EU urges Mugabe to implement power-sharing deal

Who is Mugabe? Wasn't he the one that lost the election and then chased off the run-off candidate with Chinese AK's (and apparently SA ammunition)? Why is he still in the news? The word unity here seems to tip the balance towards violent autocraticism against the will of the people. Or?

The "deal" is/was rubbish. It was filled with constitutional gobbledygook. Who can drive a car using only half the controls? The one has steering wheel, the indicators and the gear lever, while the other has the accelerator, the brake and the clutch. It wont work. For the agreement to work the cheetah will have to change his spots... and it's not about to happen.

how many times should we hear the EU, USA, UN or the G8 has urged Mugabe to fully implement the GPA?? These bodies should actually take action to ensure all clauses in the agreement is honoured. By the way, it will be disastrous to bank on SADC to resolve the impase. the regional body is just toothless!!

It's only Zimbabweans who can determine what real power sharing is. Outsiders can only provide moral support and not try to prescribe anything as the real thing. The problem seems to be with the EU's obvious bias against Mugabe which SADC has refused to pander to.

We must commend SADC for refusing to be influenced either way and being guided by their first hand knowledge of issues on the ground. The SADC secretary general summed it up nicely yesterday when he said, "Tsvangirai is aware that the solution to overcoming the problems was for Zimbabweans themselves not to create a perception of a country in permanent crisis whose solution depends on others."

Tsvangirai seems more interested in pleasing the Rhodies, EU, Britain and the US at the expense of Zimbabweans by painting an image of a dreadful Mugabe. Thankfully this has not washed with SADC.

Why is Tsvangirai not urged as well.............

Factfile about Zimbabwe rarely told:

-Whites took land from Zimbabwe's black farmers by force at the start of the 20th Century

-Before 2000, just 4,400 white farmers held a third of Zimbabwe's land - much of it the best agricultural land

-A million black peasant farmers scratched a living on about the same area of mostly poor soils

-Since then all but a handful of white-owned land has been seized and redistributed

When Sweden calls for "swift implementation" of GPA they sound like a school headmaster instructing his pupils to follow school rules. International diplomacy should be more sophisticated than that.

To Fungayi, a question.
How could a few thousand whiteys control the land that now 5-7 million people in need of foreign food suddenly want to give this land to fat bobs wife, really. Perhaps you are so hungry you are willing to listen, not to just the HarHarare Newspaper, but that gross propaganda is your main course. Hate to be crude, but your math is off. Expect a good meal from Nestle', soon (more white boys). Five to seven million in need of food aid from foreign sources, who gives you your hand-out, ZANU-PF? Hope you don't catch cholera, or any of the other preventable diseases your leader has brought into your region.

Factfile about Zimbabwe rarely told:

-Whites took land from Zimbabwe's black farmers by force at the start of the 20th Century - Can't comment about that as it was way before my time and the histories seem to be rewritten by whomever is in charge at any given time. Although it DOES appear that the LAST force of arms takeover occurred around that time. But there had been various tribal squabbles and "territorial aquisitions" since shortly after the first human being set foot on Zimbabwean soil. If only his parents had a long form birth certificate and copies of THEIR parent's birth registry to prove that they'd been born in Zimbabwe...;-)

-Before 2000, just 4,400 white farmers held a third of Zimbabwe's land - much of it the best agricultural land -ANY land can be good if looked after and maintained. In Saudi Arabia they grow crops in land that is more hostile than any in Zimbabwe. An interesting fact too, is that the farmers pre-2000 also managed to feed Zimbabwe and much of the surrounding countries too. This is NOT even close to the case now. AND said land is now STILL in the hands of a minority, so nothing has really changed other than the present "weekend" farmers seem to be unable to match prior production due to other business interests. Political or economical. Or both...

-A million black peasant farmers scratched a living on about the same area of mostly poor soils - Can't comment on the statistics, although I suspect the number has risen, due to the old farm labourers being displaced and forcibly removed from the land they lived on. Definately an infinitely better prospect... ;-)

-Since then all but a handful of white-owned land has been seized and redistributed- To a handful of well connected, weekend farmers. Yup, who says there is no progress in Zimbabwe? It's funny how people can discriminate based on skin colour and beleive so fanatically that "they" are justified and cannot understand why everyone else looks upon them with horror....


As people keep insisting, lets have ALL the facts, not just the ones we want to hear.....

2009 Malawian small scale farmers - 3.7 million tons of maize
2009 Zimbabwe small scale and "commercial" farmers - 1.2 million tons of maize. Yield 0.44 tons per hectare... Factors working against a better harvest were dollarization, making inputs too costly for small-scale farmers, a drop of 85 percent in seed production capacity since 2000, and the poor quality of available seed, combined with shortages of all other inputs such as fertilizers, lime, pesticides and diesel. (Fungayi... where do you get your seeds? Not Sigaro Seeds I take it?)

Fungayi - perhaps you should read a few more facts - like what the land was like before the (white) farmers developed it into the bread-basket of Africa. In other words, undeveloped poor land...

More facts: Zimbabwe was making a good living out of the foreign exchange. Because Mad Bob wanted to hold onto power at all costs, he used a popular tactic: blame the whiteys. It backfired badly, didn't it ?!?

Why did a million black peasant farmers not do better?
a) poor education
b) lack of funds - from Zimbabwe
c) lack of desire to create a going concern

If this is not true, then why are the fantastic farms developed by the whites lying fallow ?

I'm all for an equitable distribution of land - just
a) not by force
and b) not to a bunch of lazy, self-seeking bums.

Mr Fungayi ,I hope you live in Zimbabwe not in South Africa.If you are in Zimbabwe ,I hope you have a good job and have no relatives suffering directly or indirectly from political and economic challenges affecting our country.I also hope you are not deaf and blind - The country has been affected by bad governance.Mr Mugabe has lost any trace of good leadership by clinging to power for his personal pride and ego.His arrogant sense of rightness has not helped the situation.The system of logic that support the belief that all our problems are a result of land distribution is short sighted because Mr Mugabe leadership failure is at the core of all the problems.Leadership is key and Mr Mugabe has lacked wisdom,sound judgement and diplomacy consistent with being a Head of State.For example,he has left for Uganda when the nation is faced with unity crisis to attend a forum of displaced people.Over 3 million have been displaced under his leadership.Charamba,his spokesman put it right when he said the president has no time on the looming crisis -I am sure he meant the president has time for perdium which he pockets by globe trotting to attend meetings which a Deputy minister can attend. Tsvangirai on the other hand is putting pressure on Sadc to intervene-WHO THEN IS A GOOD LEADER.He is not even ashamed to lie and blame US and Britain when asked by his friends how things are going in the country.

Just get it clear guys, Mugabe and JM Nkomo signed a unity accord in 1987 after Mugabe launched a political genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands which left over 25 000 citizens dead. This means the unity was signed on the blood of 25 000 people. This unity saw people of Matabeleland getting marginalised in terms of national resources allocation i.e. education, infrastructure, employment etc.
This time around Mugabe has signed yet another unity with MDC over the blood of about 200 lives lost during previous election campaigns. I don't see this unity working because if the unity aggreement signed over the blood of 25 000 did not work how and why should a unity signed over the blood of 200 lives be respected by Mugabe. Mugabe by nature is power hungry, he can't cede an inch of power to anyone. The only way forward would be to wait for the natural death day of this man and then hold free and fair elections. SADC, AU are Mugabe's wives they can't help either, history has proved that.

Just get it clear guys, Mugabe and JM Nkomo signed a unity accord in 1987 after Mugabe launched a political genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands which left over 25 000 citizens dead. This means the unity was signed on the blood of 25 000 people. This unity saw people of Matabeleland getting marginalised in terms of national resources allocation i.e. education, infrastructure, employment etc.
This time around Mugabe has signed yet another unity with MDC over the blood of about 200 lives lost during previous election campaigns. I don't see this unity working because if the unity aggreement signed over the blood of 25 000 did not work how and why should a unity signed over the blood of 200 lives be respected by Mugabe. Mugabe by nature is power hungry, he can't cede an inch of power to anyone. The only way forward would be to wait for the natural death day of this man and then hold free and fair elections. SADC, AU are Mugabe's wives they can't help either, history has proved that.

fact file about zimbabwe rarely told.
1980s - 90s - Britain gives zim 30million pounds for land reform--zanu pf squanders the money, dishes the land to cronies
1990s- black people of svosve invade a farm--- zanu pf chases them
1990s-- zanu pf introduces a vip housing scheme-- they squander the money and become multiple home owners
1990s-- Zanu pf introduces a war victim compensation fund--- They pay off money to walking,breathing,dancing 110% disabled war vets
1997- zanu pf prints money to compensate and appease marauding war vets to the detriment of the zim dollar--- one war vet buys a watch for his dog.
1999-- MDC comes into being after Bob encourages Tsvangirayi---immediately labels him a puppet
2000- Zanu pf loses referendum--- starts a systematic appropriation of farms---Some war vets move into one farm house and eats salad cream thinking it was ice cream.
2000- 2009- well what can i say

Those saying white farmers were feeding the country that is only an impression that the sanctions imposed by the US, EU, Australia and Britain was meant to create. Fact is before 2002, 80% of Zimbabwe's food production was by black communal farmers who got funding from the government. This leaves the famed white farmers with just 20% contribution to food production.

I worked in one of Zimbabwe's merchant banks and our biggest Corporate Banking customers were white farmers whose main thrust was flowers for export. Most white farmers by 1998 had moved from food production to floriculture if that's the correct term. This was mainly due to huge demand for flowers in Europe. Anyone wanting to pass up food shortages in Zimbabwe to the inability of blacks to farm is telling lies. Whereas white farmers could easily access funding from banks, the same could not be said of black communal farmers who where actually feeding the nation. The government was their only source of funding and when the EU and US(ZDERA) imposed sanctions on the same government that killed off funding to the communal farmers.

The whole purpose of the sanctions was to ensure that agricultural production in Zimbabwe suffered and give credence to the myth that only white farmers were capable. Spare us the lies about only Mugabe cronies benefitting, more than 350 000 families have benefitted and if they are all Mugabe cronies at least they are more than 4000 white farmers. The logic was to get as many people into agiculture as possible thereby creating employment for more people as well as self sufficiency and restitution.

Peter Win, Zimbabwe probably has the highest number of trained black agricultural extension officers than any other country in Africa. Gwebi and Chibero Agricultural Colleges produced so many well trained black and white agricultural experts in Zimbabwe. The government even sent some people to Israel for training. I agree with you on funding for the reasons already mentioned above.

Jason Olivier, multiply 350 000 by five as that's the average family size in Zimbabwe and let me know if that minority is anywhere near as little as 4,400.

One BIG fact about zimbabwe rarely told

2007- Zanu pf falls for one Rotina Mavunga's con that refined diesel can can ooze out of rock- They pay money and three buffalo for a piece of the action-- One official states to the President that the woman is "VERY BEAUTIFUL"
2009--- Still crackling about this incident.

Do you think that Fungayi Dzvinyangoma is the new cover name for the CIO Internet operative spreading race hate and falsehood to protect Mugabe?

Or do you think he believes all that rubbish, and never once mentions the bit about the Farmers obtaining "Statements of No Interest" (No interest in land redistrubution) from the Zim ZANU govt under its own rules before they stole them anyway when the British asked for an audit of their aid money?

"40-year-old Briton Ben Freeth was born and brought up in Kent, and learned his farming skills at Cirencester agricultural college. He moved to Zimbabwe in 1996 where he settled down with his Zimbabwean wife, Laura, on her family's Mount Carmel farm, 70 miles south west of the capital, Harare. The fruit farm was once the biggest producer of mangoes in the country and supplied Marks & Spencer."

The Ben Freeth story supports what I said about white farmers and food production. However, on a different note Ben Freeth who has become the poster boy of white resistance to land reform in Zimbabwe as it turns out is a Briton and not a Zimbabwean. Now if Mugabe really wanted to expel whites from Zimbabwe wouldn't he have started with this guy. The guy has done more than most to tarnish Zimbabwe's image abroad.

Reports were in the papers about how his farmhouse and that of his inlaws were burnt to the ground and they only managed to save their passports and laptops. Noone during that time mentioned the shooting of a film called "Mugabe and the white African" in which Ben Freeth and his father in-law are the main characters. This leaves me believing that the burning of the farmhouses was all part of the plot for the film. What's the coincidence?

Facts cannot be wished away.


@ Marius de Kock, Malawi small scale farmers have been left alone to produce while meddling has been the order of the day in ZImbabwe.


@ Dr Robie Pastor, you asked who is a good leader? Mugabe and his arrogant sense of rightness insisted land reform is a must and is irreversible and also that the WEST imposed sanctions. Before unity agreement Tsvangirai poo-pooed over these claims but he acknowlegded and admitted to them - they are contained in the GNU agreement. So who is a good leader? Unwavering Mugabe or Chameleon Tsvangirai? The answer is so obvious!!


The West will awlays meddle in Zim or South Africa affairs. These are friendly destination for Westerners offering WESTERNISED ambience, and of course the huge number of the so-called white African (i.e. victims of the "once you go black you never go back" syndrome).

As a result the WEST will always have huge interest in what is the happenning in these 2 countries. It is no surprise they are meddling in Zim.

BIG FACT: Actually the WEST would have meddled in ZIm had Mugabe said he is increasing the land holding percentage of white Africans (lol)!

and i suppose Ben Freeth beat himself up as well for the camera. Or maybe he hopes to get an Oscar for the best character in a documentary. Or maybe he burned his hous down for the insurance money. Fungayi,get real and smell the cocoa.A snowball in hell has a better chance than you convincing anyone here.

dread dread6

You waffle about the west. Zim is a sovereign state which drives its own domestic and foreign policy. It is free to trade with whoever it chooses and currently favours the east "from where the sun rises".Almost all sectors of the econonmy are black driven,so whats the fuss when you can simply shut down your western embassies and concentrate on your eastern friends. These cheap shots about imperialism,colonialism whatever failed to convince the supposed Zimbabwean victims at the polls,let alone others on this blog. Save your breath, the train has left the station,we aint buying it.

people like Fungayi dzvinyangoma are good at telling the truth while lying. Fungayi I wish I were to be given a farm as well so I could sheepishly sing "fire give us mighty warmth" when my feet are burning.Were you given a ticket to the UK where you claimed assylum when your father haraased a neighbour for supporting MDC sell outs. You are one of those people who talk first and think last.If colonialists grabbed the land by force what makes you think the mass butchering of innocent is justifiable?

Kevin Sithole,"1980s - 90s - Britain gives zim 30million pounds for land reform--zanu pf squanders the money, dishes the land to cronies"

This lie you've just peddled as fact cannot go unchallenged because I personally know of a lot of people who were resettled kuminda mirefu "long fields" during that time. Some of my family members left our village to be resettled and they were or are nowhere near cronies of the ruling class.

Many schools, clinics roads and other infrastructure were built kuminda mirefu during this period. Infact if you check your facts again this was also the time that Zimbabwe experienced high levels of economic growth as well as infrastructural development. You forgot to mention that Zanu PF introduced free education for all during this period as well. You probably heard about adult literacy classes during that time unless you've never lived in Zimbabwe.

"1990s- black people of svosve invade a farm--- zanu pf chases them" I am sure you remember that this still during the willing buyer unwilling seller period. This was also before the white farmers bankrolled the MDC to campaign for a No vote against the draft constitution that empowered the government to redistribute land without compensation as Britain had reneged on the Lancaster House agreement. They totally forgot that Zanu PF had more than the 2/3 majority in parliament to amend the constitution anyway.

You also forgot mention that the Svosve people were some of the first people to invade farms in 2000 and have since been allocated the same farm as restitution since it originally belonged to them before they were displaced by the Rhodies.

As for your views on a war vet not being able to tell the difference between salad cream and ice cream I think that's just redundant. It borders on childishness and vanity on your part.

Zimbabwe is appearing more and more like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion yet unlike Hiroshima, there has been no physical explosion, just enormous damage caused by a rotten and evil dictator and his supporters who continue to blame everything but themselves for all the problems. Fellow comrades, our continent will only be truly liberated from these extremely painful shackles of oppression once the majority grasp honesty firmly and with both hands and accept the fact that it is our very own selves who are the principal cause behind most of our problems and for no other reason than electing rotten and greedy leaders to power who then forcibly impose their will and evil ways upon the people and refuse to stand down even when they repeatedly lose elections.

"Do you think that Fungayi Dzvinyangoma is the new cover name for the CIO Internet operative spreading race hate and falsehood to protect Mugabe?" - Alisdair Budd.

If you can pin point where I have spread race hate I would be happy to acknowledge. However, maybe Alisdair Budd is the cover name for British Neo Nazis spreading lies about black people's inability to farm on behalf of Rhodies.

Mduduzi Moyo, if you are an asylum seeker that's your business. However, I would never claim asylum because there is nothing to fear in Zimbabwe except maybe Biti's inept understanding of how the economy works and Tsvangirai's constant policy flip flops.

Kevin Sithole, you can't put anything past that devious British character called Ben Freeth. Following revealations of the movie, that guy is an actor. I wonder how he managed to save only his passport and laptop, same as his inlaws. I think that was an ill thought out plot.

Why the Hell is Bob still there. He lost the election and then held another with him as the only candidate..... Put some pressure on them to get him out or remove him forcefully as he has done to farmers that was living peacefully and filling his pockets for him!

MORGAN Tsvangirai’s protest over “outstanding issues” in the unity government is a selfish strop over “jobs for the boys and girls” and not policies that can deliver real change for Zimbabweans, Simba Makoni said on Thursday.

Makoni, leader of the Mavambo-Kusile opposition party, said “instead of fighting for posts that will expand government and burden the struggling Zimbabwean taxpayer, Prime Minister Tsvangirai should be fighting President Mugabe over policy matters that can improve the economic fortunes of the country and the well-being of citizens.”

"On careful examination, it emerges that the reasons for the MDC-T disengagement from Zanu PF have nothing to do with delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe. The fight is about the MDC-T being allowed a bigger share of public sector jobs, motor cars, travel allowances and good living."

I fully support Fungayi.
Thought: Tswangirai jumped ship in defence of their financier 'Bennet'.. are those the acts of a responsible leader in bringing down all the progress made in the past 8 months? In addition - why didnt the rest of MDC-M follow if the issue is about implementing the GPA?

fungayi stop polluting the unknowing with useless string of events.Do you value human life or you just are like your Bob who perfoms his art in Zim. I respect your opinions but I will not be happy if you try and armtwist them into facts.
Wena nje you are beneficiary of Mugabe's evil ways
But my bhudi good news is that at least Zanu has blindly recruited a sly Jonas who will hijack power from the tyrant as soon as possible.the Zanu pf deadwood thought they were clever when they recruited this guy back in the Zanu stable but little do they know that he has a very serious agenda.The reason for his return is none but to change the complexion of matebeleland and midlands into a paradise where all shall eat honey and harvest harmony.At least the socio-economic imbalance will be a thing of the past...join us in celebrating the return of yet another imbecile

In Zimbabwe JOSHUA nkomo fights for the whole of his life for democracy he loses elelctions because of his ethnicity..he is NDEBELE.Mugabe wins a tribal vote not a national vote.Tsvangirai gets support from allover Zimbabwe and divides the party on tribalism again.Besides most people still give him the benefit of doubt...but he gives them a half baked revolution.....People in Matebeleland arise and shine becoz no one can do gukurahundi again....satsha mdoda asihlaleni sodwa pliz

Mduduzi, just like you are passing off your opinions about Mugabe and Zanu PF as facts? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! I am happy that you appreciate Jonathan Moyo's freedom of association. If he manages to bring changes within Zanu PF for the benefit of the country I do not see anything wrong with that.

I do worry about your regionalistic view though. I also note that while you celebrate the likely benefits of Jonathan Moyo's return to the people's party you go on to call him an imbecile. At least you admit indirectly that Zanu PF is the only party that can deliver real change to Zimbabwe hence Jona's return. Anyone else outside the people's party is playing games with the masses and just trying to syphon money from gullible Rhodies and western donors.

that is where you go wrong Mr Fungayi.To say only Zanu pf can deliver real change is very true.We have seen our beloved contry's health deteriorating in a rapid pace, education crushing from the zenith of any highest mount into an abyss larger than hell.Farming too tumbled and that is change.I agree with every one that the land is our birthright and I do acknowledge that we do not want to be farmworkers but we want to be totally entitled to the soil.However the problem is when someone armtwists and manipulate the dream of the sons of the soil into a law in order to cling to power.Fungayi are you saying Zim depends on Zanu for leadership? You are letting us down man.How many technocrats from Zim are doing well world over can fail to rule that country-Zim. mfondini how are you unjani kanti.
You have a point on these issues and it is true that Zanu believes in turning Zim into a great great great Zimbabwe

Fungayi Dzvinyangoma/kevin sithole

Gents, the commenters here base their knowledge on Newspaper articles that are run and maintained by the very people that represent western interest!!

Contradictions in the western reports and articles can easily be found!

For example, they talk of Mugabe giving land to his "cronies" and noone else YET in another article the World bank says it will donate 60 MILLION DOLLARS to assist 700 000 farmers!!

Now, are those 700 000 farmers Mugabe's cronies? And if so then why would the World Bank assist them? CONTRADICTION and many other contradictions exist and can easily be found...

The western media has repeatedly pulled the wool over the eyes of passive readers and has blackmailed them emotionally in order to get rid of leaders that want to serve the interests of their people!!

these commentors need to learn to read facts about Zimbabwe AND understand that the battle for Zimbabwe is not about politics/human rights/peace but about Western Interest at the expense of African development!!

Mduduzi, you might want to investigate far reaching effects of ZDERA on a developing country still try to balance social justice with economic prosperity. I believe as Zimbabweans we can have this kind of constructive debate without ignorant Britons like Alisdair Budd and David Hurst contaminating it with their patronising comments. Considering how corrupt British politicians are they should be the last to accuse Mugabe of anything.

Back to developmental issues, do you know what the MDC's economic policy is? Do you know what MDC's education policy is? Do you know what MDC's health care policy is? Do you know MDC's agricultural and land policy is? Here is a party cashing in on ambiguous concepts like human rights, rule of law and democratisation. Can you clearly define any of these concepts in an internationally accepted way?

What I fail to comprehend is people accussing Mugabe of using land to stay in power. If he had not implemented land reform who was going to do it? He is the only one left who was at Lancaster House on the ZImbabwean side. Tsvangirai is using people's suffering to get to the top yet people are bothered about Mugabe empowering people. All politicians do things to manipulate the electorate. At least Mugabe is saying don't just be content with saying Baas to the Rhodies, be empowered it's your country. Ivhu inhaka yedu yakanga yabiwa nevasina mabvi.

Tsvangirai on the other hand is saying as long as MDC are in power and Baas is back on the farm we are happy. Mugabe has made blacks believe in themselves. Look at Nigel Chanakira, Gilbert Muponda, Simba Mangwende, Supa Mandiwanzira, Philip Chiyangwa, Xavier Kasukuwere, Trevor Ncube, Mutumwa Mawere, Julius Makoni, James Mushore, Walter Kambwanji, Tawanda Nyambirai and others I cannot remember, these are products of Mugabe's empowerment policies though some of them may try to deny it.

If you want to see how conniving the Rhodies are look at how they tried to use Chanakira and steal his bank.

PF Zapu under the leadership of JM Nkomo wanted the land distribution program enacted as early as 1980 but by then Mugabe dined with the whites and vowed to protect the rights of the white men simply because Mugabe was/is intoxicated with political power than the welfare of the civilian. This is true because the Lancanster Talks outcomes were largely biased to the evening talks/discussions recorded by video cameras installed in the rooms of the two delegates from the two partiesof each party. These evening party discussions revealed that Mugabe wanted nothing other Political power whilst JM Nkomo wanted to distribute the land to the people. Mugabe was then favoured because he was not a treat to the white man land. Some plans were then hatched for Mugabe to pull out of the Patriotic Frontwhich is what the two parties had agreed would be their united approach to the election. Guess what, the British never asked about the Gukurawundi genocide because Mugabe was doing what they perceived as right- eliminating Zapu which was a threat to the land issue
Now Mugabe is doing (though empowering his lieutenants instead of the povoas well) what JM Nkomo wanted done twenty years ago. Mugabe is twenty years behind as far as his operational strategy is concerned

Fact
While your house of stones crumbles every country in the world laughs out loud at the exploitative oportunities that your unaccountable chefs offer. Enjoy!

Edward Ndaba, do not lie. Mugabe was described as a hardliner at the Lancaster House conference because he would not compromise on land. The tapping of their hotel rooms revealed that both Mugabe and Nkomo were prepared to walk away from the negotiating table if the issue of land was not clearly spelt out. They only stayed after the US's intervention when they promised to match Britain's contribution towards compensating white farmers. We all know what Britain did in 1997 through Claire Short. The only reason a comprehensive land reform was not carried out as early as 1980 was because Kaunda and Nyerere persuaded Mugabe and Nkomo to compromise to a 10 year moratorium. What the Brits and the Rhodies were hoping for was that Mugabe and Nkomo would forget about it but they were wrong.

I know you do not want Mugabe to be considered a hero but give him some credit. If anything Mugabe was much tougher than Nkomo and the British actually did not want him to become the leader but his popularity especially among the majority Shonas was unstoppable. If you research more you will find that the Brits wanted Nkomo to win. The Timesonline has archives on this if you want.

@ Kelvin, you hit back with the following, "Zim is a sovereign state which drives its own domestic and foreign policy. It is free to trade with whoever it chooses and currently favours the east "from where the sun rises".

Kelvin, welcome to the real world. Your thread is good food for the meddlers. If only the WEST could agree to a hands off ZIM. This is what Tsvangirai told them on his recent tour of WESTERN capitals. But this message is falling on deaf ears!

Fungayi, I notice that you have the habit of diverting everyone's attention away from the main issue contained in the articles - need I remind you that this article is about the power sharing deal and Mugabe's failure to abide by the terms and conditions of the agreement. Nobody in their right mind will disagree with you about the British reneging on certain committments agreed upon at Lancaster House, however, this does not now justify or excuse Mugabe and ZANU PF for their crimes and what they have done to the population by literally trying to pulverize us into submission. Have you ever been at the other end of a stick held by a ZANU PF youth? I have witnessed some of the worst imaginable atrocities committed by some of his supporters. No language, no matter how sweet can or will pursuade me that Mugabe's political process is reasonable, logical or justified.

@ Johann Braustein, the whole world is in a mess of which few understand how it came about (lol). The current world economic slump hitting hard the so-called democratic world would convince anyone that surely democracy is overated when it comes to putting beef on the table or on accountability!.

At least the Zimbo's house of stone has crumbled (according to you) but they know what hit them. It was an honest bid to correct the wrongs of the past. Now that they have succeded they can, in the words of the late great Peter Tosh, pick themselves up, dust themselves up and go to work.

What is the EU, and what relation does it have in Africa's affairs. Continued meddeling by these elite states, implies that Africa cannot solve its own problems, this of which is no the case.

The EU must stop meddeling in the Affairs of Africa, because we do not meddle in thier affairs. I unfortunaltely have no respect for these elite states, because they treat Africa as a playground for thier sick games, and because they block Africa from developing. What is EU, to me, its nothing that i care about, that is irrelevent to me and Africa.

The capacity of SADC must not be undermined, by these europeans and the whole west. EU..what a joke

Fungayi
I think that you aren't really such a Mugabe supporter you just like winding everyone up with your your comments. It has to be that because nobody can be so blind to the truth.

Megan, what truth are you talking about? You think people commenting on these articles with unsubstantiated allegations againts Mugabe is the truth just because it's being said against Mugabe. The only people choosing to be blind to the truth are those denying the culpability of white farmers, Britain, US and EU to the crisis in Zimbabwe. I think there is a lot of idleness in not wanting to challenge convention and find the real truth backed by facts.

There is also this solidarity among white people which they are trying to deny Africans hence the efforts to influence SADC's views on Zimbabwe. How can the EU know more about whats happening in Zimbabwe, who is responsible for what better than SADC? Have you ever heard SADC or AU trying to influence any of the EU's approaches to European issues?

Fungayi: You are just a wind up merchant, having a good old laugh!! You had me thinking you believe all the stuff you write.

The EU should encourage both Morgan and Bob to have the GNU work and not be biased. As for MDC-T why did they not disengage when all their other BLACK Ministers were being arrested now just because Roy Bennet a WHITE Deputy Minister designate (not yet even sworn in)is rearrested they disengage from the GNU to show the EU/WEST/USA that they care very much about a WHITE MDC-T member more than all the BLACK Ministers who were harrased by Bob. Also if Tsvangirai is going to rule by running to the neighbours (South Africa, Mozambique, DRC-SADC etc) everytime a dispute arise in Zimbabwe, then surely God help Zimbabwe. Why did he not sort the issue in house and only resort to SADC after exploring all avenues-but no he has to please his masters and paint Bob as the evil part of the marriage. Tsvangirai should be very careful not to alienate himself from the people by his cry-baby behaviour. Even if Bob were to die tomorrow he might be outmanouvered by his leutenants if he is not very careful. Enough said.

Megan, it's also good to know that you do not believe all the tosh you spout about Mugabe! Just so you know, I whole heartedly believe in everything I have written. I hope you are not trying to patronise me like baas and madam do to the farm labourers.

Commentary devolving into blog. Just set up proper elections, monitored. Anyone can comment on the criminalistic nature of the current government, and point out ethnicity. The fact is, the country disfunctional, and it appears to be an internal matter. Certainly Zimbabwe is not something Africa can be proud of, and the greens among us would love to harvest the anti-'industrial countries' hot air to generate electricity and jump-start Zim's failed economy.

"The EU must stop meddling in AU affairs" says one commentator as if this is the main issue! The main issue is about what Mugabe and his ZANU PF party is doing to the people of Zimbabwe and their failure to abide by the conditions of the Areegment of National Unity. I'm one of the first to admit that none of the former colonial powers did this continent much good, however, this has absolutely nothing to do with what Mugabe is doing to our nation and all the horrors and crimes associated with his style of Government. Let me tell you something, as much as I did not like Ian Smith, Mugabe is a far worse tyrant and our lives under him have been far worse compared to what life was like under that racist Smith. Only when we rid this continent of corrupt and evil tyrants like Mugabe and his disciples will we be truly liberated from oppression.

Ephraim Molai, next you are going to say Botha was better than the ANC aren't you? Ian Smith who bombed innocent people at Chimoio, Tembwe, Nyadzon'a and murdered more than 50 000 balcks is far better than Mugabe? The guy who perpetrated chemical warfare(maporridge & anthrax) on helpless villagers? Smith who would not allow you to live with your wife in the city unless she had a pass for a week only? Smith who did not care for your education, health care in the rural areas or urban areas was better than Mugabe? What are your priorities?

Fungayi
If you are so keen on Mugabe and despise the west so much aren't you bit of a hyprocrite living in the UK, benefiting from all it has to offer? According to you Mugabe has made Zimbabwe great; should you not be there reaping the benefits?
Practise what you preach!!!!

Megan, I find the assertion that just because I am criticising the west's interferrence and double standards with Zimbabwe then I am a hypocrite for living here shallow to be frank. I am actually reaping the rewards of our wealth and resources that were siphoned by the west.

I believe Mugabe is the best thing to have ever happened to Africa. What he has done is exactly what the majority of Africans wish their leaders had done in terms of redressing colonial imbalances. SA is going the same way. The raibow nation is a falacy by Mandela ripped off from Mugabe's policy of reconciliation after independence which the Rhodies just like their kinfolk in SA failed to grasp. Instead they abused it and now they are paying the price.

Funyagi
You took the bait: hook,line and sinker!!!

Megan, please yourself as you seem to be a very sad woman that's if you are really a woman.

Fungayi, aligning me with racist Smith just demolishes all your credibility and places you firmly in Mugabe's camp. As bad as it was living under Smith, it is even far worse living under Mugabe. One evil has been replaced by an even greater evil...an evil that just won't go away. What you are doing is attempting to make Mugabe and ZANU PF look good by highlighting bad deeds committed by others - its not working Fungayi - you sound just like Jonathan Moyo!

Jonathan Molai, Mugabe is done good for me and my country. We have the highest literacy rate in Africa ahead of rich countries like South Africa and Botswana. We have the most enlightened citizenry that is now challenging the demi-god status of Rhodies in industry, commerce and agriculture. We are going to be the first African country with majority control of natural resources despite obvious hinderances.

Just like we sacrificed during the liberation struggle, we are sacrificing through this third phase of the struggle for economic emancipation and empowerment. I know you would rather Baas was still in charge and patronising you while exploiting you. That is indeed your right to be exploited willingly than forcibly as has been the case before.

To be fair I did not align you with Smith but I do get the feeling that you wanted me to. Given that you keep saying Smith was better, what can I say about that? You can liken me to all the people in the world but I will remain true to myself. I would have likened you to Chief Chirawu or Nyati but I won't. If you know you Zimbabwean history you would know these 2 individuals.

Fungayi:
You have nothing new to add but going over and over the same dripple. You should become a journalist for Zimbabwe's state run papers, they will love your ramblings.

@DreadDread
Yes I agree with you the industrialised governments were bad for putting the likes of your man in power all over the world and may be responsible for the current mess. However until you as a nation have acoountability you are going to keep on dusting yourselves down. The organised nations of the world will still get cheap goods from your chaotic land, just so long as you have someone who'll sell his own brother, as what happened in the slave trade.

Johann Braunstein, as long as the land is owned by the majority not by a tiny minority whose only attachment to the country is what they can get out of it's resources we will be fine. Zimbabwe will be a model for all other African countries with skewed distribution and access to natural resources and wealth.

You are right about having people who will sell their brother like Tsvangirai and his accolytes are willing to do. This is the reason why Mugabe is so popular with Africans and Tsvangirai has failed to make headway on the continent. As Tsvangirai has already demonstrated he will only act when his white colleagues are affected but not his fellow blacks.

"Jason Olivier, multiply 350 000 by five as that's the average family size in Zimbabwe and let me know if that minority is anywhere near as little as 4,400"

Fungayi, I assume you are attempting to state that 1750000 people have been settled on land previously occupied by 4,400 people? Again, you are incorrect. At the very least, the 4,400 would also be multiplied by 5 and even then that does not take into account all the labourers who lived and worked on said farms. And I think you are stating hearsay with your "facts" about the numbers resettled, never mind the total gloss over of the ZANU fatcats picking those same "plum farms" for themselves. And squabbling among themselves over who actually "owns" the farms they themselves have stolen. Which I follow with great amusement. ;-) And I have first hand knowledge of this, not hearsay.

So stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it, you horrible little racist... :-P

@DreadDread
Not so much interested in propoganda or your side of history but the fact is until you have accountability right up to head of state then you aren't going anywhere. It seems your eyes and ears are only tuned to Rhetoric- The old man will die sooner or later, to this day Zpf can't even come up with a possible leader to take his place without starting to infight. Mark my words. I won't be writing again-Enjoy

Jason Olivier, revisit my factfile. If about a million families were occupying about the same land area as that occupied by just 4400 people what can stop 350 000 from fitting on that land size? I wonder if you have any idea of the farm sizes that were owned by the Rhodies?

The fungus man is clearly a government plant (which one?), perhaps he is siph-siph the provider of services, who has disappeared. Robert Mugabe is a flat out rip-em all off dictator and tyrant. 200 Catholic Bishops, who kept their tongues in check during European genocide, say, enough is enough in Africa. It would be really nice if this venue was reserved for commentary rather than see it devolve into a political blog, in which excessive commentary reflects, in this case, someone in pay of ZANU-PF. What other explanation is there? Zim is a classic case of black people ripping-off black people, and when the crime is on-going, let us be racist and blame whitey, all the while Mugabe has just learned how to steal to an extreme from the bygone colonialists.

the common thread running through the entire political life of Robert Mugabe is his lack of honour. he has reneged on just about every agreement he has signed up to. so he is either not terribly astute or downright dishonourable. and Fungayi is a product of his education initiatives. unfortunately ordinary Zimbabweans appear unable or unwilling to change their situation because they are either too cowed or too brainwashed or both. it will take generations for Mugabe's poison to be washed away whether he steps down now or never.

This son of one of Mugabe's cronies appearing as Fungayi is enjoying Zanu PF's evil fruits so doesnt see the oppression down by his fathers. Talking of the evils down by the worst whilst Mugabe abuse power and oppress his own Zimbabwean people. Zanu PF has tried to crash MDC but has failed and they have continued their crack down on MDC despite signing the GPA. These oppressers have shown that they cant leave office and will continue using anything to their disposal to keep on clinging to power. This GNU will never work as long as Zanu PF is in it.