Personal info:
- Geoffrey Goines
- Swedish, Nature conservation freak, Passionate about Africa, Loving Peace, Politically neutral
Friday 13 February 2009
Mugabe starts arresting
Roy Bennet, a minister nominee, was arrested in the outskirts of Harare earlier today. The former farmer has recently returned from exile to Zimbabwe, and is expected to be appointed as the deputy minister of agriculture by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. However, president Mugabe might have other plans for Bennet, who a couple of years ago stood accused for attempts to assassinate Mugabe. I wont be surprised if the old dictator step up his position(s) and continue to haul any process of change in the country.
With an inflation rate hurdling up towards the 1.000.000.000 % mark, an unemployment rate of 94%, and some five thousand Zimbabweans fleeing the country daily, Zimbabwe is in a desperate situation. Allowing someone like Bennet to take charge of the agricultural sector could improve the situation for the starving population. But that is of course not in Mugabe’s interest. That would reduce his possibilities of blaming the West world, the Whites, the former Colonial rules, and God knows who, for all the bad things that has happened to Zimbabwe.
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3 comments:
While we are reporting about Zimbabwe and the alleged despotism of Mugabe, let us try to create a balanced view. The man may have past his sale-by-date but he tries or tried to protect his country from unwarranted domination and influence - like it or not. Ask Mugabe who and what caused the hyper inflation and starvation he has a different view and the more biased the western view the more africans start dissecting the happenings in Zimbabwe through his (mugabe's) view point. I have dug into the past and found the following: The Lancaster house agreement before the independence was that after a number of years (I think 10year) land should be redistributed. When the time came Prime minister Thatcher frustrated the issue, Mugabe kept calm, then came Prime Minister John Major, he frustrated the discussion again. Mugabe knew that if he allowed the trick to get at him, his action might create a reference that would deny South Africa it's freedom. But after the freedom of South Africa and in the time of Tony Blair, Mugabe decided to take the matter forward and he was right to do so. So in judging all these strife today in Zimbabwe, coupled with the fact that there was and still is an 'effective' embargo on food and basic needs in Zimbabwe by EU (Note: EU did not have embargo effective or not against Apartheid south africa - keeps you think, isn't??), one should also blame the west(Colonial Britain) in causing the problem. You don't see this reported anywhere. Why??
Following my earlier comment: There has always been a comparion of how Zimbabwe was food basket of the Southern Africa and is not any more now land has been redistributed. Well such question still not not render redistribution process irrelevant or bad move. Instead the problem was exacerbated by the lack of support from the colonial master and EU. Even some ague that what ever is happening now it is better to get back the land. What we saw on TV, where families grew in a hut, serving the man in the big house was slavery, period. The so called foreman never has promotion, his children will grow up and start doing the same. In europe, you work your way up, why should it not apply to the africans, particularly africans in their country and continent. One can not live like a stranger in his country and yet when these africans come to europe they are made unwelcome and perpetually aliens. I am in for Mugabe transfering power to another capable leader, but not the one that might sell the country cheap. One expects that Morgan Sv-- de-vest himself with that image that be-devils him. I am being honest gents and that is what we have to be.
>winchesterla
I have always been careful of passing judgments in matters that I lack sufficient knowledge (but what is "sufficient knowledge" actually...?). And as you might see in my previous posts on the Zim issue, I do express concern whether Tsvangarai is part of the solution or part of the problem.
However, I have chosen to take the stand against Mugabe based on the fact that he has become a dictator. His behavior during the aftermath of last March's election proves my point. That man needs to be removed.
Moreover, I dont think it is appropriate anymore to blame the ghost of the colonial past, especially when people are suffering and starving. Today's young Africans dont want to look ahead into a richer future, but they are held back by the older generation, which constantly want to discuss colonialism over and over again.
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