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Mugabe takes month-long break to 'reflect'

HARARE, ZIMBABWE Jan 05 2009 08:43

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Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe has taken a month's leave and is to spend part of it on holiday outside the country, the state-owned Sunday Mail reported.

"This is more of a retreat than an annual leave. The president is very busy reflecting on the new structures that are needed to deal with the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe as well as working on structures of an inclusive government which must come too soon," said his spokesperson George Charamba.

Meanwhile, a senior Zanu-PF official said a new Zimbabwean government would be set up by the end of February.

The Harare-based Herald Online reported on Monday that a senior Zanu-PF official, Nicholas Goche, met with SA facilitator Sydney Mufamadi in Musina on Saturday.

Goche, who is Zanu-PF's secretary for national security in the public service ministry, met with "Thabo Mbeki's South African facilitation team to discuss the latest developments and how best to proceed", reported the website.

He said Mugabe would press ahead with the formation of a new government with the full consent of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

SADC last year appointed former SA president Mbeki to facilitate the formation of a government of national unity.

"Sources close to developments said a government was most likely to be in place by the end of February," said the website.

"Comrade Goche met the South Africans on Saturday as part of the drive to ensure that this chapter is closed once and for all so that Zimbabweans can move forward," a source told the newspaper.

CONTINUES BELOW

Zimbabwe has been without a new Cabinet since the June 2008 presidential run-off in which Mugabe was the sole candidate after his opposition rival Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out, citing violence against his supporters.

In mid-September, Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai, signed a power-sharing deal and began negotiations for a unity government.

But negotiations broke down as the two sides failed to agree on the implementation of the pact.

Tsvangirai accuses Mugabe of wanting all the key ministries such as defence, information, home affairs, finance and foreign affairs.

Political commentator Lovemore Madhuku criticised Mugabe for deciding to "spend the little left of foreign currency" in Zimbabwe during his leave.

"It shows that he is not concerned about the suffering people. One can only afford to go on leave if one has done something tangible. Honestly, Mugabe has done nothing that deserves a rest," Madhuku said.

"Cholera is killing people and the economy is bleeding and someone decides to abandon the ship and rest. For what?"

Inflation in Zimbabwe is the highest on the world, officially at 231-million percent. The prices of the few available goods change everyday as a result. More than five million people are in need of food aid, according to the United Nations.

A cholera epidemic has claimed more than 1 500 lives since August.

More than 20 000 people have been infected with the water-borne disease as the country fails to import adequate water purification chemicals.

Residents in many cities and towns have been forced to depend on shallow wells and rivers for their drinking water. - Sapa-DPA

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Comments

Now is the time to strike and get rid of the Medeglomanic, While he is out of the Country, We have writen reama and reams of what should happen and it's come to nothing. Word,Words, action is needed now. Have YOU ever had to go without a meal for 7 days, Try it and your soul will be in harmaony with the people of ZIM. I have had the experince when in the British Special Forces, it's no joke it's ZICK.

Justin Stephenson on January 5, 2009, 9:44 am

Hopefully it is in a country that can offer asylum.

David Hurst on January 5, 2009, 10:05 am

Nero played his fiddle whilst Rome burned...

A.R Scenic on January 5, 2009, 10:48 am

What reflection Bob? Is this the reward of the bloodshed you and your henchmen orchestrated, The melting-down of the then SADC member's strongest economy, Strengthening your relationship with Mbeki through SADC platform, Use state resource to please your wife And Accusing UK and US for bringing Zim into disripute. Mr Hounarable President please let fresh blood take that country forward...We know you helped liberate that country but you seem to have ran out of ideas, Zim has become too big for you... I wish you could go for good for the sake of the poor Zimbabweans, You won't be taken to the Hague, but we will have a shack ready for you in Alex so that when fresh Xeno... Attacks get underway you can be the victim as well and feel the pain, then you will learn how to live with people... Please go the world has had enough of you.

Seathane Peter Ramalema on January 5, 2009, 12:03 pm

They clearly want us to believe the crap they spew. Again, claims of sanctions - and they quietly ignore the fact that if there were any general sanctions (which there are not), 53 other African states would be ignoring them, so they'd be effectively free to trade with at least 53 countries, plus Cuba, Malaysia, China etc.

The saddest and most stupid thing of all is that Mugabe's apologists are just as vocal in claiming there are sanctions - while ignoring the above point.

Rod Baker on January 5, 2009, 1:56 pm

While Bobs away may Morgan play. What an oppotunity to overthrough this sinile old dictator. If there was ever a time to get rid of mad Bob its now.Just goes to show, he can go on holiday while the rest of Zimbabwe is dying. Well done ANC for backing this maniac. You will have the same fate this year. The ANC will go like Mugabe.2009 will be a year to be remembered in South African history. The year we got rid of the crime & corruption government.

David Howarth on January 5, 2009, 7:16 pm

While he is enjoying his break from tyranny, I hope he will reflect upon the fact that Zimbabwe is not his country or Kingdom. It belongs to every person born of that soil. He should know all too well that many people sacrificed their lives to bring freedom to the people of Zimbabwe. He may have an ego the size of a planet, but he would be well advised to realise that history has already passed judgement on him and damned his name for all time. Put him in the bin of history and leave him there to fester. Then the people of Zimbabwe can start looking towards building a better future.

Stephen Yelverton on January 5, 2009, 8:21 pm

"Rest", "Annual leave"..What ever you want to call it! 0ne can never run away from the "Skeletons in the cupboard". They also say "You can run, but you can never hide."
A real man.... "Indoda sibili"... would STAND and DELIVER! at a "cruicial" moment.
With hyper-unflation, cholera (a desease related with poverty), a collapsing state,rock-bottom civilian morale...the list can go on.... The question is:"When/What does Mugabe call the "crucial" moment to STAND and DELIVER! like "Indoda sibili"..?

Temba Hove on January 6, 2009, 12:23 am

African leaders have, since gaining independance from colonialism over the past 60 years, failed their peoples many times. This situation in Zimbabwe however, has to rank as the worst of those failures. Not just because of Mugabe's failures, but because SADEC, and in particular, South Africa, have failed to act. It shows how rotten and incompetant the leadership throughout the region really is.

Simon Barlow on January 6, 2009, 12:27 am

A "month-long break to reflect"? Absolute cobblers! And what kind of "leader" would merrily dance off the stage for a "break" when his country is crumbling and its people suffering and dying from hunger and disease? Ah yes, the answer of course is Robert Mugabe. Which reminds one of Adolf Hitler cracking jokes in his mountain retreat at Bergdesgahrten, or Uncle Joe Stalin sailing in the Caspian, or Mussolini dancing with his mistress at one of his country "villas".

Citizen Mntu on January 6, 2009, 12:15 pm

hope he goes on a permanent leave. we have had enough of Mugabe and his policies. we need change

moses mafusire on January 6, 2009, 5:13 pm

I wonder how Bob, Grace and the kiddiewinkles got themselves to holiday in Malaysia, Air Zimbabwe?

colin campbell on January 11, 2009, 2:13 pm

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