Published by the government of Zimbabwe
19 June 2008
Harare — Former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano has blasted Europe and the United States for being obsessed with attacking President Mugabe while Zimbabweans suffer.
"We must think of the people who are suffering under an embargo-like situation. No one co-operates with Zimbabwe anymore," Mr Chissano told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview published yesterday.
"The Europeans and Americans are focusing too strongly on (President) Mugabe."
Mr Chissano said whether or not President Mugabe steps down after next week's presidential run-off election against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was not as important as the need to rescue Zimbabwe's economy, which has been crippled by illegal economic sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and their allies.
"Africans and the rest of the world must try to ensure that the election takes place peacefully and properly and appeal to the parties to respect the outcome. Then a new start must be made to improve the economic situation. For me, it is not important whether (Cde) Mugabe steps down, but whether there is a new start."
He told Sueddeutsche Zeitung heaping pressure on President Mugabe's Government could be counter-productive.
"The election is not over, so I cannot say yet whether (Cde) Mugabe must go. One must leave him the opportunity for dialogue.
"Change that is brought about by pressure does not last. Whenever pressure has been exerted on Zimbabwe, the situation has worsened."
Meanwhile, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose supporters were behind post-election violence that killed almost 2 000 people in order to get into power, is parroting the Western stance on Zimbabwe by seeking to discredit the June 27 presidential election run-off.
On Tuesday, the Kenyan premier -- who is understood to have given shelter to MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti during his self-imposed exile soon after the March 29 elections -- said the international community should ask President Mugabe to step down and send peacekeepers to Zimbabwe to oversee free and fair elections there.
Odinga claimed the conditions in Zimbabwe were not conducive for a free and fair election, alleging the election had already been rigged.
Odinga, who used violence to force President Mwai Kibaki into a power-sharing deal, criticised African leaders for failing to speak out against Zimbabwe ahead of the presidential run-off.
But Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity Cde Bright Matonga yesterday said Odinga was not qualified to comment on Zimbabwe because he has not visited the country to see the situation on the ground.
"Normally, African protocol does not allow me to comment on statements made by a prime minister or a president but we respect him as a father-in-law because his sister went out with Cde Edgar Tekere.
"He is a father-in-law. We would urge him to visit Zimbabwe first, sit down and chat with His Excellency President Mugabe.
"After that meeting, he would be qualified to make informed comments on Zimbabwe."
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Tyranies have gone and Mugabe has to go. Because it is the wishe of the Zimbabwaen people no matter what the likes of chissano may say time is now and the will of god will prevail over the Zimbabwean people and he is sooner or later going to pay for the price for this humantarian crisis. Viva MDC
The words in parenthesis and capitals are from the Herald the rest is from the Zimbabwe Guardian, I think you'll see what I'm getting at:
FORMER Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano criticised(BLASTED) Europe and the United States for (BEING OBSESSED WITH ATTACKING)exerting more pressure on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe while Zimbabweans suffer. "We must think of the people who are suffering under an embargo-like situation. Nobody cooperates with Zimbabwe anymore," Chissano told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview(PUBLISHED YESTERDAY).
"The Europeans and Americans are focusing too strongly on (PRESIDENT)Mugabe." Chissano said the most important consideration, above and beyond politics, was the… [Read Full Text]
Let's not forget how virtually all these people were one in agreement that sanctions were a good tool against Rhodesia and in bringing Smithy to heel. How tunes change ...how tunes change.
Turnex, Rhodesia is a completely defeated country and increasingly exists only on the internet and outside Zimbabwe. You are out, and very bitter white people. Now most of you are doing manual labor, cleaning toilets in Europe. Your vile is all over that even in South Africa you are hated. And quite frankly who cares about Rhodesia anymore! It has been 27 years since your defeat and now less than 40,000 of your kind live in Zimbabwe. Some of your kind are now destitute and beggars in Bulawayo and other Zimbabwean cities. What a site! to see a white Rhodesian… [Read Full Text]
turnex, see why I said you should write to Phiri in Shona again? He still thinks you're white because you critisize the Zim govt.
Phiri, we've been over this stupid "you're all toilet cleaners" argument before. Nobody is believes that rubbish. If you really don't care about Rhodesia and "Rhodies" then why do you keep going on about them? Let go of your blame and move forward!
mindpower, I totally get you man. We used to have a term for people like this..remember it..we called people like him a mufourteen...ha ha ha
Phiri, respond to my post instead of accusing me of being this or the other. All I pointed out was when the world was clamouring for sanctions against rhodesia not one voice came out and said it was a bad thing...and dont forget it was WHITE countries including the Britain you hate so much now that imposed these sanctions. The rhodesians were being punished for refusing one man one vote..today we have a horrid little thug murdering his own people and the only sanction against HIM and HIS cronies is not to go on shopping trips to EU and USA… [Read Full Text]
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I love how the Herald makes out Chissano is a big player. Like its a battle between Chissano and the West. The west couldnt care less what Chissano says. Its like a mute ant shouting at a deaf elephant.