It seems that the undisputed “king with his head in the sand (Mbeki)”, has yet again tried not to help the severely mistreated people of Zimbabwe, but his comrade Mugabe. That his methodology will not work is obvious to any scholar, even those with but a cursory education in geopolitics and socioeconomics. President Mbeki persists in seeing his mentor in a light long gone; indeed it has gone out and now only burns with the flame of self indulgence and hatred. There are many points to make, so we will start with the obvious ~ at least obvious to all but Mugabe, his ruling junta, their sadly brainwashed minions . . . and of course, Mbeki. (I once had some admiration for Mbeki, but since his credo has become “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”, it is no longer possible. ) The problems with the ‘Government of National Unity (GNU)’ is being able to not only control a country, but to lift Zimbabwe out of the hellish morass it is in. They are legion. Let us at least start with a few main points : 1) President Robert Gabriel Mugabe: A one time hero, of that there is no doubt; I used to admire him greatly. He has long since degenerated into a veritable caricature of not only what he started out to get rid of in the revolution, but now makes the frequently unholy attitudes of Ian Smith & Company look tame by comparison. He has, in short, become a megalomaniacal madman, bent on using murder, maiming, starvation and terror to keep himself and his very few friends in power. How can Mbeki not see this? Hero Worship, pure and simple. 2) Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF): The onetime vanguard of African Liberation has, in conjunction with Mugabe, left behind all moral principles in the search for attaining and holding on to political and economic power. They of course are on the forefront of proclaiming that the economy of Zimbabwe is being destroyed by “illegal economic sanctions” by the rest of the world (primarily the U.S. and U.K.), and that they are a “sovereign” nation that can do what they see as right. Okay, let us see. A sovereign nation does indeed have the legal, (and not necessarily moral), right to do what it pleases. So it follows that if Zimbabwe wants to prevent members of a government or business from another country to travel there, that is their right. If the Government of Zimbabwe wants to put a stop to all economic activity by a country or individuals or companies (from any country), that is their right. That is sovereignty, right? Than how is it “illegal” for another nation to do the same? Are they not sovereign? (Or is it “sovereignty”, like everything else, defined by Mugabe/Zanu-PF when and how they see fit?) In the same vein, it might be mentioned that the sanctions are not against the country of Zimbabwe, but against a very limited number of individuals and companies (owned and operated by said same). I haven’t checked it the last couple of weeks, but that number was then approaching 200 individuals / companies. So, using 200 as the liberal number, and Zimbabwe with a population of apx. 12.4 million people, then any ONE of any of the 200, economically, represents 1 in 62000 people. Logic follows that if the entire economy of a country of 12.4 million can collapse because of sanctions on 200 people, then either (a) the entire economy is held by a few select (ZANU-PF) members (making all ‘reforms’ to help the ‘people’ of course farcical), Or (b) they are so out of touch with reality that . . . well, I don’t know . . . then again, these are the folks who danced & sang the praises of a charlatan who THEY claimed managed to bring refined diesel out of a rock. Figure it out. It’s not hard. 3) Morgan Tsvangirai: His greatest strength is knowing not to trust those in power, for they alone are the outright owners of Zimbabwe’s fall from the Breadbasket to the Basket Case. Why in the world would he, or his allies, want to have anything to do with the people who have taken his beloved country from beauty to squalor, from plenty to starvation, from admired to scorned, from freemen to slaves? Is he perfect? No. (Then again, I personally only know of one in all of history, and He was crucified a couple thousand years ago.) Can he do a better job than Mugabe? Yes. (Not to denigrate Mr. Tsvangirai, but at the moment a herd of malnourished goats could probably do better.) Will he TRY to do better, to engage the suffering masses in rebuilding a once proud nation, to lead by example, to root out the corrupt that presently hold sway, to take the offered resources of the world at large to help in rebuilding? I pray so. In short, to think that President Mbeki (and the few fools that still believe he has a grip) could bring about a good and lasting change with a GNU is laughable. He no longer has the guts to say that the fruit has rotted, he would say that it was from a good tree and should be eaten anyway. . . because it is the way it is, and that’s all there is to it. I say it should not be. Pick new fruit, and be nourished. God Bless the Good People of Zimbabwe.

Thanks for that carpe'. What a wonderful post, it was a pleasure to read.

Couldnt agree more. Great post.

All you anglos are in the way of producing an acceptable resolution in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately blaming President Mbeki is not the answer for Zimbabwe. Thats the reason why the SADC region has kissed you goodbye, never again be part of any problem solving group. The UK, in the last 10 years or so has never been consulted on African affairs. Most of what the UK and other anglos in SADC do is use the louder speaker to lie to the world. You have become totally useless and just a batch of the USA "Pooh". Why deal with the "Pooh" than reality. You are just not important to African affairs. In the next 10 years, the UK is expected to drop out of the 20 richest and most prosperous countries in the world. Increasingly cars made in the UK are commonly refered to as "Junk". You have bad food, bad cars, ugly women, your weather is bad, you Island nation (London) is in danger of being swallowed by the sea, you have not won a world cup in Soccer last 50 years, and rumors has it that you are bad lovers. What then do you bring to Zimbabwe or another SADC country?????

"You are just not important to African affairs" - yet you complain so bitterly about these so called sanctions that have supposed led to the destruction of the Zim economy? If the west wasnt important then how come Zim is in trouble? Are you admitting that its the lack of production from farms as a result of land distribution (and I'll give you a bit of weather)

The only thing which stands between the people of Zimbabwe and a totalitarian state and death and starvation are us anglos/westerners/Americans/Europeans/rhodies, etc, it’s a thankless task. One the one hand you have your rank and file pan Africans whose mantra is, “leave Zimbabwe alone, Africa can solve it’s own problems” then the next we have, “give us the money, if you’d have given us the money we’d be fine, just don’t tell us how to spend it”, then we have, “send more aid, give us aids drugs, we want water filtration equipment by the way we hate you” all on the back off the Governments attitude of bullets instead of bread and fighter aircraft rather than filtration equipment.

The SADC kisses the west goodbye? I don’t think so. I had to laugh when you said the SADC was a, “problem solving group”, the SADC is a talking shop for bespoke suited western educated pan Africans.

Any citation for the UK dropping down the economic ladder in 10 years? I didn’t think so, another prophesy for your students? I thought you said the UK would be out of the top thirty a while ago? Make up your mind. Hmm cars made in the UK? Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Lotus, TVR junk? That perception of junk seems to be in your mind because, “Britain exported more cars in 2007 than in any previous year, with total production up six percent to over 1.5 million”. Mind you I drive a Volvo and my Wife drives a Jeep so I suppose we aren’t lovers of domestic cars. We have bad food? My wife’s Japanese chicken wings are to die for Phiri, I swear she puts heroin in them. We have food! I don’t wait for the aid truck for my allocation of mealie meal.

Maybe there are ugly British women, I don’t care I married a Canadian and take my word for it, she’s a babe. Our weather is notoriously temperate but guess what…..our harvests never fail and we are self sufficient in food.

Phiri you need to google the Thames Flood Barrier sorry to burst your bubble but London isn’t going swimming any time soon. I hate soccer but much prefer Rugby.

Bad lovers hmmm well I’ve never had any complaints but then judging by the AIDS figures in Africa you guys get lots of practice, if we are bad lovers we are at least safe lovers and 1 in 5 of us aren’t infected with a terminal Sexually Transmitted Infection. and 3000 of us don’t die everyday because of a need to demonstrate our sexual prowess.

When has Africa ever refused anything we've ever brought to it phiri? We hate you, give more, leave us alone, lend us money, leave us alone, send more aid: and yet we keep sending the money and the food and the aid and the expertise, like I said it's a thankless task.

Your previous post doesn't stand up well to scrutiny Phiri but then none of your posts ever do, I suspect it's another of your prophecies. You never provide evidence of anything and when anyone does provide evidence contrary to your prophecies you call it lies. You are just like the SADC you talk a real good job but there is little of substance in there, just racist rantings, paranoia and personal attacks.

I didn’t flag Phiris post as racist I’d like it to remain there as long as possible because lets face it. It is undeniably racist and gives a true impression of the author of the post.

The only thing which stands between the people of Zimbabwe and a totalitarian state and death and starvation are us anglos/westerners/Americans/Europeans/rhodies, etc, it’s a thankless task. One the one hand you have your rank and file pan Africans whose mantra is, “leave Zimbabwe alone, Africa can solve it’s own problems” then the next we have, “give us the money, if you’d have given us the money we’d be fine, just don’t tell us how to spend it”, then we have, “send more aid, give us aids drugs, we want water filtration equipment by the way we hate you” all on the back off the Governments attitude of bullets instead of bread and fighter aircraft rather than filtration equipment.

The SADC kisses the west goodbye? I don’t think so. I had to laugh when you said the SADC was a, “problem solving group”, the SADC is a talking shop for bespoke suited western educated pan Africans.

Any citation for the UK dropping down the economic ladder in 10 years? I didn’t think so, another prophesy for your students? I thought you said the UK would be out of the top thirty a while ago? Make up your mind. Hmm cars made in the UK? Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Lotus, TVR junk? That perception of junk seems to be in your mind because, “Britain exported more cars in 2007 than in any previous year, with total production up six percent to over 1.5 million”. Mind you I drive a Volvo and my Wife drives a Jeep so I suppose we aren’t lovers of domestic cars. We have bad food? My wife’s Japanese chicken wings are to die for Phiri, I swear she puts heroin in them. We have food! I don’t wait for the aid truck for my allocation of mealie meal.

Maybe there are ugly British women, I don’t care I married a Canadian and take my word for it, she’s a babe. Our weather is notoriously temperate but guess what…..our harvests never fail and we are self sufficient in food.

Phiri you need to google the Thames Flood Barrier sorry to burst your bubble but London isn’t going swimming any time soon. I hate soccer but much prefer Rugby.

Bad lovers hmmm well I’ve never had any complaints but then judging by the AIDS figures in Africa you guys get lots of practice, if we are bad lovers we are at least safe lovers and 1 in 5 of us aren’t infected with a terminal Sexually Transmitted Infection. and 3000 of us don’t die everyday because of a need to demonstrate our sexual prowess.

When has Africa ever refused anything we've ever brought to it phiri? We hate you, give more, leave us alone, lend us money, leave us alone, send more aid: and yet we keep sending the money and the food and the aid and the expertise, like I said it's a thankless task.

Your previous post doesn't stand up well to scrutiny Phiri but then none of your posts ever do, I suspect it's another of your prophecies. You never provide evidence of anything and when anyone does provide evidence contrary to your prophecies you call it lies. You are just like the SADC you talk a real good job but there is little of substance in there, just racist rantings, paranoia and personal attacks.

I didn’t flag Phiris post as racist I’d like it to remain there as long as possible because lets face it. It is undeniably racist and gives a true impression of the author of the post.

Twice even.....

Glyph, too many excessive comments that mean nothing. Too much surplous words. This coming from a so-called lawyer! I wonder if you are true lawyer. Your comments with those of other anglos do not promote trust for most of us Africans. Anglos always come across as all knowing, all power and in that atmosphere, trust to discuss issues tend to diminish. Can any "African" truely trust you that you have the best interest for Zimbabwe as anybody else! That is the question that you should ponder before opening you mega-anglomianiac mouths! I'm serious about this.

Sometimes, you sound annoyed that we are challenging your views and those of other white anglos! But, most of us seek honest, rather than political correctness. I'm sure you know that Africans smile all the time toward white people. Make no mistake, we are not fools. On the other hand I enjoy your unfiltered honest. Do you think white minorities could win elections in SADC if they said some of the things you anglos are saying?

Unfortunately reality tends to bite Phiri you're another one who can dish it out but cant take it.

Join the real world and stop your racist rantings.

In my experience, journalism is report facts and not gossip or heresies. This article is based on an interview with one person, who claims he's been treated unfairly.Did I miss reading a line which mentioned an inerview with the other party? What do they have to say? It is pity that articles like these are published with a conclusive note, when a lack of research is vividly clear.

What are reducing journalism to? Gossip and heresies? It is not about having something to fill up the pages of a newspaper or a webpage, in this case. Neither is it about using creativity to make a dull not-good-enough-for-the-press story with little or no solid facts interesting. A novelists has his/her place, and that is definitely not in a newspaper of class, like the Post.

It would make more sense to create a gossip column in the post for this story and it's likes.

No offense to the journalist in question.I read the post and only the post from abroad, because it has a standard, which is higher most other circular newspapers. But this goes way below the usual standard.

Phiri you have all the right to rag on poor countries such as Britain and others because your own country of Zimbabwe is at the very top of the ladder - Stella! You have certainly earned your place in history. The UK is losing so much sleep at not being consulted about African affairs! Oh my goodness, what is it going to do now? Glyph, Mindpower, Turnex, awt_indepenence, and all other good people, pack your bags and flee to Zimbabwe!

Absolute "rubbish" as they say in British-colonized Africa or total "nonsense" as they would say in America. Your essay is nothing but the usual attack on anyone who won't join the West's most important project in Africa, i.e., the removable of an Africa president who is trying to do things in the interest of indigenous Africans and replace him with a president who will dance to whatever tune that the West plays. Zimbabwe was freed by the lives and suffering of thousands of African freedom fighters and it is absurd to think that they are just going to sit back and let it all be handed back to the people that they fought. This BS about Zimbabwe being under the sanctions only for 200 individuals and companies is absurd. It either shows your lack of understanding of how the global economy works, as managed primarily by the IMF and World Bank or it is just another attempt to disingenuously mislead. The fact is that the sanctions imposed by the IMF and World Bank in 1997, the "Zimbabwe Democracy Bill" imposed by the US in 2001 and the European Union Sanctions imposed in 2002 are primarily responsible for Zimbabwe's economic conditions today. If you and those who sound like you are really so concerned about the welfare of the Zimbabwean people go out and campaign to have the sanctions lifted and then let's see what happens to the economy and the "starving" people of Zimbabwe. But then, that is not your real concern is it? It just amazing how you have all this love and concern for the people of Zimbabwe and so little for the Africans in other countries who are worse off. Nay, the fight for the liberation of Zimbabwe is clearly not over and it's up to Africans like Mbeki and other members of SADC to help complete the task.

dLoser. You and your sanctions. What a joke. There are no economic sanctions and you know it. People just wont lend Zimbabwe because they cant pay it back. Good business practice. And dont forget this includes the Chinese and South Africans. So the whole world is against Zimbabwe eh. Time to take a look in the mirror perhaps?

"It just amazing how you have all this love and concern for the people of Zimbabwe and so little for the Africans in other countries who are worse off."

awt, did you hear that? He's crying out for a bit of your lovin', LOL.

djoser, who is going to lend bloody Mugabe any money let alone the IMF world bank? Hey I thought you all did not need the help of anyone. Guess what even the African heads of state TOO will not give him a penny. They just show him their teeth and laugh behind his back because they are sitting stable in their respective countries, and he like a bloody fool think they love him. You are laughable because you moan about a president who will dance to the Western tune and yet you snivel because Mugabe cannot get money from an IMF Bank. Are you confused or what?

Makoni is a ZANU defender not defector.He wants a GNU so Twsangson can become a Prime minister and bob President for 5 years so he could built up his campaign.But by the time 5 years elapses he will then be ready to takle Tswangirai and fulifill his dream of becoming Preident of Zim.In otherways he does not want Tswangirai to rule Zim.Let me warm Makoni and his Zanu cronies that your deal is a flop now.Makoni is fully ZANU.Watch out for him...Stay away from MDC Makoni,you are a loser a sellout.The run off to go ahead,Zanu do your last kicks now.The whole world is praying for your defeat come the 27th.You can defeat the innocent Zims with torcher,murder etc but not the Amighty God.Ndapedza vangu.See you on the 27th.

African leaders stop being greedy and selfish , and let's show the whole world that we can do it without their interference.Africa is having a lot of potential and it is rich in itself but, we are living in poverty and depend on charity organisations, what do we call that while Africa is having all the minerals that the whole world are craving for.The case of The Honourable Mugabe, what is he teaching the Zimbabweans?Can you force people to love and respect you? People earn trust, and have rights, gone are those days where people were forced to vote even the people they didn't like to run their country.The people have spoken when they cast their votes in march, and did some of them deserve to die because of their choice? This is totally against their human rights, and may God rest their troubled souls.

These African leaders are supposed to be the elite heads of state that are said to be so capable that they do not need the help of anyone to solve the Zimbabwean crisis - sorry Mbeki, I mean serenity. Look at them to-day. They are all bracing themselves for an influx of Zimbabwean refugees the likes never seen ever from that part of the world.So what have they achieved as great leaders of Africa? NOTHING, ZILCH. Utter disgrace. That could have been avoided at the very start had they shown displeasure at Mugabe when he would not release those election results. Now , no matter what, human behavior as it is, whether ZANU_PF or MDC, who ever wins the elections, is going to beat the crap out of the other, and refugees will be a given. They all support Mugabe because who is going to point a finger at him as they all have similar skeletons in their closets. For instance how many of them do you think are sitting there with billions of dollars stolen from their respective countries? If not all I would be most surprised. Maybe some may also own a castle or two in Scotland as Mugabe does. It is appalling that people are going to suffer so much all because Mbeki and all those who were supposed to protect them simply did not care. No one suffers but the refugees.