3.27.2007
Hard times in Harare
In his old age, Mugabe's losing his grip, and Zimbabweans will bear the brunt. Never subtle, Mugabe drew the world's attention when his thugs attacked, killed and intimidated white farmers off of their land, but not when he drove the economy into the ground and cleared out slums with bulldozers in parts of the city that happened to be heavily suppotive of the opposition. His armed gangs have trashed and closed down the country's free press, have beaten civilians into reciting loyalty oaths, and has done so with impunity because of his status as one of the heroes of Zimbabwe's liberation and his tactic of blaming his country's problems on Western imperialism. By the way, current inflation is 1,700% and everything, everything is under government ration.
This week Mugabe made it into the international pages by sending heavily armed policemen to a prayer vigil led by the opposition, where they brutally beat the leaders of the two factions of the opposition party. Imagine turning on the TV during the 2004 presidential campaign and seeing John Kerry escorted to court with a huge gash on his forehead and an eye swollen shut. The US and Europe already have targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe, and have spoken out, but their words and actions have been dismissed as imperialist rhetoric.
It would seem that Zimbabwe has come to a turning point, but which way will it turn? Mugabe's party is ready to see him go, but he may decide that, in his 80s, he is ready for another term. The opposition party is divided and may spend more time on infighting than on rebuilding the nation. The archbishop of Zimbabwe has called for mass peaceful protest. After years of silence, African leaders are finally ready to condemn Mugabe's government and this Wednesday Mugabe will attend talks in Tanzania. What will happen next? Will the world be watching? 12 million+ Zimbabweans hang in the balance.
This week Mugabe made it into the international pages by sending heavily armed policemen to a prayer vigil led by the opposition, where they brutally beat the leaders of the two factions of the opposition party. Imagine turning on the TV during the 2004 presidential campaign and seeing John Kerry escorted to court with a huge gash on his forehead and an eye swollen shut. The US and Europe already have targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe, and have spoken out, but their words and actions have been dismissed as imperialist rhetoric.
It would seem that Zimbabwe has come to a turning point, but which way will it turn? Mugabe's party is ready to see him go, but he may decide that, in his 80s, he is ready for another term. The opposition party is divided and may spend more time on infighting than on rebuilding the nation. The archbishop of Zimbabwe has called for mass peaceful protest. After years of silence, African leaders are finally ready to condemn Mugabe's government and this Wednesday Mugabe will attend talks in Tanzania. What will happen next? Will the world be watching? 12 million+ Zimbabweans hang in the balance.
Hit Counter
