hivyo. Uafrika wa kweli si rangi kama unavyodhani. Wakina Ruth First waliuawa kwa kwa kutetea uafrika. Mme wake, Joe Slovo, alipoteza mkono kwa kutetea waafrika. hawa kwangu mimi wanastahili kubwa kujivunia uafrika wao kuliko wenzangu armchair revolutionaries.
Amandla!

 

[M-bongo]

Sijui ni wangapi wanaofahamu kuwa Mugabe, alinyang'anya mashamba kisha kuyagawa kwa maveterani na vibosile Wenzake si kwa raia kama ambavyo imekuwa ikichukuliwa, hivyo raia hawana kitu Maveterami waliopewa mashamba hawalimi na huenda tu wiki endi kwenye mashamba hayo kutembea kuangalia mipaka na kurudi njaa mtindo mmoja!

 

[Kungurumweupe]

Tuache denial waafrika. Matatizo yetu mchawi wake ni sisi wenyewe, tuache kuwasingizia wazungu. Kwamba Mugabe ni tyrant sio propaganda, ni ukweli, ni hali halisi iliyopo Zimbabwe.

Kila siku nawauliza hao wanaong'ang'ania swala la ardhi kwamba ndio tatizo, nawauliza kwa nini iwe Mugabe tu ndiye anayefaa kulitatua kati ya mamilioni ya watu wa Zimbabwe?

Haya hao wanaoilaumu MDC kwa kuungwa mkono na UK na US, tatizo liko wapi hapa? Nitajieni nchi gani Africa leo inayoishi bila handouts za hao jamaa? Kwa nini iwe tatizo nchi kuunga mkono vyama vya upinzani lakini ni sawa kuunga mkono vyama tawala?

Jamani tuache kujificha kwenye matatizo yetu, tuanze kuyatatua sasa. Tukubali kuchukua lawama pale tunapokuwa tume-bore. Kwa hapa mshikaji wetu Mugabe katota, kachemsha, katuvua nguo waafrika wote, kuendelea kumtetea ni sawa na kukimbia uchi barabarani baada ya kuvua nguo, ni aibu kubwa ndugu zangu!

Baba yetu Mandela, icon ya Africa, amekwisha sema kuwa a tragic failure of leadership, not only in Zimbabwe, but in the region as a whole. Huyu naye ni puppet sio? Tuone aibu. Mambo mengine kama haya tunahitaji sauti ya pamoja, vinginevyo sisi ndio tunawapa akina Mugabe kiburi cha kuendelea kuua wananchi waliopaswa kuwalinda.

Mkuu Mkumbo,

Japokuwa jina lako ni Mkumbo lakini nafahamu wazi kwamba wewe si mtu wa mkumbo. Nina maana kwamba wewe si mtu wa kufuata mkumbo. Hili nalifahamu wazi tangu enzi zile za Mlimani.

Lakini Mkuu, kidogo umenishangaza ulipojiunga na watu wachache wanaoshindwa kutetea haki ya uwezo wao wa kiafrika waliopewa na Mungu eti kwa kuogopa kuchekwa na miungu wao wa kizungu! Ajabu!

Unamaana gani unaposema kwamba,'kuendelea kumtetea Mugabe ni sawa na kukimbia uchi barabarani baada ya kuvua nguo, ni aibu kubwa ndugu zangu!' Ni aibu kwa nani??!!! Wazungu??!!!!! Au Wachina waliojaa kariakoo baada ya Wamachinga kufukuzwa kama wanyama wa mwitu??!!

Inamaana na wewe bado unawaabudu hao wazungu??!! Fikiria tena Mkuu, hueleweki.

 

[Kungurumweupe]

Kwa hiyo unautukuza WEUPE kama kipimo cha matendo mema? Hutaki kuwa kunguru mweusi kwa vile ni kibaka? Mbona huyo kunguru "mweupe" hakuweza kustahimili mapigo ya kunguru "mweusi"?

Nimeyasema hayo kwa sababu naona mmejitishwa vitu ambavyo hamvielewi kwa undani. Hauwezi ukajiita mtetea wanyonge kwa kumkumbatia anayewagandamiza. Mmekuwa jingistic mno kiasi kuwa i doubt kama kweli mkiitwa to put your lives on the line kwa ajili ya hao mnaodai kwa sauti kubwa kuwa mnawatetea,mtakuwa tayari kufanya hivyo. Uafrika wa kweli si rangi kama unavyodhani. Wakina Ruth First waliuawa kwa kwa kutetea uafrika. Mme wake, Joe Slovo, alipoteza mkono kwa kutetea waafrika. hawa kwangu mimi wanastahili kubwa kujivunia uafrika wao kuliko wenzangu armchair revolutionaries.
Amandla!

Mkuu Fundi Mchundo,

Naamini kwamba uwezo wako wa kuelewa ni mkubwa. Lakini nashindwa kuelewa unapojifanya kutokuelewa nini hasa maana ya rangi NYEUPE!!

Rangi NYEUPE kamwe haimanishi UZUNGU! ALMASI na PAMBA zote zina rangi NYEUPE lakini zinapatikana hapahapa Afrika ya WEUSI, tena Tanzania kwa WASUKUMA walalahoi wa nchi hii. Wasukuma huiita PAMBA kwa jina la DHAHABU NYEUPE kwa sababu ya WEUPE wa RANGI yake ya ASILI. Inamaana tuwambie hao wasukuma waache kulima pamba(dhahabu NYEUPE) kwa sababu FUNDI MCHUNDO anaamini WEUPE ni UZUNGU??!! Au tuwalazimishe waamini kwamba PAMBA ina RANGI NYEUSI wakati ni NYEUPE! Ajabu!

RANGI NI RANGI TU WALA HAINAUHUSIANO NA TAIFA AU DINI YA MTU!

MUNGU WASAIDIE WALIOATHIRIKA KISAIKOLOJIA KIASI CHA KUWAABUDU WAZUNGU!

 

[Nzokanhyilu]

Mandela, Mandela. Mbona kaenda kuongelea Uingereza? Tena kasentensi kamoja. Halafu alikuwa wapi wakati waafrika wanauwawa na kuvamiwa South Africa? Hana dili huyo Mzee.

Kuhusu Zimbabwe, mimi namwelewa Mugabe (every african leader knows the score, but they also know that the only winner is mzungu who control africa's economy. Once africans decide to control their economies, this wont happen. But I cant see it happening, so this will be a vicious cycle. Today Mugabe, tomorrow maybe Tanzania). Ila ya uchaguzi, kachemsha. Yeye na Morgan Manundu, wote nawaona wachizi na hawafai. Kila mtu anacheza na propaganda zake. Mugabe is in so deep, its hard to turn back. Morgan is such a sell-out, he aint better either. The losers are Zimbambwe people.

Haya mambo yatakuja yatugeukie sisi siku moja........na ndio maana kina Zitto wanajihami. In truth, nyie upinzani shughulikieni matatizo ya nyumbani, kwani ishu ya Zimbambwe si nyepesi.

*Nyani Ngabu, waafrika ndivyo tulivyo. Kwani wewe unaweza kueleza kwanini waafrika walikuwa wanakusanywa kama watumwa kutoka Tabora mpaka Pwani wakisimamiwa na mwarabu ana kimjeledi au kigobole?

 

[Masanja]

No Moral Ground to Oust Mugabe
Blood on his hands is not a disqualification to rule.

Robert Mugabe is indeed an odious ruler with blood on his hands. But since when is that a disqualification to rule? The world has long been full of rulers even more odious and bloodthirsty than he.

We would love to have a world composed exclusively of enlightened democracies. But since that is not the case, should we oust dictators by force? The practical difficulties--and possibility of massive, cruel disaster--have already been demonstrated in efforts to remove a dictator in Iraq. Even putting aside the practical difficulties, how firm is the moral ground for acting against Mugabe?


The vast majority of 20th century world rulers were bloody autocrats, and the shift to democracy in the 21st century has so far been partial and unconvincing. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan are autocracies. Does anybody suggest UN action to topple them? All the Central Asian republics are autocracies. Does anybody suggest toppling them? No, because they are generally pro-Western autocracies, and that apparently expiates their sins. Of Mugabe's many crimes, the one that is apparently unforgivable is that he has confiscated the land of white farmers, killed some and driven out others. In earlier times, when he accommodated whites, the West hailed him as a great freedom fighter. Britain even knighted him. These encomiums were poured on him despite his killing 10,000 to 20,000 members of the rival Matabele tribe during an uprising. Nobody called him a bloody criminal at the time. Only when he turned viciously against whites did the western media and political class suddenly find in him despicable qualities that had somehow escaped them earlier.

This white bias is well understood in Africa--and Asia--and explains why other African rulers have been slow to join Western condemnation of him. Some have finally condemned him now, but none of them wants military action to topple Mugabe. They know that in the long list of bloodthirsty African dictators, Mugabe does not rank very high. Unlike others, Mugabe has in the past held some perfectly fair elections. Even this time, despite using deplorably violent tactics, he actually allowed himself to be beaten in the first round – something no autocrat in Central Asia or the Middle East would have permitted.

Yes, Mugabe's ineptness has caused hyperinflation and economic disaster. Yet history is full of economic disasters, and these have never sparked international action to oust the rulers.

Should the UN condemn Mugabe? Certainly. All good humans must condemn Mugabe's violence and murder. But remember that for most of its history, the majority of UN members have been bloodthirsty and economically inept autocrats. Yet the institution still gives all members an equal vote. If bloodthirsty, murderous states are acceptable as UN members--and China surely fits this description-- is there any moral ground on which to oust Mugabe alone?

There is much to be said for the Westphalian principle of not interfering with the internal affairs of countries, no matter how odious their rulers or practices may be. Better would be economic sanctions that may spur an internal process in Zimbabwe that ousts Mugabe. These may simply worsen economic misery without ousting Mugabe. Yet that is a risk worth taking.


Hi article nimeikuta kwenye WPost...Its the reality. But what do we do now as Africans?

 

[FDR.Jr]

MKUU INVISIBLE TAFADHARI UANGALIE UPANDE HUU AMBAO KUNA MWENZETU MMOJA ANAIFAHAMU ZIMBABWE NA ANA CONNECTION NZITO HUKO NA USOME ALOYASEMA BAADA YA KUISOMA ARTICLE YA THREAD HII.
Please let us get our facts right:

The Western sanctions against Zimbabwe are:
- freezing of the personal assets of about 100 top Government officials
who have accounts and other assets in western countries
- travel bans on top officials, their spouses and children who are not
given visas to travel to western countries
- an arms embargo so that western countries will not sell arms to the
Zimbabwean Government

These sanctions do not affect an ordinary Zimbabwean, who does not have
foreign bank accounts, foreign assets or travel often to western countries
and who does not need arms to kill people. They do not affect the
Zimbabwean economy in general, only the personal finances of top officials.


So what the Mugabe supporters are saying is that just because he and his
close friends and family have had all the money they stole from the
Zimbabwean people frozen, and that they can no longer use their money to
send their kids to the best UK and US schools, that the whole Zimbabwean
economy has collapsed because of this? Just because they now import their
weapons from China instead of the west?

Sanctions are not aimed at the general economy and do not impose an economic
"blockade" on Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean firms not connected to government leaders
are free to do business with western firms; western firms are free to invest
in and trade with Zimbabwe, so long as they avoid business deals with top
officials. Humanitarian aid, aid for HIV patients and food aid was still
being given (before it was banned by the Zimbabwean government).

The economy has collapsed because Mugabe continuously ordered printing of
more and more money whenever he wanted it, for example to pay the soldiers
who were fighting wars in Congo. Even basic economics will tell you that if
you print so much money, it will become worthless. For details of this
please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwean_dollar

When my fiance's mother visited Tanzania a few months ago, the exchange rate
was 70 million to the US dollar. When she visited again last week, the
exchange rate was 22 BILLION to the US dollar. You can't blame that on a
few travel restrictions and asset freezes of a few top officials.

TUSOME NA TUFAKARI

 

[Masanja]

Wazungu mtawalaumu mpaka YESU arudi without Africans getting any better!

 

[Kungurumweupe]

Sidhani kama kuna watu wanabishia uningiliaji wa nchi za magharibi kwa interests zao lakini tusifumbie macho kwa jinsi naye Mugabe ambavyo anaiendesha Zimbabwe.

Hivi mugabe anataka kutuambia ni yeye peke yake ndio alipigania uhuru wa Zimbabwe au ni yeye peke yake ndio ana uchungu na Zimbabwe?

Tufanye hayo hapo juu ni kweli, basi ajifunze kurithisha wengine ambao anaona wana uchungu na hiyo nchi kama yeye, kwani naamini wapo. Urais miaka 28? Tangu hatujui mambo ya computer, internet, mobile phones, TV/Flat screen TVs na mengineyo mengi, yeye bado tu ni rais? Jamani hata akili yake imechoka na kama ni ufalme basi ni bora angesema na kama wazimbabwe wanakubali hakuna ambaye angemsumbua.

Lakini kama ni demokrasia basi yeye hayuko kabisa katika eneo hilo. Mugabe atalaumu nchi za magharibi na itaonekana sahihi na baadhi lakini hata yeye amekaa vibaya na kujisahau ambako kumepelekea watu wa Zimbabwe wawe katika hali mbaya mno.

Aondoke. Zimbabwe sio mali binafsi. Any Zimbabwean can make a good president kama ana uchungu na nchi yake. Of course sikubaliani na Tsivangarai anavyopelekesha mambo yake, lakini hao sio watu pekee waipendao na wenye uchungu na nchi yao.

Heshima yako Mkuu BeNoir,

Kama kweli unataka The Real African Mugabe aondoke, basi mwambie Tsva.. kesho arudi ulingoni ili awape wazimbabwe haki yao ya kikatiba ya kumwondoa Mugabe.

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

The Western sanctions against Zimbabwe are:
- freezing of the personal assets of about 100 top Government officials
who have accounts and other assets in western countries
- travel bans on top officials, their spouses and children who are not
given visas to travel to western countries
- an arms embargo so that western countries will not sell arms to the
Zimbabwean Government

Yote haya yamesemwa lakini mwenye kupenda hata umwambie nini hakusikii! Mpaka hapo yatakapomkuta ndiyo atalalamika kuwa hukumuonya! Sikio la kufa etc etc.

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Mkuu Mkumbo,

Japokuwa jina lako ni Mkumbo lakini nafahamu wazi kwamba wewe si mtu wa mkumbo. Nina maana kwamba wewe si mtu wa kufuata mkumbo. Hili nalifahamu wazi tangu enzi zile za Mlimani.

Lakini Mkuu, kidogo umenishangaza ulipojiunga na watu wachache wanaoshindwa kutetea haki ya uwezo wao wa kiafrika waliopewa na Mungu eti kwa kuogopa kuchekwa na miungu wao wa kizungu! Ajabu!

Unamaana gani unaposema kwamba,'kuendelea kumtetea Mugabe ni sawa na kukimbia uchi barabarani baada ya kuvua nguo, ni aibu kubwa ndugu zangu!' Ni aibu kwa nani??!!! Wazungu??!!!!! Au Wachina waliojaa kariakoo baada ya Wamachinga kufukuzwa kama wanyama wa mwitu??!!

Inamaana na wewe bado unawaabudu hao wazungu??!! Fikiria tena Mkuu, hueleweki.

Nashukuru kwamba unanijua vizuri. Kama unanijua vizuri kweli basi unajua pia kwamba mimi huwa naweza kusimama mwenyewe (yaani maverick) kama naamini kitu hata kama watu wote wanapinga. Kwa hili sitaki kujificha kwenye zulia la kupigania uhuru. Kupigania uhuru hakukufanyi uwe malaika au saint.

Hakuna kitu kibaya na cha ushetani kwa kiongozi wa nchi kama kuwaona wananchi wake ni maadui wake. Leo hii Mugabe anawaua wananchi wake ambao anapaswa kuwalinda kwa kutumia wanajeshi wahuni, unataka tumtetee kwa kuogopa kuonekana vibaraka wa wazungu? Utamteteaje mtu anayetaka kubaki madarakani kwa njia za hila baada ya kugundua kwamba wananchi wake mwenyewe hawamtaki? Kwa hili ndugu yangu, semeni mtakayotaka, tupeni majina yote ya kutuonyesha sisi ni puppets wa wazungu, lakini sitaacha kamwe kusema kwamba Mugabe hatufai waafrika na hawafai wazimbabwe kwa sasa. Ni hatari kuliko walivyokuwa wakoloni.

Narudia tena kauli yangu kwamba matatizo yetu kwa kiasi kikubwa yanachangiwa na sababu za ndani yaani internal factors, ikiwemo ujinga, uzembe na ubinafsi, kuliko yanavyochangiwa na sababu za nje, external factors, kama vile wazungu. Matatizo yaliyopo Zimbabwe yamesababishwa kwa kiwngo cha kutisha na Mugabe na ZANU PF, na wala kuwalaumu wazungu hakusaidii katika kuyatatua.

 

[FDR.Jr]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zimbabwe official: Mandela bowed to West By ANGUS SHAW, Associated Press Writer
21 minutes ago



HARARE, Zimbabwe - President Robert Mugabe's information minister on Thursday dismissed criticism of Zimbabwe's leader from anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, a day before an internationally condemned runoff election was scheduled to take place.

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Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said Mandela was only bowing to Western pressure when he referred to a "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe.

Mandela made his comments Wednesday in London before an audience at a fundraiser that included Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former President Bill Clinton.

But Ndlovu nonetheless called Mandela a statesman, and said he condemned the West for pressuring African leaders, not Mandela.

Although out of office for nearly a decade, Mandela remains a commanding and respected figure. He uses his influence sparingly, and it is particularly rare for him to publicly differ with South Africa's current president, Thabo Mbeki. South Africans and other Africans have been increasingly questioning Mbeki's unwillingness to publicly criticize Mugabe, so Mandela's brief but sharp comments will have particular resonance.

Also Thursday, Zimbabwe's opposition leader said negotiations won't be possible if Mugabe goes ahead with a runoff election the world has denounced as a sham.

"Negotiations will be over if Mr. Mugabe declares himself the winner and considers himself the president. How can we negotiate?" Morgan Tsvangirai said in an interview with the British newspaper The Times. The Times said he spoke by telephone from the Dutch Embassy in Harare, where he fled over the weekend, saying he had received a tip soldiers were headed to his home.

Wednesday, Tsvangirai emerged briefly from the embassy to hold a news conference during which he urged African leaders to guide negotiations aimed at forming a coalition transitional authority in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean officials scoffed at Tsvangirai's call for talks and said they were focused on Friday's presidential runoff. Tsvangirai, who had been the only candidate facing Mugabe in the runoff, announced Sunday he was withdrawing because state-sponsored violence against his Movement for Democratic Change had made it impossible to run. Electoral officials say the election will go ahead with Tsvangirai's name on the ballot.

Tsvangirai late Wednesday issued a statement saying he did not write a commentary that appeared under his name calling for United Nations peacekeepers in his country. The essay appeared in Wednesday's edition of the British newspaper The Guardian. Tsvangirai said The Guardian was assured by "credible sources" that he had approved the article, but that he had not.

A Tsvangirai aide, George Sibotshiwe, said Thursday his party was trying to determine how the commentary was given to The Guardian under Tsvangirai's name.

Tsvangirai had been asked about the essay several times earlier Wednesday and did not disavow it then, though he did stress that a call for peacekeepers was not a call for military intervention, a sensitive issue.

The Herald, a Zimbabwean government mouthpiece, on Thursday accused Tsvangirai of calling "for military intervention in Zimbabwe disguised as peacekeepers."

Sibotshiwe, the spokesman, said Tsvangirai did not equate peacekeepers with military intervention.

"We still need peacekeepers," Sibotshiwe said.

Mugabe campaigned Wednesday and was expected to continue campaigning Thursday. The Herald reported Thursday he had urged crowds north of Harare to "vote for the ruling party to show the world their resolve to defend the country's sovereignty and independence."

Mugabe has become increasing defiant in the face of international condemnation he dismisses as Western attempts to meddle in Africa. But Africans themselves are increasingly speaking out against Mugabe.

Tsvangirai spokesman Sibotshiwe said Mandela's comments were an example of his leadership.

"President Mandela has always provided leadership on the continent, and this is one example," Sibotshiwe said. "We believe President Mandela has watched this thing deteriorate for a very long time."

Mugabe sees Mandela as a fellow freedom fighter, and will find it hard to dismiss or ridicule him — Mugabe's typical response to criticism. Sibotshiwe said Mugabe, 84 years old to Mandela's 89, would have to respect the South African as an African elder.

But "Robert Mugabe has stopped listening to the whole world," Sibotshiwe said. "Robert Mugabe does not care about African solidarity. He only cares about African solidarity when it is convenient."

Wednesday, the leaders of Swaziland and Tanzania, meeting as a committee of the main regional bloc, the South African Development Community, urged Zimbabwe to postpone the runoff, saying violence and restrictions on the opposition had not created the conditions for a free and fair vote Friday.

The Herald, the Zimbabwean government mouthpiece, quoted officials here Thursday as saying the call for postponement was illegitimate.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's opposition said its No. 2 leader was granted bail Thursday.

Tendai Biti, secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change, had been jailed since flying back to Zimbabwe from South Africa June 12. He was charged with treason, which carries the death penalty, as well as with publishing false statements, insulting the president and another charge related to interfering with the military.

Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa released a brief statement saying a judge had granted Biti bail.