The Herald (Harare)
Published by the government of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Time to Engage Tsvangirai's Principals

24 December 2008


opinion

Harare — IT is one of the ironies of our time that people who are being hounded out of office on account of their ruinous domestic and foreign policies continue masquerading as bona fide international leaders with the moral high ground to lecture Zimbabwe on its internal politics.

In the United States, George W. Bush's regime is on its way out, clothed in shame, trailed by blood and reeking economic ruin with Bush holding the ignominy of being the most unpopular president in US history.

His ratings are far lower than Richard Nixon's at the time of his resignation over the Watergate scandal in 1974.

In Britain, the Labour Party faces the exit at the next polls with Gordon Brown's ratings plummeting faster than those of his predecessor, Tony Blair, who was forced into early retirement.

And these are the people who pretend they have the moral high ground to lecture Zimbabwe when no one in their own countries listens to them anymore.

Over the weekend, one of Bush's foot soldiers -- Jendayi Frazer -- was in South Africa, apparently on a last lap of shame, claiming she was acquainting regional leaders with the "latest US stance on Zimbabwe", saying Washington "was withdrawing support" for the inclusive Government. Frazer's statements were both comical and tragic.

Comical in the sense that not only does Zimbabwe not need US blessings to form a Government, but Frazer was not announcing anything new.

It's not a secret that the US wants regime change in Zimbabwe, which is why it imposed its illegal economic sanctions in addition to sponsoring opposition and quasi-opposition groups here.

From the time the broad-based agreement was signed on September 15, the US never made its opposition to the agreement a secret and has, in fact, kept MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on a leash to prevent him from setting foot at Munhumutapa Building.

As such, Frazer's statement was akin to announcing sunrise on a dry Savannah day.

The statement was tragic in the sense that it only served to expose the hand behind Tsvangirai's flip-flops.

It is important to note that the US would never have publicly made such a statement unless they knew that Tsvangirai would echo it to give Frazer's voice a semblance of legitimacy.

This is the real tragedy we face, that at a time MDC-T has signed an agreement with Zanu-PF, part of which abhors foreign interference in our domestic affairs, Tsvangirai is happy to be used by the discredited Western regimes.

Right now, he remains holed up in Botswana dancing to the tune of outsiders, yet he was invited, several days ago, to come for swearing-in as premier.

Already many in the opposition have lost patience with him. For instance, yesterday we carried statements by former MDC spokesman Gabriel Chaibva likening Tsvangirai to Savimbi, with Independent House of Assembly Member for Tsholotsho North Professor Jonathan Moyo blasting him for puppetry.

We are sure many other Zimbabweans feel the same way.

We, too, believe even if Tsvangirai were to join Government, he would be difficult to work with as long as he dances to the tune of outsiders.

To this end, we believe the nation, Government and region have been patient enough, it's high time we said enough is enough.

It may be worthwhile to engage Tsvangirai's principals directly, for the man will clearly never do anything without their blessing.

Read comments. Write your own.

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Author: greyscout
Wed Dec 24 09:32:22 2008

This item doesn't serve any real purpose, other than as a distraction to the real problem of Zimbabwe's illegal ZANU/PF government.

Imperfect though the Bush regime may be, in my opinion, the administration's spokesperson is sadly, on this occasion, correct regarding the current approach to the situation in Zimbabwe i.e. that a government of "national unity" with ZANU /PF and MDC will never be workable and should be abandoned.

This has been amply demonstrated since the signing of the power sharing agreement in September by the regime's continuing human right abuse, failure to observe the rule of law, abduction… [Read Full Text]

Author: sisingwenya
Thu Dec 25 00:31:04 2008

Good evening Excellency. Murambe kuenda ku South Africa. Kana vachida kuita that so called extra ordinary summit, let them come to Botswana. Regai Mugabe ne Zanu vadade mukati menyika, vachakuparai sendarama. Musambotya kana chinhu panyika pano. Only fear God. Mwana Komana Jesu Kristu tinaye President Tsvangirai. Vachinji hapana chatinatyo this Xmas, I believe Mwari vanoda kuti titaure Navo this Christmas. Vana Baba nana Mai wedzerai minamato. Mugabe ne Zanu will be eating and dining, but ordinary people suffering with nothing on their tables. Nzara yatinayo its a blessing to us, nekuti… [Read Full Text]

Author: jallohlaw
Wed Dec 24 12:16:39 2008

THE ITEM DOES SERVE A REAL PURPOSE, Bush apologist.

Frazier is the spit of Condi neo-con bush tail: she has no business interefering in the internal affairs of a sovereign African state: Africa for the Africans, rhodie.

Has anyone lectured the US on the immense human suffering of millions times millions times millions of Americans dropped on them by the moribund administration that the intellectual dwarf Frazier re-presents?

Or, for that matter, the financial suffering that the US has unleashed on the world because of its irresponsibly sponsorship of a CASINO called "Wall Street."

By the way, the DOCTRINE… [Read Full Text]

Author: CP
Wed Dec 24 12:31:38 2008

Nonsense!!! What 'African self determination'? Do people count differently in Africa? The few people who were allowed to vote in the last election voted against Mugabe. Had the diaspora been allowed to vote, the margin would have even been wider. Where in then is the 'Self determination' that you talk of when it comes to Zimbabwe? Does 'African self determination' mean authoritarianism? Real 'African self determination' has said Mugabe must go. Anything else that you have said is cheap propaganda by this regime which has raped our country and devastated our people...

Author: hondoyeminda02
Wed Dec 24 13:29:29 2008

Don't mix up things, Sir. Every people and country as a matter of fact needs self-determination. A democrat as you are you should know this better. I recommend you to read UN declarations and conventions on this. This is why America is about the American dream and values and they have gone to war about this - I refer you to their unjustified escapades in Iraqi and Afghanstan where they used this to rally public support and opinion.

When we analyse the Zimbabwe situation we need to become sober a bit. We lose the point in anger many times. Sorry,… [Read Full Text]

Author: jallohlaw
Wed Dec 24 14:49:01 2008

Nonsense, retour: rhodie.

What self-determination did Ian offer REAL AFRICANS IN 'RHODESIA' before the guns of ZANU/PF brought him down and YES SEIZED THE LAND THAT CECIL RHODES AND IMPERIALIST BRITAIN STOLE.

NOW, HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE, MR. NONSENSE: THE LAND WILL NEVER REVERT.

WE KNOW THE GAME, DUDE: ALL THIS TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY, BLA, BLA, BLA IS COMPLETELY PRETEXTUAL: YOU WANT THE LAND,

OVER OUR DEAD BODIES, RACISTS!

CHEERS FROM THE CITY THAT IS READY TO NOOK IT OUT WITH ANY HUBRISTIC 'POWER', THE CITY OF LEGITIMATED FORTITUDE, AND THE CITY OF KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT… [Read Full Text]

Author: juhlman
Fri Jan 2 09:11:26 2009

Here you go J-hollow:

J-hollow never actually gets around to disputing any actual FACTS when it comes to Zimbabwe, does he? He just goes on spouting his invective or hatred to any poster who accuses ZANU-PF/Mugabe of malfeasance..........

J-hollow - like the other defenders of the ZANU-PF/Mugabe regime cannot actually explain the factual shortcomings of the government of ZANU-PF/Mugabe! If anyone posts here suggesting a new era or "different path" in Zimbabwe (according to people like J-hollow), we must be "Rhoadies" or otherwise racist.........

Now once again J-hollow (for your posts are as empty as your intellect): Answer all… [Read Full Text]

Author: CP
Wed Dec 24 12:15:18 2008

Bush and his administration may have administered badly, and Gordon Brown and the Labor Party may loose the next election - fair and fine. But the key is that THEY WILL ACTUALLY LEAVE OFFICE WHEN THEY ARE VOTED OUT - that's by your own admission. And the elections were/will not be rigged. Furthermore no one was/will be beaten for their vote, and no one was/will be killed for exercising their right. And if in the next few weeks or days there is a disaster or an outbreak of a curable disease, the Bush and Brown administrations will set aside politics… [Read Full Text]

See all comments (16).



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