A Moment for Zimbabwe
Posted on June 13, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, Zimbabwe |
Most of the United States is focused on an election - the race for the White House which takes place in November. But perhaps now as the primaries are finally over and the general is in its early stages, its a good moment to pause to examine the June 27th run off election in Zimbabwe. The future of that nation is very much resting on the outcome of the run off between President Robert Mugabe and Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
If you think prices have risen in the US, just imagine living in Zimbabwe where the disastrous economic policies of Mugabe have caused hyperinflation to hover around 100,000%. Want a soda? That will run you about 1 million Zimbabwe Dollars. The country is in dire need of economic reform.
The ruling regime is insistent on retaining power at any cost. Yesterday, Mugabe announced that war veterans are prepared to fight should the opposition win the election. He also told supporters that the opposition movement is funded by the British and is a political party for white people. Earlier in the year, Mugabe was more subtle in his posturing, now he’s just outright making wild accusations with no evidence.
But evidence was never a strong suit for Mugabe. This past week he had an opposition party member arrested for suggesting in March that they had won the election. He has been charged with treason. The punishment if found guilty - death. Tsvangirai has been arrested 3 times already this month, although no one is sure why.
The MSM and people living outside of Zimbabwe should care greatly about the outcome of this election. A stable Zimbabwe, with a healthy growing economy, would have the ability to lift millions out of poverty and steer the country on the path to prosperity. With a tyrant in power, obsessed about holding on to it at all costs - the country can only fall further into the abyss of chaos. Yet its doubtful you will see a story on the evening news about Zimbabwe or about the importance of its upcoming election. Its too bad, because elections that can truly alter the course of a nation are a rarity.
This is what Mugabe had to say yesterday about the prospect of losing the election: “We shall never, never accept anything that smells of … the MDC. These pathetic puppets taking over this country? Let’s see. That is not going to happen,” he said. “We are prepared to fight for it if we lose it in the same way that our forefathers lost it (to British colonial rule).”
By early July, Zimbabwe will either be well on its way to economic reform, or embroiled in a civil conflict. Only then it will be too late to raise awareness, because by then the country will be at war.
To read up on iConflict’s continuing postings on the Zimbabwe conflict, click here.
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2 Responses to “A Moment for Zimbabwe”
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I just came back from Zimbabwe. It is indeed a total catastrophe-
far worse than the 1970s independence war.
People will vote for Mugabe because hey are afraid of anything
else. Gangs have gone to get identity cards from regions
that voted for the opposition so that these people will
not be able to vote. People are nowadays simply disappearing
and no one knows what happend to them. Armed youth
wearing ZANU PF T shirts stop minivans and get everyone
outside. Everyone must display an ID card of the ruling
party, ZANU PF. Those do not have it are left outside and then
beaten to near death so that they will know to buy this card.
This is how the ruling party makes more money.
Aside from this, there is also a criminal element-
people’s cellphones are taken at these roadblocks.
Some have been shot. People are afraid- especially
in the vllage area that I have toured and will vote for
Mugabe. Food and petrol are in short supply. There
are huge lines for gas. The hospials are non funtional.
There are no surgeries nor even basic medecine to speak
of. Only private hopitals such as the Avenues’ clinic in Harare
are fine but those are beyond the means of most Zimbabweans.
Rumor has it everywhere- both in the cities and the rural
areas that Mugabe does not want to run again but is being held
hostage to some of his generals who are now running the show.
These general cannot seek refuge elsewhere and fear what will
happen to them in a new goverment comes in.
Teachers used to man polling stations but now teachers have been
beaten and run away. It is not clear who will man
the voting stations now- probably militia men.
It is a crime for a few people to try to impose
their will on the populace down the barrel
of the gun.
Thanks for the post! Do you have any images of your recent time in Zimbabwe?