Zimbabwe’s controversial re-election of President Robert Mugabe is bringing new pressure on South Africa to resolve the conflict, and raising military tensions with neighboring Botswana.
Thabo Mbeki
Leaders of the G-8 and several African nations scolded South African Prime Minister Thabo Mbeki at a meeting in Japan Tuesday, saying his efforts to mediate Zimbabwe’s political crisis are not working, the Mail & Guardian of South Africa reports.
With violence against the Zimbabwean opposition escalating, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are pushing for harsher sanctions.
However, some African leaders, including Mbeki, warned against sanctions they said could potentially destabilize Zimbabwe, resulting in civil war.
At a press conference during the G-8 summit, Tanzanian president and African Union chairman Jakaya Kikwete and President Bush agreed to an additional meeting on the subject in August.
“Not all African leaders are in a position to support sanctions at this time,” Bush aide Dan Price told allAfrica.com following the president’s meeting with Kikwete.
Botswana, which is situated on Zimbabwe’s southwestern border, has joined the fray by refusing to recognize Mugabe’s contested re-election.
“We have no problem with the people of Zimbabwe, but we have a problem with someone who will beat up other people on the run-up to elections,” foreign affairs minister Phantu Skelemani told Botswana’s Mmegi newspaper.
SW Radio Africa also reported that Botswana has deployed an Army brigade at its border, to prevent post-election violence — which has left 20 people dead since the June 27 run-off election — from spilling over from Zimbabwe.
Mugabe, however, saw the move as provocative.
“If there are some who may want to fight us, they should think twice. We don’t intend to fight any neighbors. We are a peaceful country, but if there is a country, a neighboring country that is itching for a fight, ah, then let them try it,” Mugabe said to supporters last week.
–John Hornberg/Newsdesk.org
Sources:
“Mugabe is not President”
Mmegi (Botswana), July 7, 2008
“G-8 leaders grill Mbeki on Zimbabwe”
Mail & Guardian (South Africa), July 8, 2008
“Deadly Zim violence intensifying, says MDC”
Mail & Guardian, July 7, 2008
“African leaders oppose sanctions”
AllAfrica.com, July 2, 2008
“Mugabe’s Regional War Talk”
AllAfrica.com & SW Radio Africa, July 4, 2008
“President Bush and President Kikwete of Tanzania Discuss G8 Working Working Session with Africa Outreach Representatives”
Press conference transcript, July 7, 2008
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What is wrong with the world.?
When Hitler started to take over Europe, the rest of the world did nothing.
After he had gobbled up half of Europe, the world still failed to respond to his evil actions.
What is the world waiting for . They have no guts. If Zim had oil, then maybe the world would take some action. The world stands by and does not want to get involved. Meanwhile a maniac holds the world to ransome and rapes and plunders his country and his people, and the rest of the world does not give a damn. This is indeed a sorry day for democracy. The free world should hang it’s head in shame.
Justin Figov. 29th.March.2009.
mina i think the time has come that mugabe must face his fate because the blood of the ndebeles is upon his shoulders and the british must not try to feel sorry for the people of zim because they are the ones who helped mugabe to kill innocent ndebeles,ifb the power was given to the right person they knew zim would be a peaceful country to stay,he must face his doings .
THANX TO THE CHIVALROUS FIGHTERS WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR HARD WON INDEPEDENCE.VIVA PRESIDENT MUGABE AND OTHER GALLANT SONS AND DAUGHTERS. PROUDLY ZIMBABWEAN IN SOUTHAFRICA[STUDYING]
Utterly perplexed by those with the gits to celebrate ZIMBABWE”S independence.Honestly speaking there is nothing to celebrate about .People have perished at the hands of a dictator.Health sector has crumbled totaly and in dire need of resuscitation.Education system in need of an emergency overhaul before it becomes history like Chimutengwende,Zvobgo,Manyika E,Gezi b,Hunzvi Hitler and all other like minded cadres history has already condemned.SEVERAL people have already departed due to starvation whilist Mugabe hangs around amongst the world”s stinking rich .Our own currency now defunct,hence resorted to using the $US and R SA.Half of the country” s population in diaspora.Most fled political persecution and abject poverty.Sooner tha later you shall be enjoying the Abyss.
Guys just know that its not by powernor by mighty that we reach the promised Land of Canaan(prosperous zimbabwe) neither is it by blaming politicians that we may justify our selves President Mugabe Nor Prime minister Tsvangirai are not the answers to our problems but God is.Remember that dawn is the darkest hour of the day yet it will be only a few moments before day light embraces the world with a mighty light.We are only a few inches from total and grant happiness.
baba paurosi
mugabe, give me the honour to thank you for lewding zimbabwe, true success and difficulty,but jus for the sake of the majority,PLEASE!STEP DOWN!Taneta newe kani!ahhhhhhh!!haunetiwo here??
Sim must look to a united Africa for Africas survival
No single African country or collective African countries in all of africa can at this time design, and forge the steel to make a simple made in Africa bycycle ( shame)
They are all simple well dressed white mans yardboy
hey zimbabwe has been pathetic for so long.We have wasted ten years without achieving anytyhing.Have done a course but of no use.what are those people who call themselves politicians doing to our beautiful country.MaY THEY STOP THERE DIRTY GAME IMEDIATELY AND WE PROCEED WITH OUR LIFE.CAN NOT EVEN MARRY A WIFE IMAGINEJUSY
To all those who still say that black government is the best thing to happen to Zimbabwe. I say “phooey!!”
Anyone with any sense at all would say….”Man what were we thinking, when we decided to demand black government instead of better government”
I am under no illusion that the so called white regime had its faults, but there was a genuine effort to include all peoples in the scheme of things over time.
I immigrated to Rhodesia as a baby in 1947, and left my beloved home in the ’70s when it became evident that the black majority was fooled into supporting a drive to oust white goverment from power. They were sadly drawn into believing the greedy, murderous , nationalist terrorists, who overan the only people who could bring the nation into the 21st century. I miss my beloved Rhodesia and wonder what happened to the many indigionous blacks who I had contact with through my work and home.I was fortunate and able to escape the years of downfall that followed the success of black rule. But my heart still remains in that distant ,most beautiful land.Sadly the people who were most instramental in bringing black rule into place are now the recipients of its inability to bring them anything but suffering. Proud Rhodesian, Chris Elley…Arizona
I cum from nkayi,sikhobokhobo,our culture has been ruined by the regime eg roads are dead, vacant post occupied by people that can not even speek our beloved ndebele language.
we dont want to hear anything frm mugabe and his allies bcoz they failed us big time,so now people from mashonaland there are all over zimbabwe.
from Bob Nkululeko Mhlanga
our leaders(Mygabe and tsvangirai) are working as a single unity but the problem is that there are other figures within the structure that are self centred thus they despise they new unity govnt
in the jungle,a male lion kills the cubs of a female so it can mate with her to produce its own cubs…tsavngirai has allowed mugabe to kill the children of zimbabwe,white and black,so he can place his own spawn into power with no challengers.what tsvangirai fails to see is that most females fight for their children to live in their good image not the images of a ruthless killer…
it takes one man to destroy all and many many more to build or rebuild a house,why cant africa open her eyes and come togther for true indipendence and democracy.or have they forgotten that a government is ment for the people,with the people, and stands by the people…mugabe is not the voice of zimbabwes living,he is the voice of all the inocent whodied for him,by him and through him!!!!
to me they are all animals not pple rulling,so when some one is brave enuf to tame these beast and free all victims,will we see the cradle of mankind continue to florish….
justice needs and wants to be served!!!!!!!
mugabe said only God can take him out.People of Zim be happy God has started.He is taking his ring leaders first and mugabe for last and you know what people he is going to be so lonely and affraid to meet all those evil people like him in hell,who have already made friends with satan and denounce mugabe as greedy,weak and absent minded and satan himself is preparing the warmest welcoming for him end of the year.mugabe is not going to live till December.China has run out of genes to clone another mugabe .mugabe died when Lady SALLY died.What you have ruling ZIMBABWE is CHINESE clone of mugabe.Short live mugabe till DECEMBER.GO TO THE HELL FIRE WHERE YOU BELONG.
ZIMBABWE IS MUGABE’S (PTY)LTD.
I GIVE A BIG UP TO MR MUGABE FOR ALL THE WORK HE HAS DONE. HE IS A HERO, THE LEGEND AND HE IS MY IDOL. KEEP IT UP MR MUGABE WHOEVER DOES,NT APPRECIATE YOUR WORK I CAN SAY HEOR SHE IS MENTALLY DISTURBED. THEY NEED TO GO TO SEE THE PSYCHOLOGIST.
THANK YOU TATA I SALUTE YOU
things havent been good at all in zim but playin the blame game wont help.personally i hv always admired mugabe-one of the great african leaders,with true leadership qualities but of late eeeeish.he should have handed over power to someone else a long time ago but rather he didnt and all hell broke loose.i have never liked tsvangirai to be the president coz he lacks leadership qualities but i have been forced to just vote for him simply for the sake of change.all the suffering back home really makes me mad but im not gonna blame mugabe only but all those around him.i only hope and pray that one day the Almighty will answer our prayers.im a student in cape town and i believe east west home is best hence come december i will heading down kumakomoyo ini hangu wasu.
History will repeat itself
I think that zimbabwe’s neighbors should cool down and respect other’s, because you can’t fight forever, and you can not live with anger in your heart to hurt others or the community.
guys be very careful in these last days of zanu remember mukoma Thomas Mapfumo`s song Jojo tinofa
I have just returned to the UK after a Four week holiday in Zimbabwe, this was my first ever visit to Africa and was made very welcome by its people, but,I could not believe that I was still in the Twenty First Century,what I see was not at all pleasant the whole infrastructure needs urgently updating by the Government,what is needed is a public works program to be initiated thus giving full employment to the many thousands that are only just surviving on the hand outs and good will of others. I see children in rags, homes that were not fit for animals let alone human beings to live in, therefore, I ask the Zimbabwean government to search it’s conscience if it has one, the people deserve better they are not cattle they are human beings so start treating them as such give them the standard of living that they deserve and maybe just maybe you can stay in power.
Mugabe i am sick and tired of watching you destroy Zimbabwe, if you think that u will be able to fight Botswana i think that you should be the one to think twice, not about yourself but the people of Zimbabwe. You have murdered innocent people, the ndebele people you slaughtered, men women and children, what did they do to you, they did nothing. Mugabe you are a coward and a dog. I have watched as my uncles farm was taken away without any legal justice. I have watched the millions of Zimbabwe children who starve to death while u throw multi billion dollar birthday parties for yourself. While the people of Zimbabwe are suffering you sit in your house with Zimbabwe at your mercy. I have watched you cheat on election after election and i think it is time you stopped. Mugabe you are a MURDERER,and a thief, you took your own nation and threw it out the window, i think i speak for all of my fellow Zimbabweans when i say this Mugabe its time for you to GO !!!!!
Mr president
i seriousl think mr mugabe is doing the right deed,i mean what the hell do the us think they are,are they helping the zimbabweans by imposing sanctions,there actually trying to show that their level of thought is below than the zimbabweans,i was in zimbabwe,,,but proudly realte myself to zimbabwe,,,,,,alll UK did was exploit the whole world,,,dis ever anyone think of that???/was that right???did the world ever get back to them,,,,they showed their power,,,,,so mr mugabe i am with u totally sir..
i cnt believe it,mugabe!!
I pray every day that he will suffer equally for the pain tht he has caused! Mugabe may the lord strike you down and allow you to repent while you feel the pain you caused in your last days!
Families lost! children dying! fathers and mother slautered infront of their little children. How can he ever be forgiven!
mugabe has done well till this day but i thank him for what he did .well done mate dut its time out he realy has to go and people might say you are a hero
The best peace always comes after winning a war. We negotiated because we were not brave enough to win the war. All counties that have risen up and got rid of the problems permanently are always better off.The people are weak and cowards.
we are surfing in south africa,xenophobia is strucking us,all these is because of mugabe and his cronies.african leaders must take action,we have no powers remove,if we try to vote for a change this man start his brutal killings,god help us and take this devil before he finishes your civiliens.
Ladies and gentlemen, ZANU has gone too far this time. There has been a bit of buzz recently about young Paul Kaseke, the ZANU boy who has been carrying out plans of terror on the Ndebele people and the MDC calling them sell outs. He has threatened a removal of all ethinic grouos loyal to the MDC and has full control of the ZANU youth and militia to carry out operation ” sovereignity” and reating ZANU in power befroe the next election. Please get this boy investigated for crimes against humanity. Thoousands have died at his hands and we cannot think what is next . ZANU enough is enough .
Are you seriously telling me that the young Paul Kaseke does the bidding for uncle Bob? Wow. Zvanyanya. I met him while he was Governor and to me , he made sense but then he was not political just rationale. When did he change. Shame on ZANu and shame Paul , i respected you at some point but now you are just as bad