Thursday, 27th August 2009

Howzit

"The oldest President in the world Robert Mugabe is back from his Dubai medical trip. Men like Mugabe make 80 years look like the new 65.

He arrived in Harare on Tuesday from Dubai where reports suggested the 85-year-old Zimbabwean leader had gone for treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Government sources, speaking strictly on condition they are not named, said Mugabe touched down at Harare International airport late on Tuesday.

Vice President Joice Mujuru was acting president while Mugabe was away.

Those privy to the Dubai visit said Mugabe travelled with a small group of 16 trusted aides and security staff, plus four “other” people. His wife Grace accompanied him.

"He had gone there for some (medical) injections," said a source. "He does that all time except that this time around he sought treatment from Dubai instead of Malaysia where he usually seeks medical treatment," added the source."

Two questions arise with regard to this story - and then I intend to put it to sleep...

Firstly - why is it so important for Mugabe to keep his health status under wraps? Surely he must realise that he would get a lot more sympathy and understanding if he were to let the country's population in on the secret?

Secondly - why was it necessary for a ZANU PF official to lie that Mugabe and his family had gone to Dubai for a short holiday?

And, as a kicker, what is wrong with the medical services in Zimbabwe? Those injections must have been the most expensive ever!

It would appear to me that Mugabe trusts no one and prefers to keep his private life private. I can understand the want to keep his life out of the public eye, but lying and freezing out the people that he 'rules' is wrong - plain and simply wrong.

"Mugabe’s health is a closely guarded secret and senior government officials were on Wednesday quick to dismiss reports that the veteran leader was not feeling well, insisting his Dubai trip was just a "short break" from work.

Presidential spokesman George Charamba was not immediately available to comment with his office saying he was locked up in meetings."

-o00o-

I am getting sick of this. No - not the visa problems, but the repeated insistence by the United Nations to invite Mugabe to their assembly.

And - I am just guessing - they will give him the floor, which he will use to berate the West, accusing them of illegal economic sanctions and fomenting regime change. It isn't very hard to pre-empt what Mugabe would say at any address.

The UN are making an absolute mockery of the travel sanctions and then compound their error by asking Mugabe to lambaste the world with his vitriol.

"Two prominent journalists working for state media organisations are said to have been denied United States visas to allow them to travel to New York President Robert Mugabe next month to cover his visit to the United Nations General Assembly.

Visas are said to have been denied to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) diplomatic correspondent, Judith Makwanya, and Herald deputy editor, Caesar Zvayi. ZBC chief executive, Happison Muchechetere, is said to have been also been denied a visa.

Zvayi was deported from Botswana last year after students at the University of Botswana where he had secured a teaching post in Gaborone protested at his presence on campus.

The journalists are among seven State media journalists and managers who, together with most leading ZANU PF politicians, are barred from travelling to the United States and the European Union as a result of targeted sanctions."

I foresee Mugabe having a go at the US and EU for the visas not being allowed.

"The UN trip, which is usually the longest the President Mugabe undertakes per year, is said to be the most lucrative.

Each delegate is said to be paid a handsome allowance of US$1000 per day for the trip which lasts anything up to 15 days.

Mugabe, one of the most widely traveled leaders in the world, has attracted criticism among Zimbabweans for leading a delegation of up to 60 people on visits to New York.

On such trips Mugabe usually visits other nations before he finally arrives in New York for the General Assembly meeting. Last year he visited Cairo. Detractors say this strategy merely serves to extend the duration of the visit and increase the allowance paid to delegates. The arrival of the presidential flight at Harare International Airport has over the years been an occasion for the wholesale importation of an astounding quantity of goods by delegates without going through customs."

It is time that the UN made a stand against Mugabe. Feeding his ego does not help.

-o00o-

This is lunacy. Mugabe won the Presidency by using violence and intimidation. MDC won the parliamentary majority, and Mugabe's people say that the power is not for sharing!

So who has the power?

"ZANU PF secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa says Zimbabweans should not be fooled into believing that power in the current inclusive government was meant to be shared equally between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mutasa, who is Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, further says that his party will never allow former opposition leader, Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to use the current constitution making process to dethrone the 85-year-old President.

"Cde Mugabe is the head of the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe," Mutasa told ZBC TV Wednesday.

"He is the President of this country. He is the man who chairs our cabinet. He is the one who tells all of us, including the Prime Minister, what should be done."

And, if we allow Mugabe to continue along the current ruinous track, there won't be very much of Zimbabwe left to rule.

He repeatedly tells the world that Zimbabwe is a 'democracy' - but when you read what Mutasa says, then he is making Mugabe out to be a liar.

"Mutasa said the MDC was responsible for the poverty and starvation that was currently being experienced in Zimbabwe.

He said this was a result of western imposed sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe which he claimed the MDC had invited."

The poverty in Zimbabwe is as a result of the financial and political mismanagement of Mugabe and ZANU PF. Lifestyles in Zimbabwe took a huge drop for the worse following the beginning of the land grab in 2000. The country can no longer feed itself - and ZANU PF would have us believe that this is caused by the MDC...

I rather think that Zimbabweans the world over know a little bit better.

"But Mutasa says his party was aware of the MDC’s ploy to use the new constitution as a silent strategy to dethrone Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s sole leader since independent in 1980.

Mutasa said the MDC had made it clear in its policy documents that the constitution-making process was but "a phase in their quest for total regime change in Zimbabwe"."

Regime change? No. A representative government? Yes.

"Mutasa said ZANU PF as a tried and tested party will never allow the new constitution to be tailor-made by western governments who have since proclaimed their hidden agenda of effecting a regime change in Zimbabwe."

-o00o-

Do we really expect Zuma to criticise Mugabe? I doubt it? Mugabe holds the UN, SADC and the African Union in disdain and considers himself to be the elder statesman of Africa - and therefore without reproach.

"South Africa's President Jacob Zuma will be quick to criticise any 'deviant' behaviour by Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe's government when he visits the country tomorrow a senior ANC official said last night.

Mr Zuma will travel to Zimbabwe on a two-day visit for the first time since his election as state president in April, amid claims that in contrast with his predecessor Thabo Mbeki, he will apply more public pressure on Mr Mugabe to resolve the country’s long-standing political and economic crises.

Mr Zuma is hoping to break the deadlock that is paralysing Zimbabwe’s coalition government established six months ago. The two majority partners in the coalition administration - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change and Mr Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, which has ruled since independence in 1980 - are at loggerheads over a range of issues, including a fresh wave of farm invasions by Mr Mugabe’s supporters."

Zuma is a relative newcomer to African politics and I somehow don't see him going toe-to-toe with Mugabe. Zuma has not got the political clout (excuse the expression) to force a Mugabe government to back down.

It would be so easy to leave Mugabe to it, but the problem is that there are millions of Zimbabweans trapped in that country that have no option but to weather the storm, now nearly thirty years of age.

"Gwede Mantashe, the secretary general of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress and one of Mr Zuma’s closer allies, cited today the continued harassment and arrest of parliamentarians from the MDC as an example of "deviant" behaviour which he suggested Mr Zuma would be vocal in condemning.

"In our view all these issues are a hindrance to progress and that’s why we will always be vocal. A neighbour, whether you like it or not, is a friend because you do not have a choice."

Neighbours are friends? Look at how Mugabe treats Ian Khama of Botswana...

-o00o-

Much of the political heave-ho going on in Zimbabwe is very neatly orchestrated by ZANU PF.

• The breakaway faction of the MDC now headed by Arthur Mutambara
• The fielding of Simba Makoni as a Presidential aspirant and his subsequent launch of his political party, Mavambo
• And now the breakaway from that party, the Zimbabwe National Congress...
  

"A breakaway formation of the Mavambo Movement led by Dr Ibbo Mandaza and Rtd Major Kudzai Mbudzi has formed a new political party, The Zimbabwe National Congress, it has been revealed.

Mbudzi and Mandaza who had a fall-out with Mavambo President, Dr Simba Makoni, decided to go their own way after they lost a legal battle against their former boss, whom they accused of looting party asserts they got from donors.

The two together with other disgruntled members from the country's 10 provinces are waiting to launch their party soon which they said would challenge ZANU PF, MDC and their former boss' party in the next elections."

All of this splitting and standing alone works very well in Mugabe's favour as ZANU PF remains the largest party in government and has the virtue of longevity. Mugabe has a habit of dispatching political parties and foes in Zimbabwe... either by force or design.

"ZNC interim national co-ordinator who also held the same position in Mavambo project, Rtd Major Mbudzi told VOP that they were on their final stages of forming the party which will use a star with national flag colours and a rising sun as its symbol.

"We are now making some final touches in organising our membership form all the province before we launch our party and announce our first congress. We decided to go our on way after we were duped by Makoni who privatised all party asserts after losing last year's election," said Mbudzi.

He said the new party will be led party young Zimbabwean politicians with the help of veterans like Dr Mandaza but declined to shed light on who will be the president of the new party."

We watch. We wait. And I fully expect to be disappointed...

-o00o-

Take care.

'debvhu