I’m not the first person to notice Britain’s hypocrisy in relation to Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe. As readers of the Daily Telgraph commented, if Zimbabwe had a thimblefull of oil it would have been brought into line by now.
Europe intervened in the Balkans and the “coalition of the willing” did a job in Iraq, but nobody seems to care about Zimbabwe.
Britain, in my view, has more legal grounds to invade Zimbabwe than it did Iraq. Britain was the former colonial power in Rhodesia and negotiated the Lancaster House Agreement.
The agreement is actually worth reading. It sets out the principles under which democratic Zimbabwe should have been governed, and was in fact governed for the first few years.
Mugabe has clearly violated the agreement. He has breached conditions including white representation in parliament, independence of the judiciary, citizenship and payment of pensions.
These should be sufficient grounds for Britain to demand change or otherwise invade. Who knows? Maybe John Howard will even commit a couple of hundred Australian troops.
Get a stable, decent government in place and my guess is that thousands of white Zimbabweans and black middle class professionals will return to the country and make it prosper.
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Who, in the whole wide world, more needs a bullet between his eyes, than Robert Mugabe?
What has happened (and continues to happen) in Zimbabwe is indeed a great tragedy and a travesty. With the inflation rate at a ridiculous level and people in fear of their lives, Robert Mugabe has an awful lot ot answer for. What’s even more worrying for those of us with South African families is that Thabo Mbeki consistently refuses to condemn his policies and actions.
You’re absolutely right, though, if they had had anything worth having, the US and the UK would have sold us a line about weapons of mass destruction and marched in, arms akimbo to “depose the dictator” a la Saddam Hussein.
My heart aches.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
The more I think about this the more I believe Britain should just do it (invade).
The Zimbabwean army would fold and mutiny to join the invaders if there was a genuine assault. Any guerrilla response would be short lived and futile. Unlike Iraq, the people would overwhelmingly welcome the invaders.
It only needs a genuinely democratic election to put Zimbabwe back on track.
The logistics for an invasion would, in my unqualified view, require air strikes initially to control landing strips. Troops would have to be flown in, given that Zimbabwe is landlocked and no neighboring country would want to (overtly) assist Britain.
How about it Tony? You could leave on a positive note instead of the (unwarranted) disgrace you’re currently headed for.
The Devil himself in Hell marvels at the evil nature of Robert Mugabe!
Rev Mufaro Stig Hove.
The Radical Soldier!
Cell: 0791463039 RSA.
http://www.zimfinalpush.blogspot.com
Twitter: delmerw
says:
If Zimbabwe had the tiniest bit of oil, Britain would have to get in line behind us to do any invading. It doesn’t matter what former claims they might have had in the region.
I sort of agree, but long term what’s the point? We’re talking about a very unstable part of the world. On the other hand I believe a very plausible case could be mounted for Australia to invade (and permanently annexe) New Zealand. Think of the benefits, for both countries. And who would stop us? Who would really care?
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Ray’s attempt at humor shouldn’t detract from the ongoing issue of serious human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. It’s hard to see a light side to what’s going on there.
In the latest incident Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been injured along with many other critics of the corrupt regime.
The tragedy is that Zimbabwe was once, and should be, a prosperous stable nation.
has zimbabwe got any oil?
Britain will never do it – no oil .. There have been protest marches in London already and the BBC aren`t even allowed in the country to report on what is happening there (they hurt poor MR Mugabes feelings or something). Blair will stutter and waffle as usual while civil rights are ignored and people detained and killed – but thats ok because we are giving immigrants mobile phones and sending them text messages to let them know when their visa`s run out – so we have our priorities straight!!
An ABC news story last night (?) suggested that a popular uprising led from within Mugabe’s own government was the most likely way out of this situation; and implied that this was already a-brewin’.
One can only laugh at Tony Blair’s latest comments along the lines of:
“It’s really terrible. I feel quite bad for those poor people. Hmm…. next question?”
Great work Tony, that’ll teach him
Twitter: mgorey
says:
That’s probably the easiest way to get rid of Mugabe but his replacement under that scenario would be part of the same undemocratic system. You’d probably swap an old corrupt tyrant for a younger one.
There definitely needs to be more international pressure. Sanctions would hurt the common people but they’re suffering hugely already.
I believe our country is a shame country, country that does not care about thier brothers and sisters who brutally murdered by mugabe's what we call soldiers of the country. we must remember that one of the past days we were running out of country to look for safety places and we did come back to fight for our so called shame country. it is a shame to live in the country whereby people do not care for another. GOD BLESS AFRICA. Zimbabwe will find their way out of missery and I pray for the kids of that country who do not even know thier parents. President Mugabe need to grow and may God help him.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
It is a tragic and unnecessary fate that's befallen Zimbabwe. On the one hand I despair and hope for internal change, on the other I hope other countries will force decisive action.