African leaders call for a Government of National Unity
July 1st, 2008
Via the BBC:
African leaders have called for a government of national unity in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe was re-elected unopposed last week.
The resolution was approved at an African Union summit in Egypt, which also saw strong criticism of Mr Mugabe by Zimbabwe’s neighbour Botswana.
The presidential run-off was boycotted by the opposition, which cited widespread political violence.
Both sides have so far ruled out forming a power-sharing government.
More here.
July 2nd, 2008 01:19
I keep reading this and, from my point of view, no government which involves Mr. Mugabe in any way would be a legitimate one. No conversation about a transition can take place until Mugage and his cronies understand that very simple fact: what legitimacy he had when he first took office has been squandered over the years.
Zimbabwe needs new leadership that will honor the principles of democracy, needs to have its constitution restored to a place of primacy, and needs to rebuild the faith that must exist between the government and the governed.
July 2nd, 2008 02:07
Merely passing a resolution ‘calling for a GNU’ is not the same thing as not accepting the outcome.
This very important meeting for Zimbabwe was a let down. By actully congratulating Mugabe on his ‘win’ the meeting was condoning all the pre-election violence; abandoning Morgan Tsvangirai; and abandoning the Zimbabwe nation.
What for? just to appease Mugabe?
What this conference of nations should have said was this: We the African Union of countries strongly condemn the obviously wrong and undemocratic attitude of Robert Mugabe that he would not accept the result if he had lost, even if the opposition had won in a fair and proper election if both sides had taken part.
By not doing the above the AU is confirming that, in their eyes, it is OK to be a dictator, and whenever dictatorship is opposed and confronted with democracy, dictatorship may be allowed to determine the outcome, even in a country which has awarded itself a democratic constitution.
If ever there was a ‘Wind of Change’ in Africa
as Harold Macmillan predicted, it is taking a hell of a long time to become reality.
July 2nd, 2008 02:25
I feel sick for you all, at the way things are going post AU… Watching BBC news 24 and the latest commentator, ‘of course Mugabe will stay in power…’ etc etc and felt I’d vomit. I cannot believe how the people of Zimbabwe are being ignored, save for the very few at the top of Zanu PF.
I am so sorry, and pray you’ll keep the strength and some way out will be found.
With deepest respect,
Lucy
July 2nd, 2008 07:57
National Unity how can you have that when the ideology of both parties are from so different..When the ex president Mr Mugabe rules with no compassion nor does he have any understanding of what democracy is..Anyway on a good morning point this article was posted in our little group boycotting the 2010 World cup it brightened my day and I am assuming this Peter Godwin the author of Makiwa and whom was arrested?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/06/26/south-africa-warned-it-might-lose-2010-world-cup-if-doesn-t-intervene-in-zimbabwe-89520-20621344/
July 2nd, 2008 09:37
@ Sokwanele I love your website and log on to it at least three times a day to keep up to date with the new campaigns the thoughts the work and do my best to promote it amongst the varying people I know as we all do….I posted something about half an hour ago but see its not there so Im hoping you got it….Here are two suggestions I have which I hope you could incorporate into your site…could you please post a place with all the petitions that are going that are current and perhaps then people will see the duplications and be more cohesive in their efforts having trawled the web facebook etc whilst it is wonderful that so many people care about Zimbabwe so many people are not gathered together and the work is continually duplicated I long for a place where all 5 million exiled Zimbabweans and those who support them in their quest for democracy are joined in one voice….the second thought which keeps coming to me is great about Tescos great about the UK movement and the German movement against the bank but how come Holland hasn’t said they will stop importing flowers from Zimbabwe? the UK is part of EU and yet UK and USA are the only ones who are pin pointed…I have seen great things coming out of Norway in Zimbabwes favour too….
July 2nd, 2008 10:50
As Robert Mugabe sought recognition from African leaders yesterday, his police have been arresting the “dangerous” opposition agents that Mr Mugabe accuses of fomenting violence in the country. Mrs Chigoro is one of them. She is considered such a threat she is being kept under armed police guard at a Harare hospital.
Seventy years old, her injuries are so horrific she can no longer lie on her back or walk unassisted. She can only huddle in a claw-like shape. The appalling chemical burns that have removed her lips and melted her right cheek come from an industrial weedkiller she was forced to drink. (ZWNEWS)
SOLUTIONS…SOLUTIONS…SOLUTIONS!!!
r.evolution@hotmail.co.uk
July 2nd, 2008 11:20
Zimbabweans, its time to go to the streets of Zimbabwe and claim your rights!!!! You are the ones suffering, the west, east, north, south cannot do anything. The option of sharing power with Zanu is a no go…Zanu do not take advice and criticism, they think they are always right…They are being used by satan to destroy Zimbabwe…. Zimbabwe will never ever become a colony, these Zanu PF’s are talking utter rubbish, they know it will not ever be re-colonised, they have failed the zimbabwean people and are blaming britain. Britain refused to give them money for land reform because they were giving themselves farms. If they had done the right thing and given the farms to ‘the people’, then maybe it would have worked. Zanu failed and are now making us pay… Stand Up Zimbabweans….Only you can save yourselves….Do not be afraid!!!