SW Radio Africa (London)
Tichaona Sibanda
3 July 2008
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggested on Thursday that the international community could send a peacekeeping force to stabilise Zimbabwe.
Brown told a parliamentary committee in London that plans are already on the table to explore ways of deploying an international peacekeeping force, following an escalation of violence against MDC supporters since the 29th March elections.
'I think we have got to bear in mind that all the pressure at the moment is political pressure to try and achieve a desired result. But we've got to listen also to what the opposition in Zimbabwe are saying to us about what they think is the right course that they wish to see pursued and we've got to get the mediators working very quickly to achieve the transition we want to see,' Brown said.
Gangs of militants, wearing the bandanas and scarves of Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and carrying sticks and clubs, have been manning makeshift roadblocks in most parts of the country. Party militias and war veterans have set up torture camps in rural areas, towns and cities, frog-marching people to political meetings to re-educate them about the dangers of voting for the MDC.
The violence which broke out shortly after the March election, when Tsvangirai is believed to have defeated Mugabe outright has escalated dramatically ever since. Over 100 MDC activists have been murdered, 10,000 injured and over 200 000 displaced by Zanu-PF's undeclared war on the MDC.
The US and the UK are pushing for a UN resolution to send a peacekeeping force to Zimbabwe. To establish a new peacekeeping mission nine of the Security Council's 15 Member States must vote in favour.
However, if any one of the five permanent members--China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States--votes against the proposal, it fails. In the last few days, there have been diplomatic maneuvers by both the US and UK to lobby countries in the Security Council to support the resolution. It's felt that China, who normally blocks resolutions on Zimbabwe, will not this time, because of the olympics. But South Africa have been the main problem, and have consistently blocked any UN action.
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Thank you Comrade for identifying the cause of hardship of our brothers and sisters. No peacekeeping force is needed in Zimbabwe.Gardon Brown and his cronies intends undermining the African capabilities to solve crisis. South Africa's Thabo Mbeki is capable and competent to handle the situation. Peacekeeping for for where? Is there a war in Zimbabwe? There is Problem in Zimbabwe: Agreed. But please allow sanity to prevail. If i may ask: Is the U.K Prime Minister Gordon Brown a Zimbabwean? Sir whats your interest? Humanity? i dare you respond in the asffirmative. I need to ask because of your determination to continuosly see the people of Zimbabwe suffer.
The dogmatism that characterised the senses of particulaly Gordon Brown is unimmaginable. Your Government is refusing to grant asylum to Zimbabweans. they can't work or earn money.Now you want more sanctions. What do you hope to achieve by letting the people suffer beyond the poverty line? You imposed unilateral sanctions: You actually saw or heard about the plight of the Zimbabweans. Now you calling for more.
Your recent actions have clearly manifested your cruelty and racist tendency.
I think Mr. Brown should now concentrate on winning more seats in his Country's pending election and dont prioritize your selfishness at the instance of Zimbabwe . He should realised that he is loosing popularity to the conservative.
thanks the british pm.for his so concern of the zimbabwian people,but he shuold bear in mind that the suffering of the peolple of zim. are under going, they the gov.of bratain are the caused.if they guinuily wish to bring an end to the suffering of the zimbabwian let them lift the sanctions and leave mediations to sadc and au the way they are proceeding with it.i really think the problem in zimbabwe is not about the suffering anyway as it being siad but for their own interest are at stick therein.please for the sake of humanity support the mediation by the au and the sadc in order for the people of zimbabwe to enjoy the fruit of thier fatherland as you are doing with yours real now in britain.please,leave us alone to solve our problem our way,not that we can not but because you are too involve with it,if not by now the prolem of africa would had balance but your interference dont permit us.mr.brow ask your partner to stop the sanctoin now see if the zimbabwian can not find solution to their problem today.you euorpean just gave a little space and see how we deal with our problem,jusy stop melting in our problem.thank if listen