The heads of state (they can not be called “leaders” if they do not exercise leadership when required) favor familiarity over change. It’s partly rooted in the shameful cultural habit of deference: undue respect for age even in the face of gross incompetence, not causing a colleague embarrassment to the suffering of millions.

This is not leadership that leads to a better regional future. It is tempting to ask, can the opinion of the SADC be bypassed in tis case? Who needs the opinion of such regional bodies if they fail to exercise leadership when required, and rubber-stamp failed elections?

The facts in Zimbabwe are there. But facts are as facts reported — meaning that Zim civic groups have partly lost the battle in public relations:
1) not cementing the unfree, unfair nature of the election; 2) not getting out the real results on time in a convincing manner
3) slow to report increasing violence.

Zim civics, the world wants to see and hear more of what you know. On ZESN, Crisis, Kubatana, and others who have the means to communicate with the world, pick it up and please get it out, the world is eager to hear from you.

Worst of all for the future of South Africa, it’s clear that for a significant portion of ANC leadership, it’s all about liberation not about democracy. “Liberation Bullshitters” are in charge at the ANC.

Now Mbeki has left it to the people of Zimbabwe to prove him wrong, to relieve him of the role of coordinator for Bob’s thugs, chief spokesman and messenger boy for Harare in Lusaka, To Zimbabweans, good luck in winning without Thabo on your side — you have a better chance without him. Thabo, in the mid-point of your swan song, what a lousy way to go out. It will only get worse for the humiliated, angry Mugabe enabler.

Now that a recount has been announced, let us hope that, especially in the outlying (or as I believe you say in Afrikaans: landelijk) regions, the counting will be well monitored.

Anyway, I think Zimbabwe also has had one of the greatest men ever to have come out of Africa born there in Ian Smith. The bad press from the UK over him was because he declared UDI and the liberals over there swallowed all the Marxist “liberators” lies about him. Mugabe was their man (not quite the puppet they had in mind ) now they have to wipe the egg from their faces for installing him.Pius Ngube is also a courageous and admirable man who said of African leaders ” All they do is back each other up and drink tea together. African leaders keep saying it is for the people of Zimbabwe to work it out. This is just an excuse for them.They fear facing the facts but they know very well there are so many injustices in Zimbabwe ” So far in Africa, an African “leader” is like a man standing there with his arms folded while a woman is being raped by a another man and saying that it is for her to work it out by herself. Jesus said “..cowards…will not enter into the kingdom of heaven” because he equated them with murderers.

Morgan is also an excellent man to have withstood with such courage the evil of ZANU-PF. I like him for this but I am not so keen on the collectivism/socialism of his politics from his trade-unionism beginings, but nevertheless ,it may just have been the spring-board into where he is at, now.

God bless you guys in Zimbabwe and Godspeed to to a new reign !

“An African Renaissance must bring an end to these dictatorships, and to the civil wars that have given Africa the distinction of having the largest number of refugees in the world. This business of television pictures showing Africans fleeing war or repression, or dying of desperate hunger because of instability - that must end.

“We have to address the abuse of the notion of national sovereignty, where terrible things would be going on within the borders of a particular country while the rest of the continent stands paralysed because taking action would be seen as interference. It would be said: “NO! NO!! You are interfering in internal affairs, you are violating national sovereignty”. We’ve got to address that issue”

Step forward … Thabo Mbeki!
in the Sowetan, 3rd October 1997.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d‘état

There is room in the Hague for many defendants Mr. Mbeki, you won’t have the immunity of a serving head of state for much longer!

Talk about foot in mouth, I am more shocked that he uttered the words he was actually thinking than the fact he actually said them. I audibly gasped and clutched my chest when I read your post!! I cannot believe it!!

Dear Friend

I write to you as a Zimbabwean to ask you to consider boycotting South African goods and services from today and until South Africa supports the people of Zimbabwe. On Saturday 12th April, Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa, publically held hands with Robert Mugabe and declared that there was ‘no crisis in Zimbabwe’. South Africa is by far the most powerful country in the region and no other country can afford to contradict Mbeki.

It is widely accepted that Zimbabweans have been subjected to violence by the Zimbabwean state for many years to consolidate the Mugabe regime. South Africa has the power to effect change in Zimbabwe, but Mbeki appears to be placing personal friendship above any principles. I ask you to consider boycotting South African goods and services until the South African government supports democracy in Zimbabwe. If you decide to do this, you could also do the following two things:

1. inform the South African government of your decision by sending the following email to them at president@po.gov.za :

“I email to inform you that I have decided to boycott South African goods and services until such time as your government supports the people of Zimbabwe.”

2. Forward this email to anybody you feel may sympathise with the plight of the Zimbabwean people.

On behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, thank you.’