Well, you don't for one minute think that the International Criminal Court is going to do anything about Mugabe's ethnic cleansing, do you?!
Posted on 08/26/2002 12:12:52 AM PDT by MadIvan
President Robert Mugabe named a new, hardline cabinet yesterday, retaining his most loyal lieutenants and purging the last voice of dissent, to leave Zimbabwe facing more repression and economic hardship.
For the first time since independence from Britain in 1980 there are no white men in the cabinet after Timothy Stamps, the health minister, was dropped.
Mr Stamps, who had been away from his desk since a heart attack last year, was replaced by his deputy, David Parirenyatwa.
Mr Stamps had difficulties fulfilling his duties, but the move was none the less highly symbolic.
In his first major reshuffle for two years, Mr Mugabe also axed the man seen by many as the last voice of reason, Simba Makoni, the finance minister.
Mr Makoni's sin, analysts said, was to stand up to Mr Mugabe two months ago, when he said the only chance for economic survival was to devalue the worthless Zimbabwe dollar.
Mr Mugabe struck back in an address to parliament last month, saying anyone who wanted to devalue the currency was an "enemy of the state," and a "saboteur".
Mr Makoni's axing will cause dismay in South Africa, where he was seen as the only member of the cabinet who could be a viable alternative to Mr Mugabe.
His sacking was predictable, said Brian Raftopoulos, political analyst and assistant professor at the University of Zimbabwe's Department of Development Studies.
"The essence of his interventions - to bring sanity to economic policy and engaging the international community - were irrelevant to Mugabe, who is only concerned with his hold on power," he said.
"The president could not allow any transparency, particularly over the land question. This is a consolidation of Mugabe's hardline position, and confirms his objective to remain on his present course, and any dissenting voices in his own ranks have been marginalised."
Herbert Murerwa, formerly trade minister, steps into Mr Makoni's shoes. Although he is competent and will be able to do the job, analysts say, he will remain silent and not defy the president.
Jonathan Moyo, the chief propagandist and architect of draconian press laws, will be able to continue crushing the privately owned domestic press and the handful of foreign correspondents.
The justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa, who repeatedly tried failed to provide the gloss of legality to thousands of seizure notices of white-owned farms, has also been re-appointed, and says he will reissue the documents "again and again" until all white farmers have gone.
Ignatius Chombo, the Local government minister who heads the Land Task Force, also retains his post.
Regards, Ivan
Regards, Ivan
Well, you don't for one minute think that the International Criminal Court is going to do anything about Mugabe's ethnic cleansing, do you?!
This is the way you say " good morning " ?
Hearing the cries of protest all the way from Rwanda and from the Nbedele tribes in Zimbabwe
Regards, Ivan
Now now, as your treasured Gilbert and Sullivan said in "Princess Ida" - "Life is awfully dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at". ;)
Regards, Ivan
I adore " PRINCESS IDA ". :-)
Hanging her head in shame, having missed yet another bloody typo, and that of dear Shwenk, noless. :-(
Why on earth would people who can read and write remain in a sickening, starving, third-world sewer like Zimbabwe? I figure anybody with an IQ over 65 who is not in a position of political priviledge is long gone from that toilet.
I suppose it is instructive to follow the disintegration of Zimbabwe as a preview of where South Africa is headed, but who really cares about any country (other than at the very north) on that whole stinking continent anyway?
If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist -- all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes;
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise;
I love my fellow creatures -- I do all the good I can--
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
To compliments inflated I've a withering reply;
And vanity I always do my best to mortify;
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect;
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect;
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns;
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns;
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be;
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee,
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two;
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
Best Regards, Ivan
Some say that King Gamma ( who sings what you posted ), was supposed to be Gilbert. That's not altogether true; it's his father. Just a bit of Savoyard trivia. :-)
Yes we got trouble...right here in Rhodesia...with a capital T and that rhymes with D and that stands for damn fool!
(Stands for damn fool)
Yes we got trouble...trouble! Cause we're all suffering under Mugabe's rule!
Regards, Ivan
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