Zimbabwe: Kofi Annan Should Mediate
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New Vision (Kampala)
EDITORIAL
7 July 2008
Posted to the web 8 July 2008
Kampala
The Zimbabwean situation seems to be at a stalemate. The African Union has called for a government of national unity between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
But Mugabe said MDC must first drop its claim to power and accept him as the rightful head of state, while Tsvangirai wants the result of the first round, which he won, to serve as a basis for a political settlement.
In this, Tsvangirai is supported by the European Union.
"The EU will only accept a formula which respects the will of the Zimbabwean people, as expressed in the elections of March 29, which saw the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai win," a statement by the French presidency said on Friday.
Europe might not be the best placed to comment on the Zimbabwe crisis, given Britain's past role and interests in the former Rhodesia.
In fact, London's involvement makes it easy for Mugabe to dismiss any criticism as a plot by neo-colonial imperialist powers. The type of racist language uttered by him and his henchmen would never be accepted of a European leader.
On the same grounds, the role of South Africa's leader as mediator should be questioned. Mbeki is too close to Mugabe, their past and current interests are too deeply intertwined, to be credible as an arbiter.
To break the impasse, the AU should first and foremost appoint a new mediator who is acceptable to all parties.
It needs somebody of the clout of Kofi Annan to bring the two seemingly irreconcilable leaders together and foster a solution during a transition period.
Using his soft-spoken diplomatic skills, Annan achieved the almost impossible in Kenya, creating a unity government among two leaders who were literally at each other's throat.
There is no reason why he would fail to broker a similar deal in Zimbabwe. Let Mbeki step aside, in the interest of Zimbabwe and the Southern African region.
Read comments. Write your own.
"It is rather justice for majority versus rigths to the selfish minority." - Based on the results of the first election where things were close to free and fair, you must mean that the selfish minority is indeed Mugabe, the butcher of harare.
The only way it will work is with MDC being the recognised party. As you said Inde, the first election was the closest that Mugabe would let the elections be Free & Fair. The second round was entirely illegal (before you all say it wasn't, Mugabe had 21 days to proceed with the Run Off)and with all the violence that was used to intimidate voters it definitely was not free and fair. Mugabe now has not only made himself look stupid but all the people that support him. 100 people dead, people fleeing the country or asking for help… [Read Full Text]
At this point in time, any impartial readers or analysts of the ongoing furor of Western countries, with UK and USA in lead, against president Robert Mugabe must certainly have already asked themselves the following questions: First, what is so important about whether or not Zimbabwe's elections were fair that justifies this immeasurable amount of furor from western countries against president Mugabe? Second, let’s assume that president Mugabe stole the elections just like numerous other leaders did in some other countries. Have UK and USA ever previously displayed such amounts of furor against those other countries’… [Read Full Text]
At this point in time, any impartial readers or analysts of the ongoing furor of Western countries, with UK and USA in lead, against president Robert Mugabe must certainly have already asked themselves the following questions: First, what is so important about whether or not Zimbabwe's elections were fair that justifies this immeasurable amount of furor from western countries against president Mugabe? Second, let’s assume that president Mugabe stole the elections just like numerous other leaders did in some other countries. Have UK and USA ever previously displayed such amounts of furor against those other countries’… [Read Full Text]
Fisrtly, the reason it is important for the elections to be free and fair is that Zimababwe is a democracy which means the people vote for who they think is best to run the country. Agreed that Tsvangarai won the first round but not by enough to claim outright victory. the Run off was then supposed to be held within 21 days which it wasn't and looking from the outside in, the only reason it wasn't was so Mugabe could stamp out the non Zanu PF supporters. Even a blind man could see that.
Secondly, again you say the Western… [Read Full Text]
I've noticed that the honourable editor "omitted" to mention that despite the African Union's call for a government of national unity between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and Mr Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the latter insists on a transitional government. Hence, the continued stalemate. Of course, there are other conditions ...
I guess the editor and the French presidency can tell us why there was a need for a run-off in Zimbabwe. If Mr Tsvangirai's MDC had "won" the March 29 2008 elections, I'm sure he would be in Zimbabwe's State House by now.
In terms of that… [Read Full Text]
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Newvision is editorial board chairman is known to be a British Citizen called Pike. Tell Pike to stop jocking. The same Bitish tentacle pretending as Ugandan is writing promoting his agenda on Ugandan soil. Annan can not be an African mediator just because he is black. If Blackness is the criteria, MDC leader is black, US ambassador in Zim is black, Rice is black. I don't think the issue of Zim is not as simple as black versus white person. It is rather justice for majority versus rigths to the selfish minority. Annan is known to serve the… [Read Full Text]