Zimbabwe -- British MP horrified by Mugabe's misrule

Zimbabwe Independent ^ | July 19, 2002 | Dumisani Muleya

[Clive]

SENIOR British politician Michael Ancram, who was in the

country on Wednesday to assess the political and economic situation, says the time has come for the international community to halt President Robert Mugabe's heightening repression.

In an exclusive interview, Ancram, who is deputy leader of the Conservative Party and shadow foreign secretary, said he was horrified by the legacy of dictatorship he witnessed in Zimbabwe on his visit. He said Mugabe's misrule is now "censurable" and "reprehensible".

"For the first time I saw for myself how bad the situation is in this country," Ancram said.

"The problem is, here is a country with a huge potential for prosperity and a good democratic base but it's being destroyed by its leadership. They are just plodding through destroying agriculture and democratic institutions. Human rights are challenged and broken on a daily basis."

Ancram, who met opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai and representatives of human rights organisations, said Mugabe was threatening former South African President Nelson Mandela's democratic legacy in the region. "Mandela's legacy of democracy and respect for human rights is at risk in southern Africa because of what is happening in Zimbabwe," he said.

The combative British politicianvisited displaced farm workers in Epworth and toured the Mazowe-Glendale farming districts.

"I saw what should be productive land lying derelict while people are starving and children malnourished," he said.

Constitutional reform and fresh elections, said Ancram, were the only way out for Zimbabwe. He said the international community should ensure Mugabe did not drag down the country with him.

"South Africa can really suffocate the Zimbabwe government if they want," he said. "I'm not saying they should do so but if they don't act now the problem will be much worse later. It's not in their own interests to ignore what is happening here."

Turning to government's threat to deport Britain's Guardian newspaper correspondent Andrew Meldrum, Ancram said: "It's yet another example of government's contempt of court decisions and freedom of the press. It shows civil rights are under threat in Zimbabwe and that civilised forms of democratic behaviour are lacking."

Ancram came to Zimbabwe as part of a three-nation tour of southern Africa. He was in South Africa for three days and will also visit Malawi.

[Clive]

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[Mr. Jeeves]

"South Africa can really suffocate the Zimbabwe government if they want," he said.

But they don't want. The ANC wants to see how Mugabe's little experiment works out before trying it themselves.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

The British government is probably culpable for the mess in Zimbabwe since they betrayed Ian Smith and his supporters.

[yendu bwam]

Mugabe - a monstrous man who has destroyed his beautiful country. He'll fit in well in hell with all the other African crackpot, evil dictators. Africa deserves so, so much better.

[Valin]

Mugabe was threatening former South African President Nelson Mandela's democratic legacy in the region.

LOL that's a good one.