Harare — ZIMBABWE'S opposition leader and President Robert Mugabe set aside years of bitter rivalry and talked like a father and son when they met for a private dinner last month.
Morgan Tsvangirai, who has repeatedly suffered arrest and assault at the hands of Mugabe's regime, described how the tension disappeared during their first one-on-one meeting following the signing of a memorandum of understanding to negotiate a power-sharing deal between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations on July21.
"A passer-by might have mistaken it for a lost father-son reunion," said Tsvangirai. "Initially, there was tension between us but as we chatted about this and that and became more relaxed, I discovered that he was a human being after all."
This private dinner, details of which have never previously been disclosed, followed the public handshake between Tsvangirai and Mugabe in Harare.
Only weeks earlier, scores of opposition supporters had been murdered and thousands assaulted or tortured during a bloody presidential election campaign.
But in an exclusive interview, Tsvangirai said these traumatic events did not come between him and the 84-year-old president.
"We chatted about family, about my mother, as well as about politics and the talks. Mugabe ate a lot and knew exactly what he wanted. He is very alert mentally but, physically, the age is telling."
Tsvangirai said it would be "unfair" to reveal the political details of 90-minute dinner with Mugabe. But he said the ageing leader was concerned about his place in history and genuinely worried about Britain's alleged plots to oust him –– a constant feature of his speeches.
"I got the impression that he has a deep commitment to his legacy. I realised that he actually believes a lot of what he is saying; it's not all said just for propaganda purposes. He is paranoid about the British. I think overall he wants to prove to them that he is right," said Tsvangirai.
As for the British government, Tsvangirai discovered that Mugabe views (prime minister) Gordon Brown as an even more dedicated opponent than Tony Blair. "I said, 'Why don't you talk to them?' And he said, 'Well, you know, Blair was bad enough but this Brown, he is even worse'."
Mugabe's regime has been responsible for thousands of deaths since he won power 28 years ago. But the old leader appeared genuinely pained about how he is portrayed.
"At one point Mugabe told me, 'You know, some people say I'm a murderer. But I'm not. Let the two of us carry on eating together and showing that we can go forward in peace'," said Tsvangirai.
But Mugabe seemed to have blanked out the violence which scarred the presidential election campaign and was firmly in denial about his own responsibility.
"It felt like a remarkably normal conversation most of the time, apart from his denial of the violence in Zimbabwe," said Tsvangirai. "He seemed to be unaware or he feigned ignorance of the atrocities committed by his own people.
"I wondered if he was suppressing knowledge of something he was not comfortable with. Right up to the end of the dinner, I kept coming back to the issue of violence and he kept denying any knowledge of it."
Only a week after this meeting, however, Mugabe gave a very different message. During the annual ceremony remembering the dead of the war against white rule, Mugabe said: "We used violence to defend what is ours."
Tsvangirai remains puzzled by the president's capacity for double-think and denial.
"I left the hotel wondering why Mugabe is so violent. Why does he resort to violence whenever he is cornered? Being in his company, I couldn't imagine where the violent streak was: I think he suppresses it, even to himself. Or is it the people around him? He doesn't seem as bad when you're with him, but I know he was trying to manipulate me that night."
Despite this friendly meeting, Tsvangirai later refused to sign a power-sharing deal that would have left Mugabe in command of Zimbabwe's government. But he said he felt "no sense of bitterness," adding: "I actually have to admit that I have some respect for Mugabe, who used to be my hero."
Heidi Holland is the author of Dinner with Mugabe, published by Penguin Books.
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Mugabe is a genuine monster in the form of a human devil!
Tsvangirai is right to point out he was impressed with Mugabe. Monsters have the ability to effectively hide their real bestial feelings and show compassion when that suits them.
I have also had a personal experience in the company of Emperor Bokassa of Central African Repiblic. I spent a whole day with hiw compared to only 90 minutes of Tsvangirai. Bokassa was very fatherly and paid much attention to the welfare of his guests during a trip on his personal boat along the Congo river.
But he was the very monster who did not tolerate any opposition to his rule. He ordered the assassination of his own son in law. He ordered the killings of innocent students who happened to oppose changes to the school system which he had introduced.
He was also in complete denial of any violence and he was able to show great generosity. Addressing some twenty of from from French-speaking Africa on visit to his country, he praised us, extended facilities that we had not asked and considered us as ambassadors of Africa!
Yet, after his downfall, his close collaborators accused him of cannibalism. He was eating the inner parts of some of his opponents that he was ordering to kill!
I can therefore understand Tsvangirai saying that he found Mugabe very normal and not betraying his ignorance of violence around him. And causing surprise some days afterwards when his monstrous feelings gets the upper hand over him, when he declared he has had recourse to violence to protect his achievements! It's the typical behaviour of a human turned monster!
Bokassa was another one just like Mobutu, Charles Taylor, Idriss Déby. A few more are still around besides Mugabe.
Mugabe has indeed cause to worry about his legacy! In this age of information technology, he cannot hide anything.
NOGs are compiling data on all his crimes and those he instigated.
The death sentence inflicted yesterday to two Argentinian generals for crimes they had committed against Pinochet's opponents before 1996 should give him restless nights!
His thugs and cronies also should know that data about crimes they have committed against the Zimbabweans are also saved in safe places and that they will be tabled at appropriate times. It may not be tomorrow, but it's a fact. NGOs will definitely drag them all to courts.
Calling you own brother a monster; what type of a human beign are you? Remember the proverb which says; Green is Green, but when it's added with another colour it changes. We "African" have to seriously and closely look into what changes Mogabe before we start calling him all type of outrageous name. First of all, he is a president of a sovereing country; one of the most respected ones in Africa. So, my dear African; please refrain of calling yourself an ignorant individual.
From Your Brother in the name of Christ and Allah
I think you'll find Mugabe WAS one of the most respected leaders in Africa, now he's a disgrace to Africa and also his own people who has happily raped and murdered to keep power. As for him being President of a sovereign country, why do you support condone such a man that has had to beat and murder your brothers and sisters to keep this position? Why do you allow such a precident to be set that shows other African leaders that its ok to beat and murder their own people to force people to vote for them if they are looking like losing an election? When will Africans learn that this isnt right?
My dumbass "brother" you're an idiot!
My dumbass "brother" you're an idiot!Have you attended school, 1000% inflation in Zimbabwe!!!!How do u expect people to live stupid and you're saying this in God's name....double stupid for u.
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