Zimbabwe -- MDC won't sell its soul to the devil

Daily Mail & Guardian (SA) ^ | March 29, 2002 | Peta Thornycroft

[Clive]

The MDC is adamant that it will not form a government of national unity with Zanu- PF

PETA THORNYCROFT

On the afternoon of Robert Mugabe's inauguration on March 17 the presidents of Mozambique and Malawi went on a simple errand to see how much power the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, wanted.

Not presidential power, but maybe a senior job within the Zanu-PF government that would give Tsvangirai and a few of his comrades physical safety and perhaps amnesty for those awaiting trial on mostly spurious charges.

The Mozambican leader, Joachim Chissano, and Malawi President Bakili Muluzi appeared astonished when Tsvangirai and his colleagues said they had no interest in power, glory or job security. They would rather be hounded, persecuted and prosecuted than get into bed with Zanu-PF.

They told the African leaders that the MDC would not stand for any deal with Zanu- PF and whoever was hoping to solve the “Zimbabwe problem" with a government of national unity was, to put it politely, wasting their time.

Chissano and Muluzi may have failed to mention their findings to South African President Thabo Mbeki and Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo. The African National Congress secretary general, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Nigerian economist Professor Ade-bayo Adedji, dubbed “the facilitators", certainly didn't appear to grasp the MDC’s position when they met party leaders last Sunday.

The facilitators are in Zimbabwe to fulfill a committment by Obasanjo and Mbeki to the Commonwealth last week to pursue a solution to the “Zimbabwe problem".

The two have been shuffling between Zanu-PF and the MDC, which says it will settle for nothing less than internationally supervised and monitored presidential elections, managed by a transitional administration that restricts all statutory and non-statutory forces to barracks.

At a meeting of the MDC's national council last week party members said they wanted an agreement that anyone who wavered from this position should be expelled.

For Mugabe it is more complex. The MDC, unlike the late Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), is not a regional party; it is national and therefore more of a threat.

The MDC is not yet weakened sufficiently by violence to drive it into submission to Zanu-PF. In 1987 Zapu signed a unity deal with Mugabe, after he sent in troops to kill thousands of Zapu supporters. Nkomo succumbed to stop the killing, and Zapu liberation heroes like Dumiso Dabengwa, fresh from five years as a detainee after being acquitted of treason, were sucked in to the Zanu-PF hegemony.

The legendary Dabengwa couldn't even win his parliamentary seat in Matabeleland in 2000, losing to Gibson Sibanda, a former Zapu colleague who resisted temptation and is now MDC vice-president and one of its leading strategists.

But the MDC is in grave danger. The Amani Trust, a human rights group, reported a sharp increase in the already high level of violence since the election.

Dr Frances Lovemore of the trust said many victims in treatment centres in all provinces, except Matabeleland where the MDC is dominant, say their attackers said they would “annihilate" the MDC.

She said up to 30,000 people have become internal refugees, among them 1,400 MDC polling agents, in addition to about 100,000 farm workers and their families who have been evicted from their homes by Zanu-PF militia. The figure grows daily.

The Amani Trust says it needs assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo is doing his bit in the annihilation process.

Tuesday's headline in the state-aligned The Herald was “Tsvangirai loses grip", with a strap: “MDC members call for congress to oust party leader."

The bulk of the report is from unnamed MDC legislators: “... Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Ncube [MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube] should be removed from the party ... as they have been making unilateral decisions which have compromised the party..."

Professor Masipule Sithole, head of political science at the University of Zimbabwe said: “Mugabe knows it was an illegitimate victory, and the violence is to strengthen his position.

“The only real hope is that the people can withstand this terrible pressure as they did in the liberation struggle against the Rhodesians."

Perhaps someone could tell Obasanjo and Mbeki that a government of national unity, South Africa's quick-fix solution, won't fly for the “Zimbabwe problem". Not all African politicians will settle for power at any cost.

[Clive]

Peta Thornycroft has been arrested and is in a Mutare jail on charges under the draconian Public Order and Security Act, an Act specifically designed to stifle a free press in Zimbabwe.

[Clive]

-

[Clive]

-

[Clive]

-

[Clive]

-

[demkicker]

It pisses me off that way before 9/11, Mugabe and thugs got away with murder, theft and mahem and this administration never even managed to find a voice to condemn it. You can't tell me that the repercussions of eliminating farmers who feed the population are going to be a surprise to anyone. The world has stood by and let this travesty happen.

Let's face it. Our role has become the world's policeman. It's just too bad that terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. Hold onto your wallets. We're soon to see pictures of the starving Africans everywhere and hear the Red Cross pleading for more donations.

More governmental trickery.... Cause the problem and create the solutions.

[happygrl]

DO NOT EVER DONATE TO THE RED CROSS. EVER!!!! They have been asked to help the opposition with tents and food for the refugees of violence, but have refused. "Neutrality" and all ya' know.

[happygrl]

Peta Thornycroft has been arrested and is in a Mutare jail on charges under the draconian Public Order and Security Act, an Act specifically designed to stifle a free press in Zimbabwe.

This must have been the story that got her arrested.

[happygrl]

Perhaps someone could tell Obasanjo and Mbeki that a government of national unity, South Africa's quick-fix solution, won't fly for the “Zimbabwe problem". Not all African politicians will settle for power at any cost.

This bears repeating. There are some leaders in Africa with integrity.

[demkicker]

Thanks for the warning, but I think most everyone (especially FReepers) know about the corrupt Red Cross by now. I merely mentioned them to further illustrate the absurdity of the rampant corruption everywhere.

[another cricket]

There are some leaders in Africa with integrity.

Maybe there is hope for the world after all.

BTW Civil war may not have been declared but I would say that it has already started.

a. cricket

[nopardons]

The UN and the Red Cross have refused to send aid.

President Bush has stated that he will NOT send aid, just to flush more money down a rat hole of corruption.

It pays to keep up with the facts, BEFORE typing about things you don't know anything about. : - )

[nopardons]

Unfortunately, you are right; however , it is very one sided . Mugabe has most of the weapons and the resources.:-(

[demkicker]

"The UN and the Red Cross have refused to send aid."

Just wait... Their pleas for $'s will come just as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow. Things have to get a lot worse first. Not enough people are starving yet & besides, the media is preoccupied with the war.

"President Bush has stated that he will NOT send aid, just to flush more money down a rat hole of corruption.

Is that an exact quote & what's your source? Bush hasn't had much at all to say about Africa, but I do not disagree. We should NOT send money to Mugabe. The people would never see a meal.

"It pays to keep up with the facts, BEFORE typing about things you don't know anything about."

It pays to be more specific rather than popping off like a smart ass. You're barking up the wrong tree. I have a very special interest in Africa and my daughter has spent time there. It's a fact, Jack, that the Clinton and Bush administrations haven't seen fit to use the bully pulpit to condemn what's been going on in Africa for years. They've looked the other way and haven't tried to focus world attention on this travesty. I'll say it again:

It pisses me off that way before 9/11, Mugabe and thugs got away with murder, theft and mahem and this administration never even managed to find a voice to condemn it. You can't tell me that the repercussions of eliminating farmers who feed the population are going to be a surprise to anyone. The world has stood by and let this travesty happen.

[nopardons]

I'm NOT a " JACK " , and I have a personal interest in South Africa. My daughter hasn't just visited there; she, and I , by extension, have FAMILY and friends there; now !

I paraphrased President Bush. Go read the Africa Watch threads, which are archieved, if you want to see the exact quote. You'll also learn a great deal, about what has been happening over there.

Many FREEPERS ( no, not I ) , think that the president , no matter who he is, should NEVER become engaged in any other country's internal policies. The facts are, that Clinton and others HAVE meddled ... just not on the right side, nor in the right way. President Bush, and his team, have recently made many statements about what is happening in Zimbabwe, and what Mbeki and Obasanjo have to say . It jst doesn't get any major media coverage. No surprise there. It HAS been post here, on FR, though.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

****On the afternoon of Robert Mugabe's inauguration on March 17 the presidents of Mozambique and Malawi went on a simple errand to see how much power the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, wanted. Not presidential power, but maybe a senior job within the Zanu-PF government that would give Tsvangirai and a few of his comrades physical safety and perhaps amnesty for those awaiting trial on mostly spurious charges. ****

Their barganing chip--amnesty from their trumpted up treason charges. Wow! This Mugabe is a stupid jerk.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Perhaps someone could tell Obasanjo and Mbeki that a government of national unity, South Africa's quick-fix solution, won't fly for the “Zimbabwe problem". Not all African politicians will settle for power at any cost.

Bump!

[demkicker]

"I'm NOT a " JACK " , and I have a personal interest in South Africa. My daughter hasn't just visited there; she, and I , by extension, have FAMILY and friends there; now !"

If you dish it out, you gotta take it. Glad you ALSO have an interest in Africa.

"I paraphrased President Bush. Go read the Africa Watch threads, which are archieved, if you want to see the exact quote. You'll also learn a great deal, about what has been happening over there."

You act like I'm some darn newbie... I DO read the Africa Watch threads.... Geeze, you're obnoxious! I suppose I could have overlooked one or two, but I can't seem to find ANY threads where Bush has condemned Mugabe's tyranny. Care to post some links? On the other hand, Bush has focused concern about the AIDS epedemic on several occasions... (a la Clinton)

FreeRepublic has provided many threads about the corruption, murder and mayhem in Zimbabwe, but AGAIN, I haven't seen ANY threads where Bush has used his bully pulpit to focus world attention on yet another thug besides Saddam and Osama Bin Laden.

"Many FREEPERS ( no, not I ) , think that the president , no matter who he is, should NEVER become engaged in any other country's internal policies. The facts are, that Clinton and others HAVE meddled ... just not on the right side, nor in the right way. President Bush, and his team, have recently made many statements about what is happening in Zimbabwe, and what Mbeki and Obasanjo have to say . It jst doesn't get any major media coverage. No surprise there. It HAS been post here, on FR, though."

I agree wholeheartedly with your remark about Clinton. You and I will just have to agree to disagree about the rest of your statement. My biggest beef with Bush is that he has NOT used the bully pulpit to focus attention on the African crisis, which was raging well before his election and 9/11. Throwing money at this situation will not accomplish anything. That "solution" would only be supported by other corrupt Marxist and Communists.

Repeatedly condemning and spotlighting what Mugabe is doing however, is his duty as our President, IMO. I don't think that is too much to ask, nor do I think it's fair to be criticized for stating the obvious.