I regret that I used the word hatred, because neither you nor Skepticus expressed such an emotion in your comments. I was attempting to refer to the broader Zimbabwean population, which has suffered such horrendous crimes against them in their struggle for freedom, and among whom there must be feelings of hatred and fear and revenge.

I happen to be an American citizen, although born in the Congo of a father who was also born there. But it is no more fair to ascribe the Congo’s sad political history to me as it would be to ascribe Zimbabwe’s to you.

To the extent you are telling foreigners to keep out of Zimbabwean affairs, remember that many Zimbabweans are appealing to the world to intervene or at least to help them put pressure on those who oppress them. I happen to agree that the solution should come from within your country, but I also favor any pressure my government and other governments around the world are willing to put on your current leaders.

I would hope that you would welcome international dialogue, especially when the speaker supports your cause wholeheartedly.

All the best,

Douglas Uhlinger

God bless the MDC leadership.

A friend of Zimbabwe and son of the Congo,

Douglas Uhlinger
Attorney at Law
Chicago, Illinois

‘We believe that the will of the people is the fundamental basis on which to ground our negotiations.’ (stating one ‘believes’ invites arguable debate for a start).

‘We are not here to form an elitist pact, but rather to represent the hopes and aspirations of each citizen and every stakeholder.’ (When a politician states something is so, read that it is not).

Regardless of my bracketed comments, where is the referendum, where is the mandate. Who has asked the people, when and what is their response. I see no poll, especially from MDC, asking the PEOPLE of Zimbabwe what the consensus is. The problem is that any opposition to the dictatorial Mugabe, and all his party has done and stood for is being eroded, and I would be concerned where the checks and balances of good governance will come from when the will of politcal patrons alone compromise, supercede and nullify them.

Why is Gordon Brown unpopular? Two basic reasons – (1) he was appointed without the say of the British voters, and (2) referendums promised have failed to materialize. Essentially, PEOPLE have been ignored in the final outcome and a govenment of a particular brand has been foisted upon them. And the same process of ignoring the supporters of (any) government, and unilaterally and groundlessly stating that politics is acting in the interests of those very people, is happening in Zimbabwe – again.

It’s all wrong. MDC should be governing, and ZANU should be in opposition, checking on them and exposing where they (will) fail – as does (or did) MDC with a ZANU government. Now we’ll have two parties unified in sweeping dirt under the carpet and acting without constraint.

Government control of the media has been the curse of both Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, allowing past regimes to drip-feed propaganda and lies to a people starved of the truth.

In any future dispensation, all TV, radio and press must be totally independent and free from political and state control.

Politicians need to learn that criticism and free speech, no matter how unpalatable, are the protectors of democracy .

There is nothing as sad as a broken heart. And when it is a nation’s broken heart it is even more sad. May providence provide you, your fellow negotiators and mediators, with every strength, courage, and conviction, in the mending and healing process ahead.