Mugabe and Zanu PF admits failure

[Nyambala]

By its constant whinging about so-called sanctions, Zanu (PF) is, in effect, admitting that it is a complete failure. Ian Smith's minority, illegal, regime was under proper, UN-mandated sanctions for more than a decade. And yet Rhodesia prospered.

The economy President Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF) inherited from the Rhodesians was diverse, robust and stable - as a direct result of sanctions!

Admittedly, it catered only for the minority - but the fact remains that the majority enjoyed a very high employment rate and a better quality, and much longer, life than is currently the case.

Under UN sanctions, the Rhodesians were forbidden to trade with anybody except South Africa. And yet they managed to penetrate world markets and sustain a thriving economy.

The Mugabe lot persist in lying about non-existent economic sanctions and blaming them for all Zimbabwe's woes. What they call sanctions are, in effect, targeted travel and financial restrictions against some 220 members of Zanu (PF).

Zimbabwe as a country can trade openly with any nation in the world.

Many agricultural products are even accorded preferential tariffs when entering the European market.

It seems therefore that Mugabe is admitting that Smith's lot were brighter than his lot? A lot brighter, in fact! The Rhodesians never received a cent from the World Bank or the IMF. Zanu (PF) has received oodles of money from these institutions - but they are still unable to pay their debts.

While unable to trade openly, the Rhodesians started assembling vehicles locally. They found a way to bring in a range of components, and set up industries to maximise import substitution.

Today there are no constraints on sourcing components on world markets - yet Willowvale and Mutare assembly plants continue to operate far below capacity.

Despite real sanctions, the Rhodesians managed to export massive amounts of top-quality tobacco. It was sought after on world markets. Zanu (PF)'s "new", weekend farmers have virtually destroyed the industry.

And now, at the height of the ICT age, Zanu (PF) has just announced it will not license any more internet service providers. ICT is the future.

India has computerised so thoroughly and trained its people so well that its IT sector is driving massive economic growth.

Zimbabwe could do the same. The time zones would work in our favour to compete for outsourcing services.

But Zanu (PF) suffers from a closing down mentality. They never start anything new. All they know how to do is to kill, steal and destroy.

Source: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

 

[ByaseL]

Of course Zimbabwe is an extreme case but in my view most of the African countries have retrogressed from where the colonialists left them. Mugabe alifanya hasira na hasira hasara. As one African proverb goes " If you fart out of anger chances are that you may shi*** on yourself". Ideed that is what Nugabe did!

 

[Nyambala]

Of course Zimbabwe is an extreme case but in my view most of the African countries have retrogressed from where the colonialists left them. Mugabe alifanya hasira na hasira hasara. As one African proverb goes " If you fart out of anger chances are that you may shi*** on yourself". Ideed that is what Nugabe did!

Well said Byasel, Mugabe like many failed and failing African leaders wanatumia personal emotions and ego to run the country affairs. Something these people they don't know and realize ni kwamba mambo yakisettle Zim will be full of crooks and shameless corrupt officials kama bongo.

 

[Lole Gwakisa]

Of course Zimbabwe is an extreme case but in my view most of the African countries have retrogressed from where the colonialists left them. Mugabe alifanya hasira na hasira hasara. As one African proverb goes " If you fart out of anger chances are that you may shi*** on yourself". Ideed that is what Nugabe did!

Ha ha ha! its a crude analogy, but I am afraid you are right here sir!

We however cannot compare Mugabe to Ian Smith and how each survived the sanctions.
While Ian Smith's sactions were visibly and blatantly busted by his "uncles" in the US,Germany and most notably the UK, Mugabe has only a 2nd rate state, South Africa to shore him up.

In actual fact many multinationals made super profits by busting the sanctions.Arms ,machine parts,vehicles even foods were in abundant supply in the then Rhodesia.

For Mugabe , we can actually term his situation as an economical blockade.The worst thing is that it is of his own making, he had that freedom fighter mentality in dealing with the rest of the world.

I just hope that he "grows up" to be a statesman.

 

[Bishanga]

Ha ha ha! its a crude analogy, but I am afraid you are right here sir!
We however cannot compare Mugabe to Ian Smith and how each survived the sanctions.
While Ian Smith's sactions were visibly and blatantly busted by his "uncles" in the US,Germany and most notably the UK, Mugabe has only a 2nd rate state, South Africa to shore him up.
In actual fact many multinationals made super profits by busting the sanctions.Arms ,machine parts,vehicles even foods were in abundant supply in the then Rhodesia.
For Mugabe , we can actually term his situation as an economical blockade.The worst thing is that it is of his own making, he had that freedom fighter mentality in dealing with the rest of the world
I just hope that he "grows up" to be a statesman.

Mazee unazungumzia Mugabe ku "grow up" at 85 years young? mama mia!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ndahani]

Of course Zimbabwe is an extreme case but in my view most of the African countries have retrogressed from where the colonialists left them. Mugabe alifanya hasira na hasira hasara. As one African proverb goes " If you fart out of anger chances are that you may shi*** on yourself". Ideed that is what Nugabe did!

I agree with you. He did not understand the magnitude of the problem he was about to cause when he started.
And the most dangerous thing about allowing people to leave without rule of law is the tendency to create corrupt gangs among the political and business men elite.
Ngoja tuone kama atatumia nguvu hizohizo kustop yatakayojiri. Russia millionears where created by the fall of communism and the loopholes which were created.

 

[Lole Gwakisa]

Mazee unazungumzia Mugabe ku "grow up" at 85 years young? mama mia!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jamaa yule (Mugabe) bado mchanga sana kwa siasa anazoziendesha kule Harare.
Kwa vile hakuna uwezekano wa yeye kuachia madaraka , basi inabidi "akue" na kula pride yake ili ashirikiane na hao wazungu.

 

[MwanaFalsafa1]

Jamaa yule (Mugabe) bado mchanga sana kwa siasa anazoziendesha kule Harare.
Kwa vile hakuna uwezekano wa yeye kuachia madaraka , basi inabidi "akue" na kula pride yake ili ashirikiane na hao wazungu.

It reaches are point kama mtu haja "kua" basi hata kuja kukua tena. Mugabe is a lost case.

 

[Nyambala]

For Mugabe , we can actually term his situation as an economical blockade.The worst thing is that it is of his own making, he had that freedom fighter mentality in dealing with the rest of the world.

I just hope that he "grows up" to be a statesman.

How do you call restriction to enter the western hemisphere and freezing of properties in western capitals for some 220 govt officials economic blockade???. Zim is not restricted to trade with any one be it the US or UK, US and UK companies are still allowed to invest there. Goods can move in and out of the country anytime of the hour only that exports are not there. At least of economic sound.

And by the Isn't this Mugabe who was boasting around that Zim can go it alone? At one time he said they were looking East. What went wrong in btn? Where is China, Russia or even Tz to help him out??? Tough guys don't whine. Look at Cuba!!!

 

[Lole Gwakisa]

How do you call restriction to enter the western hemisphere and freezing of properties in western capitals for some 220 govt officials economic blockade???. Zim is not restricted to trade with any one be it the US or UK, US and UK companies are still allowed to invest there. Goods can move in and out of the country anytime of the hour only that exports are not there. At least of economic sound.

And by the Isn't this Mugabe who was boasting around that Zim can go it alone? At one time he said they were looking East. What went wrong in btn? Where is China, Russia or even Tz to help him out??? Tough guys don't whine. Look at Cuba!!!

Mkuu, restriction and blockade is one and the same thing, depending on the angle that you are looking at the situation.

If I need petroleum and I can only get it from the Middle East, but all means of communications with the guys in the Mid East are restricted, be it letters,travel of e-communications, that is a sort of economical blockade.

How ever I quite agree with you that stupidly the problems of Mugabe and Zimbabwe are that of their own making.

It is however laughable that goods and services are allowed to come into Zimbabwe anytime from anywhere.

It is a fact that food shelves were (and probably still are) empty in most supermarkets.
It takes two to tango, and again Mugabe cannot have it good economically when he is running rough shod politics.

 

[Nyambala]

Mkuu, restriction and blockade is one and the same thing, depending on the angle that you are looking at the situation.

If I need petroleum and I can only get it from the Middle East, but all means of communications with the guys in the Mid East are restricted, be it letters,travel of e-communications, that is a sort of economical blockade.

How ever I quite agree with you that stupidly the problems of Mugabe and Zimbabwe are that of their own making.

It is however laughable that goods and services are allowed to come into Zimbabwe anytime from anywhere.

It is a fact that food shelves were (and probably still are) empty in most supermarkets.
It takes two to tango, and again Mugabe cannot have it good economically when he is running rough shod politics.

The food situation is better now, supermarkets shelves are full but sorry did i forget to tell that the currency in use in zim is now US $$. Cmoon Bob where is the sovereignty you have alwayz bn preaching 'bout???????????? Zimbabwe will never b a colony again!!!!!!!!

 

[Nyambala]

Poor governance & rampant corruption and not ''illegal'' sanctions are the main cause of Zimbabwe's economic decay


Denialism is always a convenient tool for most if not all dictatorships throughout the history of mankind.Even if Adolf Hitler was alive today, he will vehemently deny that his expansionist and fascist policies in Europe were a direct cause of the Second World War.

If Idi Amin was alive today, he will give you a wide grin and declare that he is the best thing to ever happen to Uganda.

Students of history and political science are quite accustomed to the denialist tendencies of all dictatorships and thus; they are not at all surprised when ZANU-PF religiously blames Zimbabwe's economic stagnation and general socio-political trepidation on so-called ''illegal'' sanctions imposed on the country by Britain and her western allies.

ZANU-PF zealots and propagandists will not tell you about the autocratic and klepocratic style of governance that their party has perfected over the years.

They will be conveniently silent about the complete disaster that has been the hallmark of their brand of land '' reform''.

In equal measure, they will not explain to you why the so-called Look East policy has been such an unmitigated disaster.

Talk about ''regime change'' and these same ZANU-PF apologists and sycophants will go into a trance and shout their voices hoarse; declaring that they are a '' revolutionary'' party that should rule Zimbabwe until thy Kingdom come! But what they will not tell you is why their ''friends'' in the East never seem to take them seriously. They will also not tell you what they mean,exactly, by the term '' regime change''.

Regime change is a perfectly lawful,legitimate and democratic aspiration of any mass political party in any country.Political parties basically compete for political power and thus; there is absolutely nothing wrong for any political party in Zimbabwe or anywhere else for that matter,to seek to form the next government through peaceful, lawful, democratic and constitutional means. If a political party does not aspire for regime change then it is not a serious and ambitious political organisation.

Put simply, therefore, there is nothing criminal and/or treasonous for a political party to seek to change the incumbent government through democratic and constitutional means.

That is regime change.

In recent weeks, the issue of sanctions has been very topical again. Infact, this particular issue is literally threatening to tear the inclusive government into pieces.

We have heard ZANU-PF vehemently declaring that, as a political party,they have since fully complied with all their obligations in terms of the global political agreement that was solemnised on September 15,2008 in Harare.

This political party is, instead, blaming the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for failing to play ball by not calling for the lifting of so-called illegal sanctions imposed on the country by Britain,the US and their allies.In my humble opinion,this is what I call errant nonsense.

I have repeatedly argued that Morgan Tsvangirai does not run Britain; neither does he run the United States nor Australia.For any sane person to, therefore, expect Morgan Tsvangirai to instruct these countries to lift the restrictive personal measures that they imposed on certain ZANU-PF personalities simply boggles the mind.

If some people opt to conduct their political affairs like warlords and die-hard fascists then who is Tsvangirai to help these kind of people to have their cake and eat it? If the same group of people seeks to derail the democratisation process by deliberately delaying the constitution-making process, then why should they demand to be treated as royalty when their very actions are the exact antithesis of the democratisation agenda? If it takes more thantwo months to consider the names of individuals selected to sit on the Zimbabwe Media Commission before setting up the said Commission, then who, exactly, has imposed sanctions on the innocent and suffering people of Zimbabwe?

So much has also been said and written about the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act ( ZIDERA) that was passed by the US Congress in December 2001.

What surprises some of us is that no attempt has ever been made by the ZANU-PF propagandists to clarify,chapter and verse, how exactly ZIDERA has caused Zimbabwe's economy to collapse and its agriculture industry to plummet to such humiliating levels where we have to import 400 000 tonnes of maize this season from a tiny country called Malawi.

With or without ZIDERA these propagandists should be told that Zimbabwe has accumulated more than US$5 billion in both domestic and foreign debt.

They should also be advised that Zimbabwe's voting rights in the IMF were suspended because of her failure to service her debt and clear her arrears.

And how does ZIDERA impact on Zimbabwe's failure to service her indebtness? How did this indebtedness arise in the first place? Where is the money? Who used it and for what purpose(s)? When Zimbabwe chose to waste her hard-earned financial and material resources in the DRC during the so-called Operation Sovereign Legitimacy, how did ZIDERA influence this absurd military escapade? Furthermore,what tangible benefits, if any, did Zimbabwe derive from her military adventurism in the Congo?

It is misguided military adventurism such as the Congo operation and not the so-called '' illegal'' sanctions, that accelerated Zimbabwe's economic meltdown.

We have heard that a certain man who heads the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe boasts of being a '' sanctions'' buster.

Really; if this gentleman has managed to be a successful sanctions buster why is that the Zimbabwe economy literally imploded during his tenure at the Reserve Bank?

There are surely more questions than answers.

ZANU-PF's stubborn refusal to agree to the swearing in of Roy Bennett as a deputy minister is hardly anything to surprise anyone who has studied the modus operandi of this party.

Similarly,the refusal to share the gubernatorial posts is typical of this party; always indicating left and then suddenly turning right.

The real reason why ZANU-PF is unreasonably refusing to fully consummate the GPA is mainly because they realise that the MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, is becoming so immensely popular each and every day that ZANU-PF has got a snowball's chance in hell of ever winning a free and fair election in Zimbabwe.

The reluctance by ZANU-PF to fully consumate this clearly loveless and almost forced marriage is informed by the desire for self-preservation.

ZANU-PF is properly advised that their continued stay in power can only be sustained by holding back the train of democratisation. But then they have to learn from the lessons of history.

Surely,the former ruling party can fool some of the people some of the time but they will never manage to fool all the people all of the time. The day of reckoning is nigh.

For as long as the GPA is not fully consummated ZANU-PF can be assured that the rest of the world will always view the new political dispensation with extreme caution and circumspection.

Surely, if a die-hard hardcore and violent criminal tells you that he is fully rehabilitated it would be folly to take his word on the face of it.You will have to wait and observe that the hardcore criminal has genuinely reformed and that he has abandoned his nefarious ways.

To date, ZANU-PF has hardly managed to convince the doubting world that it has become a rehabilitated political party that can be trusted with pursuing a democratisation agenda; in keeping with the letter and spirit of the GPA. No matter how much they will talk about the so-called '' illegal'' sanctions,if they fail to honestly and in utmost good faith, fully consummate the GPA, then the status quo shall prevail.

Those characters who are prohibited from traveling to New York, London, Paris, Sydney and some other western cities will only see those cities on television and /or in their dreams.

This is the cold hard fact that they should learn to live with.

Indeed,poor governance and rampant corruption and not the so-called ''illegal'' sanctions are the main and direct cause of Zimbabwe's economic malaise and a generalised democratic deficit.

Wriiten by:
Zimbabwean Senator Obert Gutu

Source: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/sep28_2009.html#Z9