Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe Isolated As Allies Turn Their Backs

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 6-24-2008 | Louis Weston and Peta Thornycroft

[blam]

Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe isolated as allies turn their backs

By Louis Weston and Peta Thornycroft in Harare
Last Updated: 7:48PM BST 24/06/2008

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has sunk deeper into isolation as African leaders turned against him and called for South African President Thabo Mbeki, his most important protector, to do the same.

The leaders of Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana and Angola have all turned their backs on President Mugabe

The Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade and Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's ruling ANC, called for the presidential election on Friday to be postponed following the withdrawal of Mr Mugabe's rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.

The calls came in the wake of a UN Security Council statement condemning the violence in Zimbabwe, where scores of people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in political violence.

"The ANC says the run-off is no longer a solution, you need a political arrangement first ... then elections down the line," said Mr Zuma, as his party issued a stinging denunciation of "violence, intimidation and outright terror".

South Africa has been mediating between Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change and Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF for a political settlement. Such an agreement will prove harder if Mr Mugabe secures a new term in office.

Mr Mbeki, the appointed mediator of the regional Southern African Development Community, now faces pressure to turn his back on Mugabe, according to a senior western diplomat.

Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana and Angola – the latter one of Mr Mugabe's most reliable allies – have all condemned the Zimbabwean leader with Mr Mbeki left relying on South Africa's "client states" – Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland – for support.

"They have finally realised, rather too late but better late than never, that this is a regional crisis of accelerating

[blam]

Don't expect the Brits:

Britain's Armed Forces 'Stretched Beyond Their Capabilities' By Fighting In Iraq And Afghanistan

[Americanwolf]

I say on this one let the continent of Africa clean up its own backyard

[Jmouse007]

Mugabee wants to become the Kim Jong Il of Africa: dictator/slave master for life. Some one (other than the USA) in Africa needs to end this tragedy for the sake of the people.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Unless he and a lot of his cronies end up dead all of this is meaningless. There is no electoral cure for Mugabe.

[tsmith130]

At this point, why even go through a sham election. If he’s not beyond murdering his opponents and their supporters, he could just declare himself ruler for life.

[Natchez Hawk]

I’m sure he’s emotionally devastated.

[buccaneer81]

I say on this one let the continent of Africa clean up its own backyard

Unfortunately, The US and Britain had a hand in this back in 1979 when they let the stable nation of Rhodesia become Zimbabwe. All because it was "racist" to have a "white" government.

[buccaneer81]

Some one (other than the USA) in Africa needs to end this tragedy for the sake of the people.

Not saying that we should get involved, but tons of blame for this mess belongs to Jimmy Carter and the British government in 1979. They aided and abetted this nightmare.

[buccaneer81]

There is no electoral cure for Mugabe.

Sure there is. Sham elections with Jimmy Carter (who was in on this deal in 1979) as an "observer."

[blam]

"Unless he and a lot of his cronies end up dead all of this is meaningless. There is no electoral cure for Mugabe."

Correct.

[LeoWindhorse]

this guy needs to have an air strike laid in on him , in the middle of the night .
make it truly the end of an era

Ah for the days of the Selous Scouts

[Americanwolf]

I understand you comment. but using that logic is tantamount to using the same logic as the left and the antiwar liberals used with Iraq......

they claim that we propped up both Saddam and OBL in Afghanistan.....

The decisions made thirty years ago regarding Zimbabwe and the same with Iraq and Afghanistan.....were made on the principle of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

We cannot be held responsible for the action of our ancestors... we need to view this as it is in real time... not placing historic guilt on the decision... we need to learn from history not guide or international policy based on it.

[buccaneer81]

were made on the principle of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Carter was trying to send a message to South Africa. As if they're any better off after Botha and his crew left.

We all know how benevolent Winnie Mandela was. /s.

[kromike]

O-bambi’s future as our President.

[Parley Baer]

Yep, all Mugabe has to do is wait and see if Obama becomes POTUS.

[Baron OBeef Dip]

[Americanwolf]

Carter should have never left the peanut farm.....

that being said.... you are correct in that assesment that carter did it to send a message to SA but like every other dem program or policy i have seen in my past 35 years of life it was poorly planned and poorly executed and no end goal or plan.

[Navy Patriot]

let the continent of Africa clean up its own backyard.

Let's keep Mugabe around as long as possible.

He is an open sore in the side of communism, progressives, leftist guilty white egalitarian wusses, biased superior intellectual MSM airheads, and an embarrassment to socialist blacks.

[buccaneer81]

but like every other dem program or policy i have seen in my past 35 years of life it was poorly planned and poorly executed and no end goal or plan.

That's the truth!