Zimbabwe, China and African leadership
According to the New York Times, 77 tons of Chinese arms and ammunition may be about to head back to China after protests in South Africa over its intended destination, Zimbabwe.
The Zambian president, Levy Mwanawasa, who is the current head of the Southern African regional grouping SADC, has called on other countries in the region not to let the ship dock in their ports.
This could all be highly significant, because until now Zimbabwe's regional neighbours have been deeply reluctant to appear critical of President Robert Mugabe and the continuing non-publication of the presidential election results, more than three weeks after the polls. And China probably has no great appetite for yet more international criticism as the Olympic torch continues to run the gamut of pro-Tibet protests as it progresses across the globe.
Mr Mugabe is fast running out of friends. To his south, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa is being openly criticised from within his own party, including by the party leader Jacob Zuma, for not being tougher on his Zimbabwean counterpart. It was action by South African dock workers which prevented the arms shipment being unloaded last week; and then the South African high court ruled that the cargo could not legally be taken from the port of Durban to the Zimbabwean border.
Whether any of this will affect developments inside Zimbabwe remains to be seen. All the signs are that the ruling ZANU-PF party is still deeply split over how to handle the crisis that followed last month's elections. When I spoke a few days ago to the deputy information minister, Bright Matonga, he confirmed that he had been among those who met opposition MDC emissaries after the election. He says it was at their request, something the MDC denies - but the very fact that these contacts are now being openly acknowledged is itself significant.
What does seem clear is that the resolution to this crisis, the most serious Mr Mugabe has faced in his 28 years in power, will come from inside Zimbabwe itself. At least some of his neighbours are now openly saying they've had enough, and the former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has added his voice to those calling for the election results to be published without further delay. That will add strength to the opposition - but the future lies in their hands.
Their hope is that with the help of disaffected ZANU-PF people, and some of the senior echelons in the army and police, they can somehow effect a transition to a post-Mugabe future without violence. The rest of the world watches, and waits.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~53~RS~)
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I do not really understand the situation in China or some African countries? The western world can (is trying to) impose democracy, is even claming to be the right one to do so, in the Middle East, what about Zimbabwe..?
Regards,
C.
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C, just for your information some people in Zimbabwe are asking for the west to impose. Mugabe has had a history of corruption within the electoral period. People are either too frieghtened or to weak to vote. How can this be a democracy?
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Please...you know whats going on!!!!
I lived in that beautiful country for 19 years.
The west has to interfer!!!
Its a nightmare there... my parents and family are there...the people of Zimbabwe are suffering so much.
Mugabe has to go.
Who has the guts to help?
Gorden Brown?
USA?
Doesnt seem like anything really changed ...Mugabe is still doing what he wants.
I think a german bank put a lean on that ship from China... very smart.
More action..
this is a country that is very rich and can get back on its feet....
Not with Mugabe.
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As the rest of the world watches and waits Mugabe is trying to steal the elections at this very moment.
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Nice one China. Once again they show what the world will look like when they take over as the main superpower. No scruples and no morals. The leopard does not change it's spots it would seem.
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Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is trying to steal the elections from Morgan [please forgive i don't know how to spell his last name]....
China [C.C.P.] and the Zimbabwean President and other African leaders that have something in common: Causing trouble for the Western World....
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Can anyone explain why the UK press are pushing the problems of China and Zimbabwe so heavily?
Yes each country is bad but there are much worse examples in the world but we hear nothing of them yet every week we get an update of the latest none event ine these two countries.
To those who scoff what about Saudi Arabia's Democracy and human rights record?
how many othe countries in Africe are simalarly on the verge of starvation but never reported?
And when did BBC simply employ reporters and not Journalists who ask relevant questions?
Just a couple of examples The MDC days after the election claimed they knew the exact result of the presidential election What was this based on exactly did anyone bother to ask?
And on returning it was reported an alledged assasination plot had been reported against the MDC leader. Who was reporting this it was not by any chance his followers was is?
And there are many more occassions of reporters reporting facts which blatently turn out to be false.
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