Robert Mugabe sayshe'll never let the opposition take power, vowing "Never again shall this country come under the rule of the white man, direct or indirect." This might be a good time for, say, Nelson Mandela to speak up and note that the MDC is not, in fact, the pawn of some neocolonial white effort to recolonize Zimbabwe.
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Mugabe Fights On
14 Jun 2008 12:17 pm
Comments (13)
White rule would be better than what the Zimbabweans have now.
Mandela? For Christ's sake, let the man die in peace. What about Zumo and Mbeki, the guys who're actually in a current leadership roles?
Bob, nobody else is interested in your country now that you've run it into the ground.
I think you were looking for Zuma here. I'm not aware of any high-ranking "Zumo" in the ANC.
Between this and Yglesias calling on Nelson Mandela - who is certainly a hero but who is also a private citizen these days - you've encapsulated what's wrong with the "WHY WON'T SOUTH AFRICA JUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT MUGABE!?!?!?!" argument when it's made by Americans. Typically, knowledge of South Africa and its politics (and colonialism, for that matter) is low/nonexistent. There are also some very unstudied or perhaps vaguely racist assumptions going on here, too.
Mandela is 90. He might not be in any position to say anything coherent about the matter.
Hitchens had a particularly nasty piece in Slate the other day blaming Mandela for the mess in Zimbabwe.
I doubt that MY has any illusions about his knowledge about Africa. That said, my guess is that there is a blogging niche for those willing to learn: the 8 year Obama presidency will certainly have an interesting policy toward Africa.
I would also note that Zimbabwe is a relatively easy story to follow these days. Back in 2000-2, when the land was being taken from whites, often violently, the Commercial Farmers Union website was a great, but tragic, website to visit. I got the feeling I was "witness" to a 19th century Russian pogrom, with burning farmhouses on the horizon, and tales of intrique.
All of which to say: all you have to do is go to Google News and follow the story. Explain to us how exactly a Zimbabwe general is the owner of a DR Congo diamond mine. Rather than celebrate Tutu's (correct) statements on Mugabe, ask why Tutu has been silent on the Anglican bishop of Harare taking possession of a large, formerly white farm.
Since the only thing left for him is racism, Mugabe must be absolutely crapping himself at the prospect of a President Obama. Obama will just have to point his finger and Mugabe will be gone.
Posted by sunsin
Ah, yes! The moral superiority of Black Messiah meeting without precondition with a murderous black dictator, then pointing his finger and tell Mugabe to begone, as he commanded the oceans to stop rising and the planet to heal just a few months earlier.
Confronted with such black moral superiority that in comparison no white or Asian has ever had the moral standing to claim the equivalent in past confrontations with Mugabe, as hypocritical Evil Oppressor Race People - what choice would such a black thug have??
Mugabe, bow to Black Messiah, redeemer of guilty rich Jews and radicals on both coasts as well as to the sort hootin and hollerin in Wright's church.
This is very, very depressing. It was predictable once it was certain there would be a runoff, but still: depressing.
So then, PDXPete, I assume you're aware that one of the old parties merged into the MDC was Ian Smith's, right? And that the pro-colonial bias of your "witness to history" searches should at least be considered? Mugabe did land return about as badly as it could be done, but it needed to be done.
Mugabe seems hell-bent on joining the world's most-repugnant-theoretically-freedom-fighting dictators, it's true. Still, calling on Mandela to fix the problem (or Obama, for that matter) betrays a lack of perspective.
Atomic Violin,
I assume you're aware…
Frankly, I was only claiming a greater knowledge of Zimbabwe than our host. And I agree that the calls for help on the part of Mandela, or Obama, betray a lack of… well, understanding.
But it is fascinating to me than I can get current information off of some Zimbabwe websites. Try to get good information on what is happening in Kivu in the DR Congo, and if you find something, let me know. Or some information on the diamond mines in Kasai. I really do want to know the details of how a Zimbabwe general wound up owning one.
I'm not sure what you're so angry about.
Right, Zuma.
Why shouldn't South Africa play the leading role in addressing this problem? After all, it is the recipient of most of the refugees from Zimbabwe as well as being the dominant regional power. There's nothing colonialist or racist, even vaguely, about looking to South Africa to exercise some leadership here. Or would you suggest doing nothing in the interest of avoiding any action, in line with the new isolationism? Or perhaps a US/British "coalition of the willing"-style invasion?
Mugabe has a long history of violent suppression of his political enemies. Just days ago,he had the wife of his political opponent brutally murdered, chopping off her feet then burning her alive. The idea that someone like Mugabe could be negotiated with or talked into doing the right thing is, well, it's just incredibly naive in my opinion. Mugabe lives by brutal force, and brutal force or his natural death are the only things that could possibly remove him from power.
Comments closed June 28, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
Since the only thing left for him is racism, Mugabe must be absolutely crapping himself at the prospect of a President Obama. Obama will just have to point his finger and Mugabe will be gone.
Posted by sunsin | June 14, 2008 12:52 PM