SW Radio Africa (London)
Tererai Karimakwenda
17 June 2008
As the youth militia, police and soldiers in Zimbabwe continued their violent campaign of abductions, torture and assaults just one week before the crucial election, the Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday spoke out against fellow African leaders for remaining silent on the abuses.
Speaking on a trip to Washington, Odinga is quoted as saying: "Zimbabwe is an eyesore on the African continent ... an example of how not to do it. I'm sad that so many heads of state in Africa have remained quiet when disaster is looming in Zimbabwe,"
Odinga added that the South African government needed to speak out strongly against Mugabe and impunity in Zimbabwe.
Last week 40 prominent African leaders, including former heads of state, Nobel Laureates, famous musicians and former top UN officials issued a public letter calling on the Zimbabwe government to end the violence and conduct peaceful elections. Notably the list of signatories did not include any current African leaders.
Odinga made the comments in a discussion run by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Just last week he blasted the Zimbabwe authorities during a visit to Cape Town, and he said that he had been "declared enemy number one in Zimbabwe" since then.
But this did not stop Odinga from pointing out the truth. He reportedly said: "African leaders should be able to stand up and say what is happening in Zimbabwe is unacceptable".
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Just wait till they start to discredit like the did with Desmond Tutu when he complained about Mugabe... I mean.. how can you discredit a man of Desmond Tutu's status and respect? Some people are so dumb.
Raila:
Maybe we should not sit idly by and let the rich like you get away with it:
1) You talk so much and so piously about Africa's leaders. What do you know about being a leader of a country?
2) We see that the foreigners read to you the riot act in January and you complied - after a lot of impotent posturing. Do you think that a good leader in Africa is one who - like you - is subservient to foreign powers? Is that why you despise leaders like Nkrumah, Idi Amin, Mugabe, Lumumba, Nyerere, etc ...
3) From Kenya, we read the following: The Nation (Nairobi), 18 June 2008 - "MPs are asking for Sh656.7 million more than they received last year to cater for live coverage of parliamentary proceedings and a new redesigned debating chamber, among others."
From a land where most citizens are landless, unemployed and starving. And the quality/standard of education through university is among the worst in Africa - let alone the world. In a land where these same MP - including Raila - are among the most highly 'paid' legislators in the world! ! In a land polarized by simmering ethnic tensions that recently erupted in massacres paramilitary executions! In a land that can be considered a failed state.
Is this the kind of accomplishment that you think empowers you to belittle other leaders?
Raila,
- Are you paid to embarrass Africa and the Africans?
- Are you among those preparing the (psychological/diplomatic) grounds for the foreign invasion of certain African countries (like Zimbabwe) where the proxy occupation by foreigners under the ruse of pursuing "Islamic terrorism" cry would not work?
- Or are you doing it just for the fun - the ego - of knowing that you can do it AND GET AWAY WITH IT (for now)?
- Aren't there more pressing issues in Kenya where your (latent) capabilities in governance - which are as yet untested on the national stage - can be useful?
Time, time, let time visit the political infants in our midst. Give them time!
Go on Phiri, onesoul, kuba..tell us please...how much did they pay this sell out to utter these words??