Crian PadayacheeMugabe Has to Go
February 14th 2008 06:32
The idea of elections in a country like Zimbabwe is one full of contradictions. Zimbabwe has been under the control of the same ruling Head of State since 1980 and is one of the most heavily autocratic nations in the world – so how can there possible be free and fair elections?
The country last held political elections in July 2004 and not surprisingly the ruling party, Zanu PF lead by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe extended its majority rule in Zimbabwean Parliament. The 2004 elections were held amidst widespread violence directed by the government’s secret police force towards opposition candidates. Yet somehow, these violent, corrupt and quite obviously illegal elections were passed as fair and open by overseas observers and deemed legitimate by the global community.
The leading opposition party in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has vocally challenged Robert Mugabe ever since the 2004 elections and is planning on having three candidates running in the March 29 elections.
People open about their affiliations with the MDC are forcefully denied the ability to speak freely and openly in Zimbabwe. They are denied basic civil liberties and forced to live under the brutal iron fist of Robert Mugabe and his loyal police force.
The Zimbabwean police force is often criticised by foreign governments for their aggressive silencing of opposition spokesmen. Last month, the head of the MDC and Zimbabwe’s best chance for a new leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was detained by Zimbabwean police after he was found to be leading a politically rally calling for free and peaceful elections in Zimbabwe. He was taken away by police and detained for 24hrs without a charge and treated like a common criminal.
'If this is the reaction of this dictatorship, then the elections are a farce. I don't foresee a situation where this very police can salute a change of government. I don't foresee a situation where this Zimbabwe Electoral Commission can actually announce the defeat of Mugabe,' said Tsvangirai
Robert Mugabe will be 84 years old by the time the March 29 elections are held in Zimbabwe and the country is currently engulfed in a major economic crisis. The Zimbabwean monetary unit is the most worthless in the world. Inflation in Zimbabwe is currently sitting at around 27,000%. 80% of the country is currently unemployed and According to the NY Times a roll of toilet paper in Zimbabwe costs approximately $145,000.
Social services in Zimbabwe are falling apart as we speak and Zimbabweans have the lowest life expectancy in the world. Mugabe has compared himself to Hitler on more than occasion and unfortunately for the Zimbabwean population the comparison is all too obvious.
Is it possible to get rid of a tyrant like Robert Mugabe? How can there possibly be free and fair elections in Zimbabwe when the police force and Mugabe’s own personnel secret police force will no doubt be overseeing the March 29th elections?
Robert Mugabe
The country last held political elections in July 2004 and not surprisingly the ruling party, Zanu PF lead by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe extended its majority rule in Zimbabwean Parliament. The 2004 elections were held amidst widespread violence directed by the government’s secret police force towards opposition candidates. Yet somehow, these violent, corrupt and quite obviously illegal elections were passed as fair and open by overseas observers and deemed legitimate by the global community.
The leading opposition party in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has vocally challenged Robert Mugabe ever since the 2004 elections and is planning on having three candidates running in the March 29 elections.
People open about their affiliations with the MDC are forcefully denied the ability to speak freely and openly in Zimbabwe. They are denied basic civil liberties and forced to live under the brutal iron fist of Robert Mugabe and his loyal police force.
The Zimbabwean police force is often criticised by foreign governments for their aggressive silencing of opposition spokesmen. Last month, the head of the MDC and Zimbabwe’s best chance for a new leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was detained by Zimbabwean police after he was found to be leading a politically rally calling for free and peaceful elections in Zimbabwe. He was taken away by police and detained for 24hrs without a charge and treated like a common criminal.
'If this is the reaction of this dictatorship, then the elections are a farce. I don't foresee a situation where this very police can salute a change of government. I don't foresee a situation where this Zimbabwe Electoral Commission can actually announce the defeat of Mugabe,' said Tsvangirai
Robert Mugabe will be 84 years old by the time the March 29 elections are held in Zimbabwe and the country is currently engulfed in a major economic crisis. The Zimbabwean monetary unit is the most worthless in the world. Inflation in Zimbabwe is currently sitting at around 27,000%. 80% of the country is currently unemployed and According to the NY Times a roll of toilet paper in Zimbabwe costs approximately $145,000.
Social services in Zimbabwe are falling apart as we speak and Zimbabweans have the lowest life expectancy in the world. Mugabe has compared himself to Hitler on more than occasion and unfortunately for the Zimbabwean population the comparison is all too obvious.
Is it possible to get rid of a tyrant like Robert Mugabe? How can there possibly be free and fair elections in Zimbabwe when the police force and Mugabe’s own personnel secret police force will no doubt be overseeing the March 29th elections?
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
it seems the 'free' world, and I use that term loosely, has had a history of turning a blind eye to some true injustices, while attacking other regimes because of an added economic benefit being involved, such as Kuwait being 'saved', Iraq and Afghanistan attacked.
It is so painfully obvious, that it galls me to incredulity to read and hear, ordinary people speak of these things as if the West is doing the 'right thing'. I can only imagine some believe they are either getting a financial benefit, directly or indirectly, out of such a situation, and maybe the rest are just a mixture morons, bigots and psychopaths, who will support any attack on another sovereign state, as long as they are not christian and white!!
However, one can only hope some enterprising individual rids the world of this particularly loathsome son of a bitch, for Mugabe is an insult to the ideals of the Commonwealth, a total psychopath and a money grubbing criminal.
However, Mugabe's behaviour is but secondary in outrage, to the appalling fact that the Commonwealth still allows him to be a member!!
cheers and good on you for posting about this repellant creature!
fog
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ha! The last elections i voted at in Zimbabwe they were announcing the results when ballot boxes were still being counted. People who had died decades before mysteriously appeared on the voters roll.
No one can imagine just what it is like to live there and it angers me that the world has stood by and allowed this to go on for so long. It`s not a country where the people can change anything - you can get a bashing just for walking down the road carrying the wrong newspaper.
Last I heard a Security Guard is getting paid $16 million a month and a can of coke costs $1 million. Farm workers get paid the equivalent of US$5 a month. It`s disgusting and I just pray that this is a new beginning because we are a nation that don`t deserve it.
Thank you for getting the word around - hopefully the more people who are aware of the situation the more it will encourage the world to start doing something.
Ash
Comment by lourensh
"America will continue to support freedom in Zimbabwe. And I urge neighbours in the region, including South Africa, to do the same. We look forward to the hour when this nightmare is over, and the people of Zimbabwe regain their freedom."
Are we just hoping, Cause as we know ' onkruit vergaan nooit.'
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics