The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
Ralph Mutema
28 June 2008
COUNTING of votes cast in the presidential election run-off held in Zimbabwe yesterday is under way in the capital Harare, amid reports that South Africa has blocked a move at the United Nations to declare the election illegitimate.
President Mugabe is tipped to win by a landslide in the election dubbed a 'sham' by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai after he boycotted it.
The United States and its allies in Europe had pushed for a resolution that would have delegitimized the election and questioned its credibilty.
The move was blocked by South Africa arguing that the Security Council was not mandated to certify elections.
The council instead issued an oral statement expressing "deep regret" that the election went ahead after widespread calls for it to be shelved.
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, immediately responded to this block and said the US would introduce a UN resolution calling for sanctions against Zimbabwe.
This move was criticized by African foreign ministers meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
They issued a statement saying that getting President Mugabe and the opposition MDC to talk will have better results than punitive measures.
Moses Watangula, in contrast to Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga's hard-line stance, said the route of sanctions was not going to help the situation in Zimbabwe.
MDC Flip-Flopping
This news came as a blow to MDC leaders whose rhetoric immediately changed in response to the block by the UN.
Ralph Black, the MDC's representative in the United States, who has dismissed a Government of National Unity (GNU) before seemed to change his stance.
He has told a radio programme before that a GNU was "... like asking a cancer patient to heal them self when they need help from a Dr.," but yesterday he told Al Jazeera that a GNU was the only alternative.
"They must agree to form a government of national unity," he said.
"The two parties must come together to select and share power, but we believe Mugabe must not be part of a unity government -- this is because the destruction of Zimbabwe's democratic institutions lies squarely at his feet."
The MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai also seemed to have been cornered and was softening his previous hard-line stance.
On Wednesday he said he would 'never' negotiate with President Mugabe if the run-off election went ahead.
He was quoted by CNN and BBC today saying he would go to the negotiating table if the 'conditions were right'.
Briggs Bomba, a Zimbabwe activist for Africa Action, a non-profit organisation, was quoted by Al Jazeera--the only international news agency allowed to broadcast from Zimbabwe--that the strategy the MDC is using has not been effective.
"What the MDC could have done was to mobilize mass popular support inside the country," he said.
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The west has been taken for a ride. Zimbabwe is modelled after China. in its purest form, the ideology is such that the country should be a one party state. Peasants have no clue of the strategic direction and therefore they don't get to vote on issues that affect the future of the country, just like China. The semblance of democracy, or pseudo-democracy, has been used as a tool to solicit for aid, grants and loans from western institutions. ZANU is not an individual but an institution. Whatever negotiations that will take place, which is now more than likely, have already been engineered in ZANU's favour. Most likely Mugabe will step aside for a crony and have tsvangirai step away from any leadership role in the transitional government. As soon as that happens, the west is bound to soften or be divided. That works in favour of ZANU.
The last two US presidential elections were decided by fraud (Florida in 2000; Ohio in 2004). The very last thing that Africa needs is to allow US and western Europe to continue to determine its political future. -- Where was the US concern when Zimbabwe was still Rhodesia?? -- Zimbabwe, like China, is building a society for all its people, not just for the benefit of multi-national banks and corporations. We can only hope that a suitable successor will come forward when President Mugabe finally does retire. - J. Daraja
Zimbabwe is building a society for ALL its people? Then how come millions are running over the border? How come you can't find any petrol in the country, but Bob and Gracie and their entourage can drive or fly anywhere, anytime they want? ( Maybe you are one of the hangers-on?) How come people in Zim will "sell" you their goods for the shoes you are wearing? Yes, the US elections were flawed, but the media of the world was allowed to look at all it's warts. We Americans are a dumb-assed bunch. Half of us don't even bother to vote. We deserve the wretched government we have. But The Zimbabweans don't deserve this crap. The best thing that could happen is a sniper puts Bob and Zim out of it's misery and he can become a martyr instead of dying of prostate cancer. China! Give me a break! My only hope is when this madness is over, Zimbabwe can do the kind of turnaround that happened in Mozambique. It won't happen as long as Bobby Mugabe and his cohorts are in charge.
Yes but like most near sighted people you only picked one election of one country to show a point! what about- England,Australia,Germany,Netherlands,New Zealand,Canada etc etc etc. All places the condemns magabe and his farce of an election and they all have free and fair elections that are show live results to the world and are happy to have any country in the world monitor them. Open your eyes Zimbabwe is about to see the end of mugabe and his regime very soon and you will thank the world for there kindness when it happens.
If you want a suitable successor to mugabe when the geriatric retires and is in the same mould as mugabe,go to any swamp and you will find many Leeches that will do exactly the same job as mugabe has done.
jdaraja - At the end of the day who calls the shots is one with the wallet. You seem to be very confused. Mugabe should not expect to survive with South Africa, Russia annd China. Soon after elections, Mugabe and his murderers are going to deal with the real mojo - hungry Zimbabweans and South Africa will not be able to do anything. The only reason you don't hear about strikes is because of the elections. Wait and see. God and Zimbabweans will find a way to topple ZANU PF. It aint over yet. If you disagree, dare tell me my God doesn't love His suffering people. My God, My God. Mark my words. This is brewing up to a real cocktail. Mugabe will pay dearly. Munangagwa will not get away.
Also, let me remind you that China, Russia and other troublesome countries do have big enough stomachs. Where is Zimbabwe's?
I always find it interesting when Mugabe supporters attempt to compare Zimbabwe's political system with that of the United States and other western countries. In those countries, you won't be arrested, beaten, tortured, or killed for voting for the "wrong" person. Can you honestly say the same thing about Zimbabwe?
"Zimbabwe, like China, is building a society for all its people..." Yes, China is definitely building a society for all its people. Except for Tibet. And independent journalists. And people who criticize the government. And anyone who disagrees with their leadership. Oh yeah, and there's also that whole Tienanmen Square protest that happened a while back. Did you hear about that? The Chinese government demonstrated their tolerance and respect for their people by violently suppressing the protesters.
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This is really making a mockery of democracy.. It seems that as the struggle becomes intense, the enemies really show their colours. In this case, the South African gvt (Mbeki's camp) has shown that they sympathise with the Zanu gvt and really wish for a status quo so that their position is not threatened in their own homeland.. Long as it may be, change will always come, with/without the support of any foreign body. I commend the civil society (MDC, Save Zim etc) who really show that leadership is about integrity and not about getting to power no matter the cost.. Participating would have led to more chaos and violence. "Flip flopping" is really being pro active and responsive to the environment. Rigid leaders are more harmful any way..( Bush sticking to Irag no matter the consequences, Mbeki and no AIDS stance and Zanu being eternal ideology, list of leadership rigidity is endless). So change of strategy is actually a good thing