Robert Mugabe, A Dictator’s Face

Posted on June 15, 2008
Filed Under Bishop Desmond Tutu, China, Communism, Dictatorship, Freedom, Freedom of speech, Hamas, Human Rights, International, Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Liberty, Mugabe, News, Political lies, Tsvangiray, United States, Zimbabwe, economics, economy, elections, political corruption | 1 Comment

Lebanon’s The Daily Star, featured the following article:

Mugabe warns of war if voters make ‘mistake’ of electing rival

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

HARARE: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe raised the specter of war on Friday by warning that his staunchest supporters are ready to take up arms rather than let the opposition triumph in a June 27 election.

In comments carried by state media, the 84-year-old said veterans of the 1970s liberation war had told him they were ready to go into battle once more to avoid the prospect of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai coming to power after the run-off in a fortnight’s time.

Although Mugabe told supporters of his ZANU-PF party he did not want a return to war, he repeatedly raised the threat of conflict and warned voters against making a “mistake.”

His remarks added to the fevered poll build-up after Tsvangirai was twice detained while campaigning Thursday and a top lieutenant arrested for treason.

Tsvangirai also saw his two campaign buses impounded on Friday in a move that the MDC said was designed to cripple his election campaign.

Meanwhile a group of 40 leading Africans, including ex-UN chief Kofi Annan and Mozambique’s former president, Joaquim Chissano, said in an open letter they were “deeply troubled” by reports of intimidation, harassment and violence.

Neighboring Botswana said it was “deeply disturbed” by the unfolding events, summoning Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Gaborone to protest the “unacceptable” detentions of the opposition leaders.

The Mugabe regime was also facing condemnation from the UN after warnings that some 500,000 Zimbabwean children are no longer getting urgent food and medical aid since charities were ordered to halt their work.

In his speech to ZANU-PF followers at a rally northeast of Harare, Mugabe said a delegation of war veterans had approached him after the first round of elections on March 29 when Tsvnagirai fell just short of an outright majority.

“They came to my office after the elections and asked me: ‘Can we take up arms?,’” Mugabe said. “They said this country was won by the barrel of the gun and should we let it go at the stroke of a pen? Should one just write an ‘X’ and then the country goes just like that?”

While Mugabe said he personally did not want to see a return to war, he also indicated a Tsvangirai victory would spark new conflict, asking, “Would you want to vote to go back to war, to fight for the country which we liberated?”

The Mugabe regime was also facing condemnation from the UN after warnings that some 500,000 Zimbabwean children are no longer getting urgent food and medical aid since charities were ordered to halt their work. Well, gentle reader, there you have it! Mugabe does not want war, he really doesn’t, but he’ll resort to it if he looses. He’s not threatening, – even when his non-threats might just kill 500,000 defenseless children of his own people – he’s merely stating the obvious… And the only reason he’s talking about a war – as he’s on the verge of disastrously loosing an election – is merely to remind the country he so badly destroyed fought so hard for that if he goes down there will be hell to pay. It’s not a threat, it’s not intimidation! You understand that, do you not, gentle reader?

Tsvangirai has been repeatedly portrayed by Mugabe as a puppet of former colonial power Britain and wealthy whites, thousands of whom have had their farms seized by the state as part of a controversial land reform program.

The MDC leader has accused Mugabe of being a dictator who has dragged the region’s one-time breadbasket into a state of ruin.

Since Mugabe began his land reforms at the turn of the decade, the economy has gone into freefall. Inflation, officially put at 165,000 percent, is thought to be nearer 2 million percent while food shortages are widespread.

What was once the “breadbasket of Africa” is now the poorest nation on earth. Whether inflation is “merely” 165,000% or closer to 2,000,000% is really immaterial. Either is inexcusable and the byproduct of the world’s worst, most dismal case of government corruption, plundering, cronyism and mismanagement. While Mugabe today consolidates his hold on power with the help of mainland China, he owes his position to a Western genius’ misguided foreign policy… Yes, gentle reader, it was an American President who supported Mugabe’s socialist ideas for government… But, we’ll come back to this…

Tsvangirai is only taking part in the run-off under protest, insisting he passed the 50 percent threshold on March 29 but also aware that a boycott would hand victory to Mugabe. So far, his campaigning efforts have faced major restrictions and he was detained for a total of nearly six hours Thursday after being stopped on two occasions by police in the center of the country.

On Friday, police in the town of Gweru impounded the two campaign buses used to ferry Tsvangirai and his entourage around the country. The buses, which carry the slogan “Morgan is the One,” were only unveiled by the party two days ago.

Tsvangirai insisted he would push on with his campaign, saying in a statement: “We are definitely going to win this election … The people are ready for change, and they will finish what they started in 1999 at the formation of the MDC.”

Yep, the MDC would have been at the helm of Zimbabwe (the former Rhodesia) had it not been for the direct intervention of that unbelievable genius fool – Jimmy Carter! You see, gentle reader, the MDC was not a socialist movement, therefore, in the disastrous estimation of that ultimate American political joke, not fit to lead an African nation to independence and equality and prosperity for all…

While Tsvangirai was trying to hold rallies, MDC secretary general Tendai Biti remained in custody after being arrested within minutes of landing Thursday on a flight from South Africa.

Although he has not appeared in court, police say he will be charged with treason in connection with an alleged plot to rig victory for the MDC in the first round and also for pre-emptively announcing the results.

In Geneva meanwhile, UNICEF said 500,000 children were no longer receiving healthcare, including treatment for HIV/AIDS, or food aid after a decision by the Mugabe regime last week to order the suspension of all aid work.

UNICEF official Per Engebak warned that the “level of suffering for these children is rising daily.”

Incarceration of opponents… hmmnn, that must have been done for the cause of democracy, no doubt! I wonder if Good ole Jimmy will monitor this election, as he’s done others… Naaah… he either is convinced that having brought a despot to power, bringing misery and despair to millions is a good thing, or he’s just too ashamed and insufficiently manly to face up to his horrendous mistake! Then again, as I’m attempting to give the guy the benefit of doubt, he may be genuinely busy… too busy concocting his new anti-Israel book drivel.

While I’m gratified that Koffi Annan has at least protested against Mugabe and his attack dogs, I’m totally mystified at Bishop Desmond Tutu’s silence. Are the suffering Zimbabweans not black enough for the good Bishop? Or… is it that the suffering Zimbabweans coffers, are too empty to line the man of God’s pockets, unlike Hamas’ coffers?!?!?!?

Chaim

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