Beyond the brink

I do think you as a journalist you should ask the question "when has a dictator of Mugabe's type ever resigned willingly?" Like Mbeki you would have fallen for the soft options in the face of a tyrant who does not take this kind of moderate response seriously. He has abused everything including foreign aid and he will do so again! The only way dictators go (and have ever gone in Africa) is when they are thrown out by their own people. The error of the MDC is that they acquiesced (or were seen to) to the manipulation of an aging megalomaniac. I also think that a military invasion will be the kindest thing to do, because the alternative of meltdown where the wrath of the people will randomly find its own targets is considerably worse for everyone (ironically including Mugabe and his cronies who will see justice enacted by the mob).For Mugabe and his cronies if they can’t even consider amnesty they should be crying out for invasion, it will be the best chance at any future whatsoever.

You say that the MDC "has been incoherent and grossly incapable of managing the urgency of the situation". I do not think this is true. What do you expect them to do - a party that won an election, the losers of which won't go? They had two choices - to attempt a violent overthrow of ZANU(PF), for which they had neither inclination nor the means; or to follow a diplomatic route in the hope that other African states would recognize their election victory and not recognize Mugabe. Unfortunately, SADC, directed by Mbeki, have sought to minimize the MDC's victory and force them into a compomise with ZANU(PF). Again, the MDC have had no choice but to get the best out of this as there in no alternative other than a guerrilla war, which is just not an option. The people will not rise up, no matter how bad it gets. They will simply die or leave. the MDC leadership will be arrested as soon as they suggest anything that ZANU(PF) regards as treasonous. I think the MDC have done all they could within the constraints under which they have been forced - by both SADC and ZANU(PF) - to operate. They have to wait until SADC wakes up to the seriousness of the situation.

Your best bet for removing Mugabe is from within Zanu pf which is what Mbeki tried to do some three years ago. MDC is too weak and overated to take Mugabe on. Besides they are too compromised by their blatant disregard for African institutions to be taken seriously by the same. Whoever is sponsoring the removal must persue the Mbeki route.

Abel, you must be crazy. Try explaining to starving and dying Zimbabweans that you're trying to find some institutional mechanism for change. Which could take ... how long has this been going on now? How much lower can the country sink? You think the MDC is discredited? The whole of the ZANU-PF leadership should be in jail. What are our standards here? Letting a clique of crooks protect their own interests and literally get away with murder?

I agree totally with what Roger Stringer says. It is completely unfair to say that the MDC has failed. Do you not know that their voice was gagged when the Daily News was shut down in September 2003? They were forced to campaign door-to-door and most of their rallies were banned by the police.

In the face of a massive, massive oppressive system set up to destroy them (including CIO infiltration which (in part) led to the break-away faction), and the fact that 3 million of their supporters have fled the country (and can thus not vote), they pulled off an amazing election victory, for which they were thoroughly well organised and showed brilliant strategic thinking to outwit ZANU-PF.

In case you did not notice, they are trying to remove Mugabe by non-violent, democratic means - that has always been their goal. THis is extremely admirable and forward-thinking, since we all know that violent means only perpetuate a violent future. But this approach does rely on diplomatic support from the region. And this is where they have been unforgivably let down by SA and SADC. Add to this the fact that the region has turned a blind eye while their on-the-ground structures, which won them the election, have been brutally picked off in a coordinated reign of terror.

Then, Mbeki and his cohorts have bullied them into signing a flawed agreement, and the only reason they signed was to give this option a chance and show their good faith. Instead, they have been accused of failing! THis tendency to blame the victim here is very disturbing. It is easy to blame the MDC, but you can hardly lay any of the blame at their doorstep. Perfect, they are not, but trying their absolute best, they are. Give them some credit please!

It is quite simple - revoke Mugabe's amnesty and escort him, Grace Mugabe and Mbeki to the Hague to be tried for crimes against humanity - past and present. Let the process begin.

The UK's departure from Iraq is timely, not so much for what it is currently doing but for the fact that the Iraqi's have now stepped up and taken the responsibility for their own security and they can leave proud albeit with a few contentious moments which they will have to resolve quickly such as their strange notions on rules of engagement with Iranian gunboats etc. But may I make a suggestion that enroute to the UK they pass through Harare to ensure that that local despot is removed from office. I believe that this should be a simple enough task as Botswana and possibly Zambia would be probable locations from which to insert and remove...I doubt more than 4000 troops will be required together with some special forces units from various countries this should all ow for the quick dismissal of the regime. And here I believe I am correct in saying that the populace is not going to be out there laying IED's but maybe the use of MRV's (That is mine resistant vehicles) hopefully ones with shoot-out ports unlike some of the US ones) could be used, they could even be leased from the South Africans with a quick advance overhaul as some of their equipment is not that functional at the moment...Just a though but I believe that certainly would be a military initiative that the likes of Tutu and other honourable African dignitaories on the continent and elsewhere would find palatable...

The other leaders are not willing to make him leave because they are afraid the same thing will happen to them. They will lose their power and they dont want to give it up anymore than Bob does.

All this talk of useing force to remove Mugabe is nonsense. If Britain invades Zim "on the way back from Iraq", the rest of Africa will band together against Britain. And why should they invade and put British soldiers at risk?
Africa must sort out it's problems.
If Mozambique, SA, Bostwana and Zambia closed their borders, Mugabe and his thieves would be have to listen to reason. I don't think it would take more than a week or two for this to work.
On the sidelines, the SADC should negotiate with Mugabe and the military leaders to leave on condition they do not come back.