Will Zimbabwe’s Elections Be Free?
With a once prosperous country now ruined and hunger widespread there, and the rate of inflation by some estimates at 200,000 percent and rising, one might imagine that Robert Mugabe is on course to lose the election in Zimbabwe this weekend — especially since, as he is reported to be insisting, the election will be fair. Here are ten reasons for doubting this.
1. Observers from countries with a record of being critical of Zimbabwe’s electoral procedures are barred from any monitoring role tomorrow.
2. Zimbabwe’s police and defense chiefs have publicly stated that western-supported “puppets” — which echoes Mugabe’s own reference to the Zimbabwean opposition as “stooges” of Britain — won’t be allowed to govern the country.
3. Police, it has been reported, are to have access to voting booths, supposedly to help the handicapped.
4. Human Rights Watch says there has been widespread intimidation by supporters of the ruling party.
5. Amnesty International also has reports of arrests of opposition campaign workers.
6. The Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network reports the pulling down of opposition election posters and improper use of state resources for the ruling party’s campaign.
7. The lights were out one evening at the Victoria Falls Hotel: “As one of the managers explained: ‘The opposition is having a rally in the stadium so they have turned off the electricity. Don’t worry, it’ll be turned back on when they leave.’ Sure enough, at 6.30 p.m. sharp the lights abruptly burst into life.”
8. There are the names of dead people on the electoral rolls and of ghost voters whose addresses place them on totally empty plots of ground.
9. The opposition claim: “leaked documents showed that 9 million ballot papers were ordered for the 5.9 million people registered to vote next Saturday, and that 600,000 postal ballot papers were requisitioned for a few thousand soldiers, police, and civil servants away from their home districts and for diplomats and their families abroad.”
10. Mugabe speaks with a kind of certainty about the outcome that is troubling in the light of all the points above: “Tsvangirai will never, never rule this country.”
I hesitate to predict what is going to happen. Could this election herald the beginning of the end of Zimbabwe’s agony? I would like to be able to hope so. But I fear that it won’t — indeed that the country may be on the brink of worse yet, post-election violence either if Mugabe loses or if there is a widespread sense that he has won fraudulently. Whatever happens, the words of Petina Gappah, a Zimbabwean writer and lawyer, are apposite in the circumstances. She speaks of “the lie that taking power from the colonialists and delivering democracy to the people are one and the same.”
Norman Geras, who was born in Zimbabwe, is Professor Emeritus in Politics at the University of Manchester. He blogs at normblog.
This is a terrible tragedy, not only for Zimbabwe but also for the entire African continent. Tyrant Mugabe has brought untold suffering to millions while at the same time destroying the bread basket of Africa.
How about only two reasons: He is alive, and, He is in control.
Do you really want to know why much of Africa is a hellhole today? If so, you merely need to read this infamous quote by Marty Peretz:
“One of my special fields for the general examinations for the PhD was African nationalism. This was in the early sixties, and everywhere there was hope for the continent. The continent’s leaders were, it seemed, mostly graduates of the London School of Economics or had been trained in the (hypocritical) mores of French culture. No one would have imagined the catastrophe that is Africa now. No one.”
Harvard University and other left-wing intellectual whorehouses prevented any dissent from the naive view that radical socialists would create a utopia in Africa. such individuals had their careers ruined. It was well known that Marxist principles underpinned the revolutionary movements of the time. Sadly, the arrogant fools associated with our “better universities” thought they knew best.
“Will Zimbabwe’s Elections Be Free?”
1. It will be as free and fair as the last election.
2. Who gives a you-know-what.
“2. Who gives a you-know-what.”
It is unfortunate that few people give a damn. The leftists who are mostly responsible for this mess are still committed to the “glorious revolution” taking place in Zimbabwe. Those of a more conservative disposition simply got tired of being called racists and reactionary scumbags for pointing out the inevitable consequences of encouraging Marxist infiltration on the African continent. Even today a serious price will be exacted if one persists in trying to save the people of Zimbabwe.
We need to learn from the mistakes of the past. In other words, we must make sure that the second rate people associated with Harvard University and other “elite” academic institutions no longer have the power to inadvertently cause so much death and destruction. These pseudointellectuals have been getting away with their nonsense for decades. Thankfully, the New Media is increasingly taking them to task when they behave like ideological idiots.
Airdrop weapons into the cities. Only then will the people have the only realy type of power that Mugabe recognizes: Force. When he is outnumbered 1000 to 1 by his suffering people carring US-made rifles, he will relent. Otherwise, he’s there until he dies, like Castro and probably Chavez.
Right and wrong – David.
Bob is as crazy and evil as you can get. He has taken Zim down all the way to the pits with him. Difficult for South Africans as he helped them during the struggle against Apartheid. But he is one bad puppy. http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/my-uncle-bob/
BUT. Don’t talk about Africa as if it is a country. Too much diversity for you to simply say Marxist infiltration in Africa. In actual fact, there is less Marxist or socialist driven states in Africa than 10 years ago. And don’t forget the “good news” countries – Mozambique (ex-Marxist), Zambia (never been in any war internal or external), Senegal (Wade is great) etc etc etc.
I got into a bit of heated discussion on the subject of politics,US vs Africa,in a board room in South Africa. They were upset that President Bush had invaded Iraq, while ignoring the fact that Zim was invading South Africa. There is a worse illegal immigration problem than Mex/US, its Zim/RSA. Yet the elite in RSA views it as cheap labor, that it will go away and it won’t affect them. There is no hope for Zim as long as that POW (or one like him) is in charge, I did have hope for RSA until I saw the reaction to the Zim problem there, then I was afraid they would devolve the same as Zim. Thankfully they haven’t started down that path yet, and hopefully never.
MPW280
This is a tragedy for Africa that should be addressed by the AU. Unfortunately, too many other leaders of the continent would be concerned about the precedence set in case things carch up with them. To have the breadbasket of Africa reduced to this without people like Amnesty International and international human rights groups bringing all authority to bear on Mugabe shows their political leanings more than their dedication to true human rights.
And yes, we should care; we didn’t care what the Taliban were doing in Afghanistan before 9/11. Not to mention just basic human decency.
“Don’t talk about Africa as if it is a country.”
I personally did not commit such a blunder. Please note that I referred to the continent of Africa. I am well aware that the whole continent is not a hell hole. Nonetheless, it is very fair to assert that Marxism is responsible for much of the continued horror and lack of economic development in South Africa and Zimbabwe. And much of the fault can be laid at the doorsteps of Harvard University and other left-wing dominated academic institutions.
Apparently Mugabe’s reelection slogan is “Get Behind the Fist.”
The above begs the question: why do we care about Africa? No, seriously: why do we give any serious thought, concern or interest to any country on this forsaken continent? Any government that will allow its people to starve rather than accept “GM tainted food,” any nation that would allow such ruinous rates of inflation, any nation that denies the existence of HIV/Aids: why do we in the West concern ourselves with such people?
And I’m sorry, Mr. Thomson: Africa, the entire continent, *is* a hell hole; the countries within vary only by degree of ignorance.
The root causes of African problems are obvious – it’s an explosive mixture of a backwards local culture and marxism. Each of the two is enough to sink a country, but when they are combined, any advance seems extremely unlikely for a very long time. Personally, I don’t see how a reasonable number of African countries can succeed in the next 100 years. And yes, I do believe some can escape the trap of poverty, but for most it is an impossible dream.
Mugabe is reason number one why America should reconsider state sanctioned assassinations.
This man is solely responsible for the death and misery of literally milions of people and yet the world plays games and pretends this bastard is entitled to be treated legitimately.
We should immidiately launch a mission to take this piece of filth out.
As the same goes, “some people need killin’”. Mugabe should be at room temperature.
I’ve been following what’s happening in Zimbabwe for quite a while. When the land distribution program was first mentioned, I knew the country was ruined. Taking the land away from the people who knew how to farm because they are white, and give them to people who have zero knowledge of farming is a recipe for disaster. And when disaster struck, of course you blame the whites whom you drove out of the country.
I’m sure the UN will do a fine job of supplying food aid (not) — which will, of course, be used to feed Mugabe’s supporters while most of the country continues to starve.
David,
You need to understand that Africans were never really interested in Marxist/Communist Ideology. The truth is that they were the only ones willing to help Africans fight racial oppression while the so-called free-world sat on their asses.
Here’s a idea:
1. All the liberal intellectuals move to Africa to be better able to enlighten the locals with their superior wisdom. They would be free to implement fully their socialist programs and income redistribution plans.
2. This obviously benefits the locals and the liberals because they will then live in what they believe to be utopia.
3. The liberals would no longer live in a capitalist driven, military /industrial powered
imperialist country.
4. The rest of us would be spared the hand-wringing we witness now. So it’s a win-win situation.
On a more serious note, this truly points up once again how incompetent, corrupt, and useless the United Nations is.
Vela 5:41 You need to go dig through some 50′s era Soviet archives.
Jack, Denny and Gang,
Don’t be stupid man. That is an ignorant comment to make. My original point – Africa is full of bad, bad countries. But have just as many good capitalist countries. Must I say that America is full of drug producing warlords becuase you have a few in the South doing it? I don’t see the US that way and for that reason can’t say that. In the same way you can’t say the same of Africa. Zim is stuffed – I agree. But for every Zim there is a Botswana who has outperformed the US in economic growth over the last 15-20 years. It’s not a liberal thing – it’s a logic thing. Maybe you should go and read my post about “I have been there” and my other posts about Africa. It covers the good and the bad. http://angryafrican.net/2008/03/25/i-have-been-there/
AA,
exactly right, there. It is intellectual laziness to treat Africa as one unitary thing and not a large group of individuals in individual countries with their own histories and dynamics. Many of us are currently ignorant due to the fact that Africa neither inspires our greed nor our fear at present. The only group in the West at present with sufficient interest to look at Africa at all are those who find the victims they need to dispense their magical transforming empathy and “aid” upon so that we can see what superior souls they possess (you may supply your favorite popculture personality here).
Fact is, a large part of what makes America incomparably strong today is Africans – we wouldn’t be what we are today without them. The Anglosphere and English Common law get a lot of credit in these parts for what America means to the world, but our greatest strength and most irresistible weapon is our popular culture. This would never be what it is were it not for the unmistakable and undeniable hand of Africans in our midst and what we have learned from them and they have learned from (and about) us as we all have become Americans over the last couple of centuries. It’s a work in progress.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Crocodile-Eats-Sun-Memoir/dp/0316158941
I have just finished this book and I commend to you for a real feel of what it was like in the disintegrating Zimbabwe
Unfortunately the successfull African countries (Successfull: Economic and Social) is limit to Botswana and maybe South Africa. It seems that the Tswana is much better equiped to run a country. Unfortunately they based there goverment on a western model. They also do believe that AIDS exist.
It seems that South Africa is moving closer towards its twin Zimbabwe. And purely because incompetance. Idiots governing the country, kept in Power by exploiting western countries.
africa is like a kid u give it a tin of biswcuits instead of only eating some they consume the entire lot then wonder where the next handout is coming from. they have a lot to learn.
Get the results here: http://observers.france24.com/en/content/20080331-zimbabwe-waiting-election-results-rigging
The MDC are winning by far!
as a young Zimbabwean, i beg the president to step down…it’s too much now, we have electricity for maximum 2 hours a day, 80% of people are unemployed…we have suffered enough. He has had power for 28 years, and while he has tried to do good, what of the results?? Why does it feel like all we hear are empty promises??? I don’t know what to believe anymore…my mother is a civil servent and everyday i watch her lose her faith…i don’t know what to believe anymore, my future is in the hands of a man that has fallen in love with power…it takes a big man to step down…every day i mourn my people…
p.s., Stewart, your comment is pretty ignorant. it just shows your mimdset and how much you actually know about history and african countries. You have a lot to learn
oh yeah, and iceman, i don’t think reading these books will teach you that much. go there yourself. and not as a tourist, try living there. Completely different.
“With a once prosperous country now ruined and hunger widespread there,”
Duh, that country was called Rhodesia, and like Apartheid South Africa was run by whites who knew how to run a country in Africa. That is why the country was prosperous. What’s so hard to understand about this? Do you have to be a Harvard grad to be too dumb to understand that Rhodesia and Apartheid South Africa were infinitely better than “Zimbabwe” and the “New South Africa”.
But seriously, who is going to be accountable once the total disaster of having destroyed Rhodesia and Apartheid South Africa comes to the table? Who will stand up for the murder of 30000 whites in South Africa? Who will pay up for the destruction of thousands of farms in Rhodesia and South Africa, and the murder of 3000 white farmers in South Africa? The liberal US elite? Susan Zontag? Angelina Jolie? Bono? The Queen? Jesse Jackson? Al Sharpton? Jimmy Carter? Obama? Hillary? the list is endless…
Hey Norm – you supported Mugabe, did you not? You were the Marxist white apologist that left Rhodesia and supported Mugabe, correct?
Rufes has it right – the prosperous country was RHODESIA that this thug murdered, mutilated and terrorised into taking over…but not alone.
Oh no, Comrade Bob had his backers (the Soviets et al) and his supporters (like you) in Jimmy Carter, his twit of a UN Ambassador Andrew Young (still a Mugabe confidant through his Atlanta based “consulting” company), and all the leftist Euro trash sending money to the “Liberation Struggle”.
Can a leopard change his spots, Norm? Pray do tell.