“Can anyone help? Will anyone help?” – Zimbabwe
As we enter our seventh year of political turmoil, most Zimbabweans are desperate, despondent, and disempowered. In the face of a total onslaught by their own government, they feel helpless, and many have been made homeless. The economy is stuttering to a halt as social breakdown escalates. Government actions are erratic and oppressive and incapable of solving the chaos they have created. It is hardly surprising that the popular mood has shifted during the past ten months from a guarded expectation of change to a numbing hopelessness.
Six years ago, when the ZANU PF government was rejected by the people in a constitutional referendum and began its war on Zimbabweans, people believed that a democratic electoral process and a respected independent-minded judiciary would eventually rid them of an oppressive, increasingly irrational government. A popular opposition party was in the ascendancy and waiting in the wings.
But after six years of election campaigning and legal challenges, it is clear that the institutions of democracy are so completely subverted that they cannot support the will of the people or resurrect the rule of law. Quixotic economic policies intended only to keep ZANU PF in power have seen production decline by more than half and the vast majority of the population sink into penury. Many hundreds of thousands, possibly millions have fled the country to seek to survive elsewhere. The final blow to Zimbabwean hopes came with the fracture of the opposition MDC late in 2005. While a schism within the broad-based coalition was doubtless inevitable and resulted from significant policy differences, the timing was inauspicious, and left those who still hoped that some miracle might occur with no branch to cling to. Zimbabweans on their own conclude they can not change the situation for the better, in the face of a government that is prepared to use all means of repression, including indiscriminate armed force, torture, confiscation of property and systematic abuse of all human rights, to maintain its position.
The goal remains the same – to remove ZANU PF from power and replace them with those genuinely elected by the people and responsive to their needs. But if it cannot be done through the current electoral process, what are the alternatives? “Take them out the way they got in” says an aging liberation war fighter. “No, the only way is non-violent struggle,” answers the peace activist. Zimbabweans have no stomach for a liberation war, especially given the suffering and disappointing results now evident from the fifteen year struggle of the 60’s and 70’s. And the earth has since turned – it would be impossible in the regional context of the new millennium. Nor is this British India, where the mass non-violent protests of the saintly Gandhi could stir the conscience of an imperial power. Brave individuals and groups will certainly continue non-violent street protests, but the mechanism by which these would bring a change of government is yet to be discovered.
The point has been made that once a state has failed, institutions have collapsed, and the nation is ruled by brute force alone, the people will not be able to return the situation to peace and economic development on their own – they will require outside help. Early on in this interminable drama, Zimbabweans began to look beyond their borders for help from the international community. Individuals and opposition politicians have risked opprobrium and even arrest by calling publicly for action from the international community. Human rights organizations have appealed through the formal channels of the African Union and the United Nations for help; they have been frustrated at every turn. While the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights lends a sympathetic ear, the real power of the AU lies in the heads of state who have become worthy successors to the OAU’s old boys’ club of dictators. Even the UN is hamstrung by those states that do not want any human rights abuses investigated lest their own might come under the spotlight. Millions of Zimbabweans watched with envy as the American and British armies removed Saddam Hussein from Iraq and longed for such action in Zimbabwe.
From the beginning, western governments were sympathetic to the plight of Zimbabweans. More than three years ago they began withdrawing government-to-government aid programmes citing corrupt electoral processes and human rights abuses. Both the Americans and the EU imposed targeted personal sanctions against top government and party officials, prohibiting travel and business relations. They also provided food aid and other humanitarian assistance wherever they were not obstructed by government, and funded civil society organizations dedicated to expose and protest against rights abuses and those struggling to build the future by developing pockets of democratic understanding. The IMF has refused to resume balance of payment support until political reforms are instituted. These efforts are important, but they will not remove a stubborn dictator like Robert Mugabe, and political good manners require an invitation by the neighbours before any more substantive action can be taken. Thus President Bush handed the problem back to Mbeki as his “point man” in southern Africa.
Zimbabweans also placed their hope in President Mbeki. Surely this sophisticated champion of struggle and democracy would be able to bring pressure to bear on his wayward neighbour to accept the will of his people and retire. But whether through sympathy with Mugabe or a naïve failure to correctly assess the forces at play, Mbeki betrayed Zimbabwean hopes. The past three years have gradually brought the realization that Mbeki is not our champion but has rather been protecting Mugabe. Up to now we have heard no single powerful statement from Mbeki denouncing ZANU PF abuses, but repeated statements of support from his lieutenants.
But the crisis will not go away. The situation on the ground deteriorates by the week. Zimbabwe is now very close to the position of a failed state. Government institutions no longer function for the normal business of government and have become centres of patronage, handing out opportunities for self-enrichment to those prepared to prostitute themselves by singing the praises of the ruling party. The law enforcement agents do not enforce the law, but protect their law-breakers from prosecution. A senior police officer states openly that she respects political orders, not court orders. Democratically elected local councils are systemically destroyed by a government minister. Public revenues are used to enhance the private wealth of the few, and even humanitarian aid is manipulated for political power and private gain.
Armed riot police are used to chase struggling people from their homes, deprive them of a livelihood and cow them into submission. And inexorably the economy contracts, threatening the ability of the government to continue its essential functions. The Zimbabwe dollar slides into oblivion, money cannot be printed, water cannot be pumped or purified, electricity supply breaks down, ambulances cannot operate, even the police are without transport. Only the riot police and the army seem to be provided with vehicles from China and precious fuel that is unavailable for other government departments. Month after month we are promised a war against corruption, but time after time when the big fish are arrested they are let off the hook to swim back into the muddy waters. While the army tries to force people to grow food, supplies dwindle and no one wants to slave in the fields while leaders make fortunes by fraudulent handling of the people’s taxes and other ill-gotten property. Meanwhile, across the borders, impoverished Zimbabweans who turn to crime, or simply undercut locals for jobs, are causing resentment that has recently exploded into violence. South Africa and Botswana spend huge amounts trying to turn back the flow of desperate immigrants, who find ever more ingenious ways of dodging the authorities.
And as systems collapse, the threat of open violence looms ever larger. Food shortages could touch off riots; so could fights over transport, or even seething anger over the lack of medical treatment. But these would probably be swiftly snuffed out by the riot police and army. While mutiny is possible, it is unlikely. More dangerous is the possibility of leaders engaging each other in the quest for land, or for succession to the leadership. Already there are frequent squabbles, and whoever gets the police on their side seems to win. But the prizes to be seized are getting fewer. Important players in the land grabs are military officers. What is to stop them using the units they command to back up their claims? Especially in the light of low pay and poor conditions for the ranks, who could be promised “extra benefits” for backing an individual instead of remaining loyal to the state. Already senior officers command their subordinates to accompany them on expeditions of plunder. Warlordism is lurking in the background. It could come to the fore. Zimbabwe could collapse into anarchy and civil war, and we have seen from West Africa and Central Africa how quickly this could degenerate into regional conflict.
African states have refused to peer into the future to see the possibility for a new centre of conflict, this time in southern Africa. They carry on with “business as usual”, burying their heads in the sand as the African Bank for Imports and Exports keeps ZANU PF from drowning. What will be the response of the rest of the international community? What should they do – for the sake of Zimbabweans, for the sake of regional peace?
There seem to be three possible stances. One is to continue with the targeted sanctions, diplomatic boycotts and pressures, and hope that the economy will eventually bring ZANU PF to a standstill. The second is to do a U turn and embrace ZANU PF, hoping that a more moderate wing of the party will emerge from the succession race and put Zimbabwe back on the development track. The third is to intervene to prevent a wider catastrophe.
The first option is currently being tried, with little effect. The ZANU PF response is to make vituperative attacks on western nations, and cling more tightly to their seats for a bumpy ride. Many Zimbabweans have also hoped that if ZANU PF cannot be defeated at the ballot box, it will eventually succumb to economic collapse; but all evidence points to the fact that they will not vacate state house themselves under any circumstances. It is far more likely that they will squeeze the last drop out of Zimbabweans to keep themselves in office and prefer to see the country degenerate into open fighting. That is where we seem to be headed if nothing is changed from the present position.
The second option is appeasement – “shake hands with the devil” and hope to keep the lid on until the dictator dies or somehow goes away. Underlying this approach is a belief that ZANU PF has a “moderate” wing that can be coddled and promoted to take over once Mugabe retires or dies. If we can just hang on until then, it will not be necessary to intervene, and meanwhile, we must join him in bed, no matter how unpleasant the experience. South Africa has recently appeared to do just this – cozy up to ZANU PF with co-operation agreements not only between their military establishments but also between their security apparatuses.
There are also noises coming from the Americans that perhaps it’s better to engage with the Zimbabwe government. Is this under the persuasion of their point man? Are they being convinced that a policy of appeasement is viable? Will the IMF be persuaded that balance of payments support can be granted if the debt is repaid, without the political reforms that have previously been demanded? Is that why our government has made such frantic efforts to repay the debt, even at the expense of food and medical supplies for the people? Have they been promised something?
Surely appeasement can only end in disaster. In the first place, balance of payments support to this government will not mend the economy. In a system that depends on patronage, any new funds that come our way will only become a drinking trough for the elite who need to be satisfied – just as ARV’s provided by foreign donors end up treating well-placed persons rather than the poor. That foreign exchange will be used to prop up the regime, strengthen the instruments of oppression and keep the ruling elite in ZANU PF’s pocket. This regime is so far gone down the slippery slope that they do not care about the economy or the people, only themselves. Secondly, the moderate wing of ZANU PF waiting to take over is an illusion. All have become part of the corrupt machinery and have to hide their past crimes from the public glare. Whether it be the “military business” complex of the Mujuru’s or the Tsholotsho group of Mnangagwa, they helped to build this system and will use it to protect themselves once the boss is gone. The system of patronage and repression will continue. Even if outright conflict between the two groups is somehow avoided, keeping the lid on until the transition will only prolong the problem, and in fact give it a new lease of life with a younger more energetic leader.
The third option is intervention. This is what ZANU PF fears the most, and this is why they boast loudly at every opportunity that they will defend Zimbabwe’s “sovereignty”.
They have often used an important section of the United Nations Charter to argue that no state has the right to interfere in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. But the United Nations does have the right to intervene where a government’s actions constitute a threat to international peace. And where a government is tyrannizing its own population or a section of it, international law has developed precepts that eclipse the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention. After all, it was this principle that allowed genocidal massacres such as the Holocaust in Nazi Germany and the slaughter in Rwanda. Respect for the sovereignty of a state is based on the expectation that the state itself respects the dignity and basic rights of its people, and where it does not, respect for its sovereignty gives way to the duty to intervene to protect the rights of those people.
The Canadian government initiated the setting up of an International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty to investigate the issue of intervention for human protection purposes. Its report, published in 2001, identified an international customary law “responsibility to protect” described as follows: “Where a population is suffering serious harm, as a result of internal war, insurgency, repression or state failure, and the state in question is unwilling or unable to halt or avert it, the principle of non-intervention yields to the international responsibility to protect”. The Commission emphasized that intervention is not a right of other nations, but an obligation; it identified international law authority for the responsibility resting on member states of the United Nations, and itemised mechanisms of intervention available. These range from targeted sanctions and withdrawal of aid to diplomatic boycotts, specific or total economic embargoes, and ultimately military intervention. They also include criminal prosecutions through international courts.
Unfortunately the failure to intervene has often led to preventable atrocities, such as in recent conflicts in West and Central Africa, not to mention Sudan. The principle of “responsibility to protect” was therefore clarified to include the responsibility to prevent, to react and rebuild. In other words, when a situation cannot be saved by an existing government, it is the duty of other nations to intervene to prevent conflict and abuses, and to stay the course to rebuild that polity until it can maintain order and justice on its own. This will benefit the people within the affected country as well as the international community. The burden of restoring order and justice is far greater if the situation is allowed to deteriorate to warlordism and open warfare that spill over beyond borders into entire regions. Ultimately in such a case there is no resolution without the armed overthrow of the tyrants and/or international intervention, usually under the auspices of the United Nations – with great difficulty and at great cost and much further suffering. If the U.N. had intervened effectively in Rwanda before the genocide, how different might central Africa look today? Or in Congo/Zaire during the tenure of Mobutu?
Surely the only responsible position of the international community is to urgently investigate how the United Nations can intervene to prevent a Zimbabwean descent into chaos. This could begin with a think tank or group of eminent persons tasked by the U.N. Secretary General to develop a programme of action within international law. It might include more serious sanctions, prosecutions by the International Criminal Court, more effective boycotts, and ultimately military intervention if these have no effect or if the situation deteriorates to conflict. At the same time it should include humanitarian assistance to those suffering from a collapsed economy and government repression, and support for NGO’s providing information in the absence of a free media and those struggling to keep the ideals of democracy alive. The programme would have to make provision for a transitional administration which could organize internationally supervised elections and for assistance to rebuild the political and economic institutions.
Could it work? Such a plan would have to be presented to those nations in the Security Council who are currently unconvinced that Zimbabwe is a problem – notably China, possibly Russia – and also to the regional governments in Southern Africa. They would have to be persuaded that it would be in the interest of Zimbabweans themselves and the region to have a peaceful, law-abiding nation where development and investment could bring returns to all players, and save the whole region from a devastating conflict. As Zimbabwe teeters on the brink, all members of the international community must consider very carefully the future of southern Africa. Will they dither along until it is too late? Or will they pull out all the stops to prevent a catastrophe?
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February 6th, 2006 11:42
This is a very lucid and thought-provoking analysis – and a very sobering one. Have you thought about contacting the International Crisis Group (http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm), or Chatham House (http://www.riia.org/)?
The international community has a pretty shameful record of failing to act to remove dictators, even when it’s clear that this failure will actually be to the detriment not only of human rights but also international security in the long term. I think it might be because the personal cost, to individual politicians, of acting and it all going wrong (perhaps the US-intervention in Somalia would be a good example of this, where the Clinton administration took a real beating) is generally higher than the cost of refusing to act in the full knowledge that disaster will result (eg. Rwanda, where the whole world was shamed, but individual politicians were much harder to single out). That, I think, would be the big obstacle to overcome in pressing for international intervention in Zimbabwe.
February 8th, 2006 16:58
This is a well written summation of the situation as it is. I have read articles on Zimbabwe, but this one is highlighting the issues more clearly to the international community.
I have always said that unless we in Zimbabwe become more informed about the international community and why we are failing to get anyone to listen to us, we will not be able to conquer our desperate situation.
I have personally wrote to many international figures, asking for meaningful intervention. All, except one or two, have not replied, because who am I.? The same goes for the suffering people of Zimbabwe, we are not prominent enough for them to deserve their meaningful intervention. This is one reason for non-action, despite our many appeals for help.
There is another more accurate reason. Conspiracy. The outsiders have conspired to write off Zimbabwe, as per their secret plans.
Zimbabweans must not cry for democracy, when we know fully well that it is supported in only those countries targetted to survive. Those written off for destruction will struggle to get any form of help from the international community, but will not get it. They may even cry for democracy, but who is listening to them? Zimbabwe, the (southern) Sudan, Somalia and others not yet mentioned, fall into the latter category. It is heartbreaking but that is the truth. Zimbabweans must stop appealing to a community that does not hear them!
Let us work to defeat the enemy from within our borders. Let us re-group, use our hard work, our ingenuity, to create within Zimbabwe a mass movement that looks after its own oppressed people. We have bankers, industrialists, farmers, traders, even some with very good leadership qualities who should now harness all our strength to defeat ZANU PF and its patrons, (who are outside Zimbabwe, remember! )
What we do not know, is how much these international powerhouses have paid ZANU pf to destroy us. We have have to wake up to this truth. ZANU is not alone in destroying Zimbabwe. It is being used to do so. I have read articles on how some big corporations/governments and internatinal leaders, are party to a plan to establish a one world government.As we ourselves are not privy to their plans, we can only mobilise ourselves to survive the planned genocides. We cannot therefore call on the same powers to come to our rescue. They are probably laughing at us now, trying to engage them to defeat their own secret plans!
Nevertheless,we have the Lord God Almighty on our side, let us mobilise ourselves behind Him. The newly formed Christian Alliance, announced today is a good intervention to add to others already inside Zimbabwe. They can join forces with existing political and civic organisations opposed to the dictatorship in Zimbabwe. They will only need to be aware of deceivers in their midst. The Lord Jesus Christ, warned us that in the last days, ‘ brother will turn against brother’ and that there would be widespread deception on earth.
We need to arm ourselves against forces of evil, much larger than we think and more secretive and more destructive than we have envisioned, so far. We need the Armour of God, mentioned in Ephesians 6:11-12, because we are doing battle ‘….against the rulers of darkness of this world and ,against spiritual wickedness in high places’. Only the Lord himself will destroy our enemy for us. ( The same forces have caused the division in MDC – which was a platform and a hope for all the suffering people of Zimbabwe). So let us pray, and go into battle to survive,fully aware of the enemy and that he will be defeated by us, and the Lord will marshall us into battle.Those in the diaspora can give their foreign earnings to this inside movement, this can be arranged successfully, so that the money supports the suffering and sections of the nation that need help. We indeed outside could have given the victims of Murambatsvina enough tents to cover them during the last difficult months.) Let us be brave. Please set up a fund for our cause and we will be happy to make our contributions, since being far that is all we can do quickly. Bishop Ncube et al, who are our Christian leaders, may be able to guide and advise us along the way. But if we think in Zimbabwe, we can continue to appeal and appeal to a non-listening audience out there somewhere, our troubles will engulf us. Is it not surprising that a promising nation like Zimbabwe is folding like a deck of cards, and noone is lifting a finger to help?.
A land of hope, it shall be, when we marshall ourselves to fight, behand the Lord. The Civic Leaders are asked to take note and alter direction for the sake of everyone!
The little aid we get from donors, is from well-wishers, who are ordinary civilians,who do not even understand the cause of our problems. Those in the know, are quiet and doing their best to make their plans succeed(That is why they are happy to apply sanctions and cut off help, which could have made life easier, even for the poor, even under these conditions.) Let us not give them that joy| We must pray to the Almighty, our God, for strength. We will overcome them. ZANU PF, is quickly killing the economy, by fuelling inflation. Let us move ourselves completely into a parallel market, outside their planned zones of destruction.
God Bless the people of Zimbabwe. This is a nation of brave people, who will weather the storm.
Yours sincerely
MuZimbabwean in the diaspora
February 13th, 2006 17:44
Reply to Wemuzimbo
I am pleased to say we have had a good response to this article, indicating the very great concern for Zimbabwe felt by those of its citizens now living beyond our borders.
I am sure there is truth in what you say about the need to understand the issues that concern the international community and their priorities. Until we have this understanding we are not likely to persuade them to engage seriously, and helpfully, with the crisis in our country. Undoubtedly as you say ZANU PF have their own supporters and collaborators in high places in some foreign governments, and we must be wary of them.
It comes back as you say to the need for Zimbabweans to take their future into their own hands. As Chenjerai Hove says, we have to remove the monster ourselves, and that will undoubtedly involve a measure of sacrifice. However just as those battling Apartheid in South Africa required and were greatly assisted by a significant part of the international community, so do we need to form a strategic alliance with progressive, pro-democracy groups, particularly in the region. Without such an alliance our emancipation will no doubt be delayed.
From a Christian perspective it is heartening to know that the struggle for freedom, and peace is actually led by the God of truth and justice. So our daily prayer “deliver us from evil” is addressed to him, and we know he hears our prayer and will indeed set us free from the evil that now enslaves us as a people. Of course he uses human agents in this struggle, and hence as you say we should be grateful for every positive sign of the Church responding to the challenge. The new Christian Alliance may indeed prove to be an instrument of his purpose, though again as you suggest we should not be naïve about the forces that may be working from within to subvert and compromise such a group. (Our most recent article “You will know them by their fruits” points to the massive and pervading influence of the CIO).
I am afraid it is not within our own terms of reference to set up a fund to assist the victims of mis-rule. We must leave this to others better able and trust that those who have a heart to relieve the suffering will also have the wisdom to know how best to apply their generosity without themselves falling victim to one of the bogus groups soliciting funds for their own use.
Thank you again for your interest and for taking the trouble to respond. We should be most grateful if you would bring our website and e-mail service to the attention of as many as possible of those who have a heart for Zimbabwe.
February 13th, 2006 17:45
Reply to RW
Thank you for your thoughtful response to our article “Can anyone help ? Will anyone help?” We are always glad to hear from our readers and we appreciate your comments.
We do monitor those international groups which seek to promote good governance and respect for human rights, and particularly any statements that relate specifically to the Zimbabwean situation.
I am sure you are correct in your assessment that the generally poor response of the international community to dictators is often a result of timidity on the part of politicians, who see greater personal risk in supporting action which may fail than in remaining silent and so permitting the suffering to continue. And if this is so then our best course of action must surely be to seek to increase the cost of doing nothing for politicians, for example by a relentless programme to expose the gross human rights abuses and highlight the suffering caused by the dictator’s misrule until the politicians’ own constituents will demand some international (UN) action be taken. This is precisely why we in Sokwanele have taken it upon ourselves to join those who are “speaking truth to power”, not only in Zimbabwe but throughout the world and most particularly among Zimbabwe’s neighbours in Southern Africa.
Thank you for your words of encouragement. Anything you can do to assist us in the business of “truth telling”, for example just by drawing the attention of others to our website, will be much appreciated.
August 3rd, 2006 05:28
Here’s the thing. Ok, Britain did us bad, and yes it was right to claim Zimbabwe for her rightful people (even though I don’t agree with the method that this was done). BUT! There it is long overdue that we MOVE FORWARD! How can Britain be continually blamed for the current awful situation in Zimbabwe, when clearly this situation is a direct result of bad management in the first place? All Mr Mugabe has to do is apologise to the people for his mistakes and many would take up the little they have left to help build a new Zimbabwe. Since that will never happen, only time will tell.
October 19th, 2006 13:49
I am contstantly frustrated by this issue. I am 24, male, and British, and my girlfriend is South African. Her family used to live in Zimbabwe and I hear them talk of how it used to be an awfull lot. To me the solution is clear; the UK, owing a great deal to the Zimbabwean people for causing some of the root issues, should intervene militarily; as we did recently (and very succesfully) in Sierra Leone.
There are, however, huge problems. Whilst the UK’s armed forces are infinately more capable than Mugabe’s embaressing militia’s, we don’t have any spare capacity due to the succesive arms cuts that have wrecked our military capabilities since the end of the Cold War. Zimbabwe is far away and there would most likely be no neighbouring nation willing to provide direct assistance in terms of logistics or military access. Since Zimbabwe is landlocked, this causes huge issues.
Perhaps even more important regarding military action against Mugabe is the pathetic and very small minded attitude of the vast majority of the British left wing public and, increasingly the American public. They see any foreign intervention as wrong and claim that it causes human rights abuses and suffering. The media in the UK and US like to focus on reporting the negative effects of military intervention, such as some of the problems in Iraq. They very rarely mention succesfull military interventions such as Sierra Leone and the Balkans, and they completely ignore the consequences of the lack if intervention in the former Zaire and Sudan.
There is a damaging and sick, blind and ignorant dismissal of the benefits of military intervention that is growing every more widespread in the UK. This is a direct result of the politically correct brigade (ironically largely made up of black Africans living in the UK and other ethnic minorities, and also middle class white females who claim to care most about human rights), and left-wing versions of history being taught in British classrooms that encourage all Brits to be ashamed of their nation’s colonial past, and that it is always wrong for white men to get involved in Africa.
Thus, it is a desperately sad situation. There are large numbers of good British people who would whole heartedly support military intervention in Zimbabwe, but we are always subverted by the well-intentioned but blatantly wrong actions of large sections of our own, lucky, well-fed, safe, secure, and prosperous population.
On behalf of us all in the UK I can only apologise.
December 18th, 2006 05:35
I agree with oliver, I am a 21 year old Australian. Australian Media also only show negative effects of military intervention. I Have been Reading up on Zimbabwe and the ZANU PF government for a long time now and find it all incredibly sad and frustrating.
I have been wanting to do help in some way but read that most donations are sent in vein as supplies dont usually get to the civilians.
If anyone can give me any suggestions as to how to send food, so that it reaches the people who deserve it, please email me on jemzipop@hotmail.com
thank you Sokwanele for this informative artical.
All my best wishes
God Bless.
Jemma.
February 6th, 2007 13:48
i feel digusted for not helping
February 22nd, 2007 21:52
This makes me so sad…I even cried today cried for all the patients that are not getting necessary care. I cried for all of the hungry that starve in a RICH country. I asked God for a way to heal Zimbabwe!!
I don’t know what to do please someone tell me what to do…curlynurse2@yahoo.com I am a nurse and maybe I can help in some way. Thanks
March 16th, 2007 15:42
i also feel bad for not helping my country.infact i have no where to start from coz i am one of the victimised zimbos.guys out there pliz do help, we desparately in need of your help.
March 18th, 2007 01:08
I was born in Zimbabwe to Irish white parents, Zimbabwe is my mother country. I’ll write to my MP and ask what he is doing to sort out the thug who has destroyed the place in which I entered the world. The tide is turning. Clive
)
March 20th, 2007 18:51
Well,it is so disheartening to some of the zimbabwean citizens being victimised by the one who say he rules a democracy land.Really, Mugabe is murder and he is more than a terorist. Mugabe is old but the soul is a virgin thereby oppressing us.Something must be done so urgently before this old totalitarian take other 6 years to oppress us.he is just after destroying everything before he returns to hell.he does not understand is thatbeing a hero is not a licence to die on the throne.Zimbos can not just change this man alone but with the help of other sister countries,victory is there.thank you.
April 29th, 2007 20:53
Reading this page and going through the responses makes me feel so heavy. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, I’m sure many of you will feel a spark at the name of Avenues Clinic. At the beginning of last year, after many of my friends and family had already left Zim, I left too. My mother and a few other family members are still there, fighting, struggling every day to get fuel, to pay for things that here I take for granted. I am here to finish my schooling, yet I feel guilty that I am able to have things at my fingertips which people in Zimbabwe have long stopped even THINKING about having. At the top of the page it’s been written that it’s 7 years of turmoil. This may be the official number.. because I clearly remember my family and especially my mother and father worrying about getting out of Zim TEN YEARS AGO, and look at the state the country is in now.
People speak about the end of Mugabe’s time as president, yet i can’t see any light on the horizon yet.. you only need to have a quick look into who’s next in line for your hopes to be crushed. It’s going to be a very long time before Zim heals. Think of all the fantastic farmers the country’s lost – through murder or emigration.
Worst of all for me is how now people look down on us Zimbabweans – we’re only the people from the hellhole… but they forget that once Zim was the economic core of Africa.. they should look up to US for all our people have done – Rhodesians and Zimbabweans. I am in full support of any ideas to help the poor country, my heart aches for what’s happened.
June 22nd, 2007 11:49
I can certainly relate to what the above comment says. I’m also out of Zimbabwe to study and I feel so bad that I am out here while my family suffers out there. PlEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if anyone out there can do something or suggest something that can help our beautiful country get back on it’s feet. I want to go back to Zimbabwe because as they say, there is no place like home! living outside one’s country of citizenship is no good, one is unable to enjoy the benefits of being a citizen hence my yearning to return to Zimbabwe. It is my home, my country! I have every right to live there as do all other zimbabweans scattered around the world, but alas we cannot return home as yet, not until things change……….!
July 31st, 2007 19:17
The world will be judged for doing nothing. Zimbabweans are starving to death – and the world does not care.
The situation would undoubtedly have been different if oil was involved.
Mugabe and his cronies is disgraceful and should be charged with crimes against humanity!!!
August 7th, 2007 05:53
Thank you for posting this comprehensive assessment of the current situation in Zimbabwe. I have no direct ties to Zimbabwe like the others who have commented here, but I do understand the need for action. If there is anything I can do from my home in the U.S., please let me know. I know may others would assemble to render assistance if they only knew where to go and what to do.
August 14th, 2007 07:35
See what people fail to see or understand is that Mugabe is not hated as much in Zimbabwe and southern Africa as he is in the rest of the western world. See to many he is a hero he was one of the few leaders to take back there African country…what the western world tries to do and we see this through out history is to teach there own lies covering up things as always. America and the UK and many other western countries pulled out there asset’s because of what Mugabe was doing. 80% of the land was owned by the white Zims but yet whites were a major minority. When Mugabe and the people had enough they wanted what was rightfully there’s back. They came up with a ten year agreement..(which didn’t even last ten years) Mugabe was like pack it up get out. Some may see this as wrong but when America or the UK do this there considered heros honorable men. They fought for there country they are heros too! Now as far as any western government ever helping Zimbabwe..I highly doubt that will ever happen in my lifetime..the western governments pulled out they weren’t forced out they chose to leave. Yes America lost assets to Zim they were mad..but they had to play with UK and stick with them all because of race. Now really the only people that do help Zimbabwe is the civilians in any of the western world. Dispatch is a non government music group that raises awarness ( the truth) and money by doing concerts and selling t-shirts and cd’s all procedes go to Zimbabwe and they actually go to Zimbabwe to make sure these funds are distributed correctly. I urge anyone who is reading this please go there one day make a vacation out of it see for yourself what is there Zimbabwe is beautiful with some of the most humble people in the world. Stop waisting efforts on talking to the government start at home reach out help these people let’s show them we never forgot the real people of Zimbabwe.
I am not Zimbabwean I’m just really compassionate towards the truth and these wonderful people. Stop believeing what you see on the news about Zim or any African country at that..don’t you know the government runs more then half of what your watching. We need to wake up and realize we have been lied to, our children have been lied to, and if we don’t stop it our grandchildren will be lied to as well..that is why I urge you instead of going on vacation this year to Disneyland or Hawaii go to Africa, Zimbabwe..it will be worth your every waking minute..it will change how you think. A huge lightbulb will go off in your head, then you might be angry, then I urge you to take that anger and turn it in to something life changing..help these people get the word out like what I am doing don’t be scared to speak the truth. We are Africa’s voice..any person that can choose what they do from sun up till night fall without having to worry about what you’ll eat,wear,sleep,ect.. is obligated to help Zimbabwe. Don’t turn a blind eye.:)
Rudo
September 13th, 2007 06:07
I feel in my heart so much for the people of Zimbabwe. How can I help? People in Zim can not give up inspiration, and they should know that there is a sister who really cares for them.
There is something so unsettingly about reading the newspaper reports in the Financial Times (almost daily) about the horrible things going on in Zim – and yet there seems to be no way to stop it. We surely don’t have our priorities right on this planet. Mugabe is a murderer and no one deserves to live under his terrerany.
It’s wonderful to see other people who care about this issue – I live in California and not many people know about it here – I don’t ingest mass media – but I don’t think there is much world news in the US period. I learned about Zim when I went to South Africa a couple of years ago and have felt confused and angry about the situation and would like to help.
I agree there needs to be some outside intervention, and there seems to be some legal precedent.
I look forward to learning more and seeing how can I play my part in improving the situation in Zim. Our species must evolve!
September 14th, 2007 00:29
Unbelieveable that no intervention has been genuinely considered for the ongoing and worsening quite unbearable situation.
How in britain can we get our political servants who we place into parliament to act for us the people who want to help Zimbabwe’s genuine people. No one surely wants to see the genicidol suffering that Mugabe is oppresing onto the people of Zimbabwe continiuing but how on earth can we begin placing pressure onto our members of parliament.
Sir Bob Geldof moves mountains to help the starving I wonder if he can do this just one more time. Bob these people need you, I will be doing all I can to seek out Bob Geldof to see if there is anyway he can help begin a crusade to free the sufference of Zimbabwe.
Is there any other way we can help?
September 20th, 2007 18:58
The people of Rhodesia were happy to take independance and elect their own government. White expertise has been dismissed and white farmers robbed of their land or murdered.
And now you expect Great Britain to extract you from the mire? No! Not a single English or Scottish or Welsh or Irish Soldier should die!
You wanted a Zimbabwean homeland, Fight for it!
What could Mugabe do if 20 million people converged on his palaces?
Dont beg for your future, take it from those who have stolen it!
October 23rd, 2007 19:18
We just had a visitor from Zimbabwe who has taken in 24 orphans in his own home. We filled an extra suitcase with clothes for him to take back. Then we looked into ways to ship more clothes and it is $600 american to send one 50 pound box!!! Does anyone have any ideas as to how to help in this most basic way? I understand all the horrors of Mugabe. I do not need to go over that. But these poor children are suffering and perhaps this is the most morally compelling action to take.
November 3rd, 2007 21:53
In response to an earlier posting, Myrrdin should remember that the people of Zimbabwe, in a democratic election, DID choose – they voted for the MDC. Even with ZANU-PF’s blatant rigging of ballots, MDC obtained almost half the seats but through intimidation and violence, along with cronyism and theft from the people of his country, Mugabe has remained in power.
People around the world DO want to help – we just don’t know what we can do, don’t have a rallying point or figurehead. Politicians are afraid of the ‘colonialism’ tag and Mbeki’s silence on the subject is deafening…
We used to refer to Zimbabwe as ‘God’s own country’, jokingly – but when I think of its beauty and affluence twenty years ago, we weren’t that far off the truth!
My thoughts and prayers are with the people – but I’m painfully aware that that isn’t enough.
December 7th, 2007 14:11
i really want to help zimbabwe ,because how can i live rich .the people in there can not eat?how?i realy want to help how?please contact my email.
March 22nd, 2008 01:16
i think zim is fine
March 22nd, 2008 01:18
because i am from zim you people don’t know that some people there are fine it is just it is a country with poverty
March 22nd, 2008 01:19
i am form zimbabwe and i want to help it because i have seen people suffer
March 22nd, 2008 01:23
stop creticising mugabe he hasn’t sone anyhting wrong he is the president he is doing what he think is right for crying out loud
March 22nd, 2008 01:25
hey sto and think what you would do if you were in mugabes shoes as tudo sayed don’t only believe the t.v go and visit zimbabwe and you will see the true country
March 23rd, 2008 21:20
Go see my earlier post..August 14th 2007..this is so true..I am married to a Zim. Not every Zim is suffering it is just a poverty stricken country. I know Zims that make hundreds of thousands of US dollars and send it home to Zim. The first thing to help is educate yourself on the people of Zimbabwe..and the effect the world has had on this country. Elections don’t mean anything in this country..because it can be corrupt..so don’t say this is what the people wanted and don’t say these citizens need to fix there own country because if that were the case they would have never wished for what has happened in the first place..My husband has not talked to his family in three months because the phone lines are down?!? what kind of crazy thing is this…so the next time you see a Zim give them a hug and give them a calling card that is good for cell phones because calling cards for land lines take up too much time and you can only talk for a minute apposed to the other cards.
April 16th, 2008 11:24
All the different religions should stand together and form a platform “Join hands to let Zimbabwe once again be Zimbabwe the bread basket of Africa”.
June 21st, 2008 13:59
Mr Mugabe,
You are an old man now, i know it is apparent to you that your country has collapsed, you have no real authority other than the baton and the gun. Can there really be not an ounce of conscience within you, my wife and i watched on television the other day a young man and his family along with their neighbours living outdoors, it was heartbreaking to hear this man say “we have suffered enough” it was more than apparent.The world watches while a great country like yours disintergrates, surely you are aware that you have approached the point where you must know yourself it is time to relinquish power for the greater good and welfare of your people. Throughout history once revered leaders have had to hand over power to younger and more dynamic men and women.
Your argument that ex colonial powers have conspired against you is now so paper thin it is invisible.
Today we have a visit to London of the great Mandela, a man who has suffered enormously for his beliefs and whose path to power has been brilliant, not only for its direction and management but for its compassion,reconciliation and understanding.
You are about to lay your legacy before the world, it will take either enormous courage from you, as the world is aware of those behind you, or abject stupidity and sadness which can be avoided, i ask you this, how would a man rather be remembered among his kin, like Mandela or Amin.
Go sir and go now.
God be with all Zimbabweans.
Steven McAllister.
June 23rd, 2008 10:37
This is an open letter to President Mbeki that I sent to the South African High Commission in Australia.
If all of us in the world send a similar open letter to all the South African Embassies and High Commissions, won’t they act if they recieve a million emails?
Dear Mr. President
I have no reason not to believe you are not a decent man. Despite the problems you face at home, I do believe you are doing your best.
You inherited an unenviable position that no one in the world would want – that is to follow on from Nelson Mandela.
We all of us in the world, stand in the shadow of this great man – Nelson Mandela, and it was always going to be impossible for you unless you found a situation that you alone could influence – one you could call your own, and one you could take sole responsibility for – as an intelligent leader, in resolving.
That situation is here, and it is the despot Mugabe, and the destruction of Zimbabwe with the killings of thousands in this most desperate of situations.
You can rise to greatness – equal to Nelson Mandela, or even higher in the world’s eyes if you can resolve this terrible problem. I believe you can. I believe you have the ability, strength, knowledge and intelligence to do so – immediately.
The world will honour you – believe me you will go down in history as one of the worlds greatest politicians, if you can bring peace and stability to this poor nation of Zimbabwe by getting Mugabe to step down and leave, allowing the democratic process to install the leader as voted by the majority of the population.
The timing is now, and the opportunity is yours. I implore you to act.
With great respect.
Dr. Wayne MacArthur
Wellington.
New Zealand
November 20th, 2008 00:47
@RW –
I want to help someone, my heart goes out to every one but I don’t want to help any institutions. I want to help actual people, can someone tell me how?
November 20th, 2008 08:26
@helpless American –
If you know you must help and are in a position to help, let me know how you can help.
Regards,
Dr MJ Eilers
February 6th, 2006 08:04
[...] Zimbabwe: Inflation continues to rule the day in Zimbabwe where they recently introduced a 50,000 dollar note in a bid to help hauling the country’s porous currency around. Ironically, said new note is not enough to buy a loaf bread a mundane necessity so This is Zimbabwe asks, “Can anyone help Zimbabwe? Will anyone help Zimbabwe?” [...]