I've been following the crisis in Zimbabwe since President Mugabe decided to redistribute the lands in. As expected the British in their typical arrogance decided to wage a propaganda war against the Mugabe regime, and this has led to the isolation of Zimbabwe by many of the world's international organisations. Needless to say, the British are advocating for regime change and it appears they will stop at nothing till they achieve their goal. Pictures of Zimbabwe's plight are being shown on British news channels on a daily basis, and president Mugabe is being accused of uncountable human rights violations.

Interestingly, while the West actively pursue a regime change in Zimbabwe, Mugabe continues to have a strong support among African leaders. South Africa's Thabo Mbeki has refused to openly criticise Mugabe, preferring what he called "quiet diplomacy". At the African Union summit in Portugal, the British prime minister Gordon Brown refused to attend the summit if Mugabe was allowed to attend. Unsurprisingly, the other African leader (John Kuffour among others) voiced their support for Mugabe to be present at the summit and the British PM did not attend as a result. This led to accusations in some sections of the British media that African leaders see Mugabe as a hero in the struggle against White supremacy, hence his tremendous support among his colleagues.

Furthermore, Zimbabwe had their electrons weeks ago and the results are yet to be formally announced. As expected the British have been at the forefront at accusations of rigging and fraud by the Mugabe government. The opposition leader and so called "darling of the west" Morgan Tsvangirai has called for civil disobedience and nationwide strike, with little or no impact at all. It has also being reported that Morgan Tsvangirai is not as popular in Zimbabwe as they western media are portraying him to be. It appears majority of Zimbabweans do not trust him and there's the fear that he's being funded by the West in their desperate bid to restore White land ownership in Zimbabwe.

What do you guys think of the Zimbabwe crisis, and in particular Robert Mugabe?

I'll post my opinion of him later.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

Regardless of the british bias, its obvious Mugabe has lost the plot.Thambo Mbeki isnt respected in the region for his stance and is facing a lot of backlash back home for his silence, but more importantly for the problems in SA at the moment, so he has his own natonal problems. SO to see Mbeki embrace Mugabe despite of the opression the zimbabweans are facing right now doesnt surprise me.....bird of the.....

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Nah so we see am oh!!!

..Personally...I think Mugabe should be public hung by the balls......I mean..let's dissect the whole issue: U yank the land from White farmers and give them to black owners,majority of whom are too poor and too ill equipped to toil that land and produce anything from it.When U yanked the land a whole bunch of people became jobless because the farm owners were driven out.Shortly after that(I guess 5 years or so is short enough),the country's inflation goes up by 100000 %...making already hard life further unbearable for the Zimbabwean on the street.The Gorilloid Mugu(Mugabe) wants to hang on to power for life in a lifeless economy.......and just like other folks like him(e.g Mobutu,Abacha) he lives large while his country don't even have scraps to dig for.....On the British propaganda...well..it's called Politicking..live with it....and I don't know which African Leaders U're claiming are showing support...because the support is not outward..it's passive...it's like thinking a woman is implying she loves U by not saying she doesn't....the results have been stalled from the voting because there's "stuff" going on in the background...Mugabe,in his desperate move,is the one inciting violence trying to garner support by using the dirty trick of implying that if his opponent is voted in the new regime will give the land they received from the Whites back to the Whites.In all sha...Mugabe's been around long enough..time to go..sorry...
Pa

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....Perception Is Everything....

Pa

I work with a gentleman from Zimbabwe and he tells me some of the things he and his family have gone thru are horrific.

He has absolutely devastated his ppl and the ability to feed themselves - he should admit he did wrong, and humbly step down. i know he was trying to do the Idi Amin way of driving the Indians out (whom i hear now are asking them back in), but is just they were he went about it, totally wrong. Its making him look real stupid right now. He has really impoverished his nation

But he sho is gangsta though standing up against the west like that. All i wish for is his ppl wouldnt starve. No one will back you mr mugabe when u do that.

But am curious about the british though. From what i have heard they once support robert mugabe's and his majority rule campaigns during the Rhodesian bush war.

now this has got to stop. They dont want to leave office and when they leave they bring in their relative. World's longest-serving leaders, excluding monarchies: - a lot of africans on that list, hm - i wonder why?

_President Fidel CastroCuba-Embargo-Reasons-to-End of Cuba rose to power Jan. 1, 1959. Aged 81 and suffering health problems, Castro says he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday.

_Omar Bongo ascended to Gabon's presidency Dec. 2, 1967, after his predecessor's death. In his 70s, Bongo faces little political opposition in oil-rich West African nation of 1.5 million.

_Moammar Gadhafi of Libya took power through a Sept. 1, 1969, military coup in the oil-producing North African nation of 6 million people. In his 60s.

_Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in his late 60s, came to power Nov. 11, 1978, in the Indian Ocean island nation of 370,000.

_Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, in his mid-60s, seized power in the oil-producing West African nation of 500,000 citizens in Aug. 3, 1979, coup.

_Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos took power Sept. 21, 1979, after winning election under one-party system then governing the oil-producing southern Africa nation of 12 million. In his 60s.

_Robert Mugabe has been only leader of Zimbabwe's 12 million people since April 18, 1980, independence from Britain. In his 80s.

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['B]:MERCY;Ini;Nadia; Magid M; VanVicker; Mike;YulE.;YemiB; II [C]: URU.E;Jackie A.,YvonneN;UcheJ;TontohD; UfeomaE;
FavProds:TCHIDI,Lancelot;Emem,Chinny
"O for Change" 1/20/09- BELIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9TjDx4sHuXI

Alright, here's my take on Mugabe.

Firstly, he is a hero for playing a significant role in the liberation of Zimbabwe. Needless to say, Zimbabwe would have been another South Africa (with widespread apartheid) had it not been for Mugabe.

Secondly, I blame Mugabe for waiting 2 decades before redistributing lands. It's no secret that the west are fighting for the so called white land owners, and they will not give up. I know the people of Zimbabwe are struggling but is not entirely the fault of Mugabe. The British have been lobbying the EU and other economic powers to take tougher action against the Zimbabwe government, hence the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. I'm sure you're aware that with the exception of the North Africans and maybe South Africa, all other African countries depend on international aid and they're bound to struggle if these aids are frozen. So Zimbabwe's plight can partly be attributed to an international conspiracy to get Mugabe out of power.

Finally, I believe Thabo is doing the right thing. Let us not forget that the South African government have more knowledge about the situation in Zimbabwe, and it has affected South Africa more than any other country in the sub-region. Everyday, hundreds of refugees are fleeing the economic crisis in Zimbabwe and they're heading for neighbouring South Africa. Let me emphasise the fact that the western media have been making tremendous effort to portray Zimbabwe in a negative manner. Thabo Mbeki is a seasoned politician and he understands that not everything being reported by the western media is accurate.
In addition, I watched a recent interview of the Zimbabwe information minister on CNN in which he accused CNN of showing pictures of Darfur claiming it is Zimbabwe. How despicable can you get.

BTW, I also think it's time for Mugabe to go since has finally delivered on his pledge in 1980 to redistribute lands. But I'd hate to see a man like Morgan Tsvangirai in power as he will be nothing but a puppet leader being controlled by the British.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

But people fought and died for those lands. In addition, the lands belonged to the black Zimbabweans and just because the Whites have developed the lands, doesn't make it right. Did I forget to mentioned that Mugabe promised the people of Zimbabwe over 2 decades ago that he will redistribute lands? He delayed for too long ans they say delay is dangerous.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

But the African leaders like John Kuffour threatened to boycott the AU summit in Portugal if Mugabe was refused entry. They even forced the organisers to go back on their word and allow Mugabe to attend. If that is not outward support, then I don't know what is.
Check out the link.
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Mugabe arrives at EU-Africa talks

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

.."Just because" was an investment......ok..I understand that the land belongs to the Black Zimbabweans as original Africans....but what's the point of giving land to people who can't keep it developed?U own land and U can't even afford corn seeds to plant on it...what sense does that make?U yank the land off the people that were providing the little sustinence the country had...there should've been something worked out such that those lands continue to generate crops and income even if the Deeds changed hands..dude hastened into disaster..do U know some of those farmworkers ended up in Nigeria?Land ownership without the ability or means to toil it is nothing but empty and pure sentiments bro....
Pa

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....Perception Is Everything....

Pa

I'm sure you're aware of the legendary Kenneth Kaunda who was also involved in the struggle for Zambia's independence. Here's what he had to say on the issue. He's said it all and in an objective manner too. I always knew the British were responsible for most of the problems in Zimbabwe.

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Viewpoint: Kaunda on Mugabe

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

MUGABE'S ZIMBABWE
Mugabe accused of rigging elections
Opposition activists beaten and killed
World's highest inflation - 8,000%
Only one in five adults employed
World's lowest life expectancy - 34 (women), 37 (men)
Mugabe blames UK plot
..from the same link...

__________________
....Perception Is Everything....

Pa

It shows objectivity. Most of the issues you're talking about have occurred as a result of western conspiracy against Mugabe.

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"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

I thought that this piece by my senior brother may be of interest to this thread:

ROBERT MUGABE, THE ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS, AND AFRICA
BY
PROFESSOR HERBERT VILAKAZI*



(*Sociologist and Independent Analyst; Pretoria; 083 656 4800)

Lies, evasion of the truth, are a more deadly poison in the life of society and civilization than the deadliest of poisons in the physical life of a human being. The most precious and important building-block in the construction of any society and civilization is the truth. It begins with the severest punishment to a child for telling a lie, to severe penalties in judicial systems for pejury.

In the case of Zimbabwe, the main constituencies are Mugabe and his Party, the Opposition Movement (MDC and others), Western Powers, African Governments, Civil societies and the public everywhere. All these constituencies are not innocent.

It was and is unacceptable that Mugabe, at the age of 84, should run for another election for a 5-year term as President of the country. His decision to seek to continue his active political life as Head of his Party and of Government, at this age, is a major fault in his thinking, vision, and sense of responsibility. A leader of his age should have informed the nation and his followers clearly when he intends stepping out of office and handing the leadership position to a younger person. We must be aware in everything we do that we are raising children and youth, molding minds, spirits, and traditions in society and civilization.
It is not Mugabe, as Head of the Government, who brought about the economic crisis and collapse in Zimbabwe. It was the sanctions and Embargo, implemented by Western Powers, which brought the economy of Zimbabwe to its knees.
This was punishment to the Mugabe Government for Mugabe's Land Redistribution policy, consisting of taking land mainly from Whites, and particularly from land-owners or commercial farmers who owned more than one farm. Dating from Colonial Conquest, most of the land of the country used for commercial agriculture fell into the hands of Whites; and the required resources for successful food production and commercial agriculture were used to support the activities of White farmers. Africans were left either landless, or were left without resources for successful food production and agriculture in Communal Lands. The same circumstances prevail in South Africa. The solution of the Land Redistribution Problem is one of the most fundamental challenges facing Zimbabwe, if Zimbabwe is to eliminate underdevelopment, and if development is to work for the benefit of all the people of Zimbabwe: exactly the same challenge faces South Africa.
This does not mean that there were no serious mistakes made by the Mugabe Government in solving this problem. We should solve the Land Problem moving forward, not backwards. We should solve the Land Problem with the historical trends of Capitalist Agriculture in our minds. Capitalist Agriculture is, in general, in crisis all over the world, particularly in the developed world. Fewer and fewer individual capitalist farmers are successful, standing as individual owners and producers. Capitalist Agriculture, as part of the World Economy, is industrialized, requiring huge monies for the latest in technology and scientific methods. Indebtedness of individual farm owners is wide-spread and getting deeper and deeper, resulting in bankruptcies and foreclosures. What is needed to make Capitalist Agriculture successful is generally beyond the powers of an individual farm owner. Agricultural monopolies have emerged. Successful Commercial Agriculture has become one of the most powerful industries in the modern World Economy. At the same time, food scarcity, hunger, and malnutrition have become widespread in the world, particularly in Africa and the rest of the Third World: the food crisis, as food scarcity and abundance of unhealthy food, has crossed boundaries and entered even the developed countries. The Immune Systems of human bodies, which were developed over centuries upon centuries ago in pre-industrial epochs, are collapsing, or have collapsed: hence the world-wide health crisis, particularly in Africa. Agriculture is the first sphere of the modern economy which requires socialization, i. e., moving beyond individual private capitalist form of ownership to cooperative, collective form of ownership.
Therefore, to take a huge, successful farm from a White family, subdivide it and give it to an individual African owner, or individual farm owners, is solving the Land Problem going BACKWARDS economically, socially, politically, and philosophically.
The White farmer and the Africans on the farm must form a COOPERATIVE, a Collective, owning the farm together. The White farmer should be compensated for the historical value he/she has added to the land -we may call that the price of the farm. Every effort should be made, educational, political, etc., to get the White farmer to remain on the farm as a member of the new Cooperative now owning the farm. Through this route, we keep the productive skills and capacity on the farm, and we ensure there is skills-transfer in running the modern farm, and we prevent decline in agricultural productivity; and we transform the White farmer and family, and Africans, and create brotherhood and sisterhood, true human bonding, between Whites and Africans in rural Zimbabwe and rural South Africa. True bonding and reconciliation between people occurs when people are working together solving common problems. Only when we encounter a case of REFUSAL/REJECTION of this new model/deal by the White farmer, does the White farmer then have to go his/her own way.
This is the route that Mugabe's solution of the Land Redistribution Problem could have taken in Zimbabwe; this is the route that the solution of this problem should take in Zimbabwe and South Africa –moving forward with history.
My remark about "major mistakes" that have been made in the solution of the Land Problem in Zimbabwe must be seen in this light. The often repeated condemnation of Mugabe's solution of the Land Question that it benefitted "his cronies" is merely turning one's face from the real, gigantic problem of Land Distribution present in Zimbabwe. We cover the real problem with mention and enumeration of acts of corruption in the efforts to solve the problem. None of us, except the Western Powers opposed to Mugabe's vision, gave advice.
The advice of Western Powers, particularly the UK and USA, consisted mainly in demanding that Mugabe abandon his program-of-action. Mugabe refused to abandon his path; then Western Powers retaliated by implementing Sanctions and an Embargo against Zimbabwe, aimed at forcing Mugabe to abandon his path, or creating massive dissatisfaction with Mugabe's leadership among ordinary Zimbambwens for empty shelves in the shops, shortages of fuel, food, clothes, imported machinery etc; we also know in recent history of artificially induced inflation as war measure. The sanctions and embargo would bring widespread suffering and scarcities in the lives of ordinary Zimbabwens. These sanctions and embargo were designed to bring about massive dissatisfaction with Mugabe among ordinary Zimbabwens; these massive dissatisfactions would either lead to an uprising against Mugabe, or to a massive rejection of Mugabe in an election!
What we see in Zimbabwe in this election is the triumph of the Plan aimed at getting rid of Mugabe –is the fruitof this massive dissatisfaction with Mugabe’s leadership. The victory of the Opposition is a victory riding on the success of the sanctions or embargo implemented by Western Powers against Mugabe, for refusing to abandon his Land Redistribution policy. This has been war; and, as we know, the first casualty of every war is the truth; the truth about yourself, and the truth about your opponent. Every war and struggle tends to pollute the spiritual and mental life of all people in society; the aggressors as well as those defending themselves become affected by this pollution of the spirit, mind, politics, media, and social life in society and civilization.
Incidentally, the embargo or sanctions against Mugabe's Zimbabwe are similar to the sanctions or embargo against Castro's Cuba. The question to ask, of course is this: what policies and success of policies in Cuba resulted in the resolve of ordinary Cubans to stand by Fidel for five decades; and what policies or failure of policies in Zimbabwe led to ordinary Zimbabwens caving-in after a decade?
The question to ask now is: Shall the new Government undo what Mugabe's Government has done with respect to Land Distribution, and to the empowerment of Zimbabwens in the ownership of the economy? Or shall the new Government continue the journey, correcting mistakes, and implementing new policies better suited to the elimination of underdevelopment and poverty and diseases in Zimbabwe? Shall it uphold the priority of the African voice, African resolve, African philosophy and African civilization in shaping the policies of the country and in constructing a new Zimbabwe and new Africa?
Let us be guided by the injunction and noble words of Abraham Lincoln at the end of the Civil War: “With malice towards none, and charity towards all…let us bind up the nation’s wounds…”
All of us, as Africans, and as friends of Africa, should help the Zimbabwen Government and Zimbabwen people in this gigantic task before them.
Outside Zimbabwe, Mugabe is the most beloved African leader in the hearts of ordinary African masses; for, on the issue of land, which is a living grievance to ordinary landless and land-starved Africans, Mugabe is viewed by ordinary Africans as an unrepentant fighter for African interests. Lest we forget, Mugabe has bestowed upon Zimbabwe an education system whose quality is most likely second to none in the entire Continent.
Mugabe shall, and should, remain a great African leader, keeping in mind Boswell’s words: in every picture, there is light as well as shade.

I think he is a desperate man holding on to power because of what might happen to him if he leaves office. personally think he is loosing it to either memory loss or craziness.