Murderer Mugabe corrupted the ballot; let him collect a bullet.
Posted on 05/02/2003 2:02:52 PM PDT by Clive
THE three-day stayaway that ended on Friday last week shifted the balance of power in local politics and set alarm bells ringing for President Robert Mugabe, analysts say.
They say the strike triggered a sea change in the political relationship between government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which backed the industrial action.
The stayaway was organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in protest against the massive fuel price increases by government.
Political analyst Brian Raftopoulos said the strike reasserted the political clout of opposition groups and trade unions.
He said it also indicated that internal pressure against government was continuously building up.
"It reasserted that the MDC, the ZCTU and other civic groups have the capacity to mobilise people on a large-scale for their cause," Raftopoulos said.
"Pressure is building up against government and this could lead to the resolution of the economic and political crisis around the negotiating table.
The ruling elite has no choice but to find a negotiated settlement to this problem."
Commentators say the rapid loss of grip on the situation by government has resulted in the MDC and allies stealing a march on the ruling Zanu PF and its leadership.
Mugabe is seen as becoming increasingly vulnerable as a result of the new political dynamics within and outside his party. The rising tide of popular anger against his regime and thickening political plots by those within his ranks battling to succeed him have also left him susceptible in the current power play.
While his opponents are gaining clout to direct national events, Mugabe is viewed as a prisoner in State House who is unable to provide leadership. His job now seems to be issuing threats or reacting to the situation on the ground over which he has less and less control.
Although Mugabe last week denied insecurity during his widely broadcast interview with state television, his government?s intensifying repression and his unprecedented conciliatory statements suggest that he has become unsafe in his besieged fortress of power.
Mugabe for the first time last week said he was prepared to meet MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai if he dropped his court challenge against his disputed re-election.
He also declared his succession debate open although with pre-conditions. On top of that, Mugabe also hinted directly that his date with retirement could be nearing after completing his land reform programme.
However, his remarks provoked a furious denial from Information minister Jonathan Moyo's office. Moyo would be the first casualty of Mugabe's exit and his remarks have been discounted accordingly.
"All the president did in the recent interview marking the 23rd anniversary of Independence was to invite national debate on a range of national questions including that of succession," Moyo's department said.
"But sadly, so far there has been no debate or debaters, serve for flippant speculations and crazy scenario building."
South African President Mbeki said he was sure Zanu PF was engaged in the process of renewing its leadership. Seizing on Mugabe's remarks, he said:
"We want to wait for them to finish that process before we can take matters up."
Mbeki was last week expected in Zimbabwe together with Malawian president Bakili Muluzi for talks with Mugabe. It is thought their meeting would have focused on Mugabe's exit plan. But Mugabe's office postponed the meeting while it attempts to buttress the president?s position.
Zanu PF sources say Mugabe wants to leave but he would like to be given guarantees of immunity from prosecution for human rights violations and other abuses of power committed under his rule.
Civic activist Lovemore Madhuku said anyone could now organise a stayaway because government no longer commands the will of the majority and "people are fed up".
Mugabe's change of fortunes has been dramatic. Until recently, he appeared to be firmly in charge, but the strike showed his influence could be diminishing at an accelerated pace.
There have been a number of setbacks for him recently. Just two months ago it looked as if he was firmly in control. The democratic gains of 2000 had been rolled back, the repressive apparatus of the state - including legislation - firmly set in place, with his authority stamped on his party and the country. The MDC appeared demoralised with resignations of MPs, no idea how to resist repression, and by-election reverses.
All that has changed. First the MDC-organised mass action on March 18/19 shook the ground under Mugabe as the populace responded to the strike call. The wave of repression that followed simply fuelled popular hostility. Then two by-elections in Harare, won in the teeth of bribery and intimidation, showed Mugabe's blandishments and threats were making no purchase on the public mind.
That seems to have been the turning point. While government becomes more defensive, the opposition now seems to have been adrenalised and is on a roll. The success of last week's stayaway and the failure of the state propaganda offensive that emphasised claims of MDC violence, has left Mugabe stranded, evidently clueless about how to solve the country's burgeoning problems.
And with the economic crisis deepening, there may yet be many twists and turns in government's unsettled economic policy that will reflect political conflicts between the diehard Zanu PF leadership and the party's reformists. This would result in a further loss of political turf by Zanu PF to the MDC and its partners.
Government's inability to tackle food needs, basic commodities, fuel, foreign currency shortages and other problems could deliver the coup de grace for Mugabe.
ZCTU secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe said the strike revealed a growing discontent with government. He said while government seems to be backtracking, the unions, which were beginning to appear as powerless, were gaining clout.
"The strike showed the ZCTU has muscle and that people have reached the limit of elasticity," he said.
Chibhebhe said the unions were not afraid of a government backlash.
Mugabe, roast in hell.
Yes. The MDC-supporting Zimbabweans stood in line for DAYS in order to vote (they were stopped by Mugabe's militia cronies, didn't have food/water, and were beaten). Civil society exists in Zimbabwe, it just needs to be unchained. Once Bob is out of power (maybe he'll move to South Africa) things will get better, especially if America intervenes to keep bad people out of power there.
Mugabe, roast in hell.
Same for Annan. The UN is worse than worthless, it actively blocks investigations into human rights violations, it prevents the emergence of sound, democratic governments, it pushes hard-left politics and it tries to keep poor nations dependent on it.
I am not sure if we should just walk out (losing veto power in the Security Council would be tough, and we wouldn't have help even from our allies like Blair), but every day I lean more and more in that direction.
If that's what he wants to call it...
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