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Rwanda: Just Declare a Life-Presidency, Mugabe
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The New Times (Kigali)
EDITORIAL
20 June 2008
Posted to the web 20 June 2008
Kigali
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe recently vowed that his ruling ZANU PF cannot hand over power for which they shed a lot of blood, to anybody simply because the ballot tally says so.
If his message had been published in another newspaper and not the government owned The Herald, it might have passed as a concoction, or at best an exaggeration.
But the whole pre-run-off situation as it looks now strongly confirms the papers claims that no matter the outcome of the June 27 round two of the presidential elections, the incumbent is determined to stay put.
The entire process is really a sham. As if the violence, arrests, kidnaps, murders, intimidations and the general chaos being caused by the war veterans and security operatives was not undemocratic enough, a clear promise of going nowhere even if he lost has been added by the Mugabe camp.
Then why organise the polls in the first place, if Rwanda President's question may be relayed? If the decision to unleash terror onto the people of Zimbabwe in order to suppress any possible mass uprising has been made, why not stick to that and not humiliate them further by staging a non-election?
Mugabe has successfully metamorphosed from the African statesman he was ten years ago, to a selfish revolutionary. He believes with his heart that his immense contribution to his country's attainment of independence and the gaining of freedom by Black South Africa should earn him a life presidency.
Unfortunately, it is the same historical input that is holding regional leaders hostage, calmly tucked away in their safe countries, with little guts to express solidarity with Zimbabweans and not their ruler.
It has also been reported that as Zimbabwe continues to descend into economic hell, neighbours have been worthy substitutes as suppliers of agricultural and industrial products to both Zimbabwe and the region.
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We dread to think that the politico-economic factors apparently at play will deny the people of Zimbabwe help they deserve from fellow Africans for much longer.
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