Obama honours Mugabe foes for defying 'dictator'

And SA continues to support that murderous tyrant ...

In all these years, not a single word of criticism from our government. Mugabe and his thugs have ruined their country, abused, oppressed, tortured and killed their own people - so much so that several million of desperate Zim citizens fled the destruction and their brutal oppressors. Our government literally and figuratively embraced Mugabe and kept silent. We are now treating the SYMPTOMS of the De Doorns and the JHB Methodist Church situations. We all know the CAUSES why Zim citizens ended up there in the first place. Simply silence and some more support for Comrade Bob from the ANC. What a disgrace…

For the first time ever I see in a US President a leader possessed by truly wonderful principles and a man prepared to stand up and fight against injustice regardless of who the perpetrator may be. We appreciate his stand against Mugabe and all the other corrupt and evil tyrants on this continent and elsewhere in this world. We also recognize some of the good China has done and is doing but sometimes fail to understand how and why she supports some of these rogue leaders by sponsoring and financing them! China calls it, "non interference in the domestic affairs of a country" - whereas if the truth be known, they are doing the exact opposite by providing moral and logistical support to some of the very worst autocratic leaders who oppress their people and deny them their most basic and fundamental rights.

What different does it make? Is Obama saying anything about Mugabe? What about his Egyptian Ally, aren't they dictators? USA has supported all the eadliest dictator over the world. I am not in support of Mugabe but Obama shall stand against all dictators including the Chinese government. He nust not choose to criticise the government he knows that he can defeat them militarily and are in economical shumbles. If you root out one dictator and build up another one is the same as doing nothing. InAfghanistan, USA claims that they brought democracy hance the outcome an the riggings of vote say for utself. In Iraq, the do the same thing, and they even supported hanging and slaughtering of enemies heads in the name of democracy. Please can the world share the same vision pof democracy, without being opportunists.

The government of SA supports Mugabe in everything hence there can never be a critic from them. They themselves are like Zanu PF. Refer back to incidents that occured before the national elections, people were intimidated and even threatend if they want to join the opposition. So what i'm saying is Anc and Zanu Pf are one and the same thing. Should the ANC loose power, you'll see what i'm talking about.

What is a dictator and what traits are attributed to a dictatorship? It seems as though people are so brainwashed into labeling all those who have been in power for a long time as dictators irregardless of whether they have been voted by the people. Democracy is an ideology and the forms of democracy that are around also leaves a lot to be desired. There is nothing that I envy about the murderous regime of Obama's predecessor and there is no worthwhile lesson that I have learnt from the Americans. All they preach is ideologically rosy but their actions speaks volumes of greed and plunder. Leave each and every country on this earth to find answers for its existence not to fuel dissent in the name of a non existent ideology. A lot of people are so blind to such barbaric acts of bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, plundering and murderous acts in Iraq and Afhganistan, inhuman treatment of inmates at Guatanamo bay, all in the name of democracy. Get real people nobody really cares about what is happening in Zim. Who is benefiting from the frozen assets of Mobutu sese Seko, Mugabe and allies, Oma Bongo etc, the lists goes on and on but noone seems to raise any finger against such acts. If these are noble acts from noble institutions why can't they find other ways to channel all those funds so that they can benefit the people on the ground. Why should money plundered in Africa find its home in Zurich? Models of democracy my foot.

This is cool, folks! Two women against a dictator with an army of sixty thousand? C'mon Gorbachev and Mphaphuli, you got to give credit where it belongs. I can assure you that I have worked with these two girls before and they deserve that award. Those two are tough nuts. Mugabe has to surrender. Mphaphuli, at this stage I wouldn't really care much about who else Obama supports, as long as he is on our side - I mean the side that REAL humans belong, the side of democracy - he's on the right course. As for Gorbachev, a reminder that it was Obama who got Guatanamo prison closed, so take a deep breadth and salute the two Zimbabwean girls who are fighting for freedom.

Ngwenya!!!!!!!!!! Let me be honest with you. To ovrthrow a government thatcame into power through a coupe will not be possible through a ballot paper. In south Africa we knewe that if the Codesa talks fail civil war was inevitable.We had MK and APLA ready for war. As for those two ladies hinking that Mugabe will be overthown or retire because of their acts, they must just forget and go hang. Go and ask Dalai Lama, NO matter he is respected over the world, his says are like of a mad dogg in China Communist Government. Most of the Zimbos who are in South Africa can't even organise themselves to form an army or an organisation that will at least put Mugabe at a negotiation table. Remember politics is about black mailing each other. If you don's give us oil we will bomb you. If you don't allow whites to farm we will sanction you. If you dont have democracy we will sanction you. And if you dont threaten Mugabe, he will make stupid out of you. Ask Tsvangirai, he is always on talks, but how many success had he achieved? He can achieve something today, tomorrow his cadre is arrested.Wake up politics will never be human right oriented. Politics is about power and greed and the most evils in the world is attached to politics.

Rejoice, I do salute these women but what I abhor is hypocrisy and double standards when it comes to the so called champions of democracy. Obama can only do so much but because of the so called freedom of association gangs like the Kuklux clan are all over the place and they are allowed to thrive. The world has been evilly divided and some have opted to police their fellow human being. The abuse of power is when it disjoins irregardless of what system it represents. I wish there was a genuine will power to bring change without using the double edged sword. Like I said earlier what happened to all the frozen assets from Africa's dictators? Who is benefiting from those ill gotten gains? Forked tongues and bizzare intentions. Michael Jackson had the best intentions when he sang that song called heal the world but he forgot to mention that he hated the black man under his skin.

Only reason that the ANC back Mugabe is to keep the ANC in power in South Africa. We have most of the Zimbabwe people living in South Africa to strengthen the ANC stronghold and our poor South African citizens are suffering.

Before Obama can criticise Mugabe and preach human rights he must close Guantanamo Bay, free the innocent men detained there for 8 years without charge or trial. As it stands he is dithering on this yet he promised and now has the audacity to criticise Mugabe. Obama has refused to release details of gross torture in Iraq by US soldiers and is covering up on rendition flights to torture kidnapped people in Morocco, Egypt, Yemen and other such countries.

As for these women being honoured for defying riot police, how is that defying Mugabe? Tsvangirai is now Prime Minister and an MDC guy Giles Mutsekwa is a co-Minister responsible for the police. Like I have said before, Mugabe's name is an award winner for anyone wshing to get one. Just forment some kind of activism against Mugabe and you will be recognised. The US riot police was out in force at the G20 summit in Cleveland recently bludgeoning protestors, how is that better than Zimbabwe? The British riot police killed a man in London during the G20 summit this year, is Obama going to honour organisers of these G20 protests for defying Brown's riot police or Obama's riot police in Cleveland?

I know double standards and this is beyond that.

The old man must be apoplectic by now. The Western world just has no respect for him and regards him quite lowly no matter how much he rants and raves. Zim is just not a factor in the world of power politics.
For someone as anti-Western as he, I am quite baffled as to why he needs their money or their good will. Is it perhaps because the Eastern world treats him friendly but is not that big on giving him goodies. Shopping in Beijing is also not as much fun as in classy Paris or fashionable London.
Good ole Bob, if he'd only gone about the land grab the right way and treated his people a little bit better.

It's clear (except to those whose heads are devoid of any brain cell) that Obama has been pressured by the recent Nobel Peace Prize to utter all that could be seen as consistent with that for which the award was bestowed on him. The irony of it all is that, Obama is now at the mercy of those who had questioned the merits of him getting an award; he has to simply utter politically correct missives about Mugabe - thereby legitimating the status his critics viewed as prematurely bestowed on him.

I fully agree that awarding the women for simply showing a middle finger to Mugabe (everyone does it, so we might as well all receive these awards, or why not?) serves nothing other than improve the profile of:

1) The women awarded the honour
2) Obama, who is facing uphill political battle from a disapproving electorate at home (did you see the latest opinion polls on him?)

Apart from that, the missives from Obama do nothing to change the situation in Zimbabwe.

WOW... All the Zanu-PF sour pusses are here. Complaining when two women are recognised for their actions and stance against human rights abuses shows up those true colours. These two ladies were beaten and imprisoned for standing up for what they believe in, rather than running out the country and shamelessly defending Zanu-PF from the comforts of lands afar. South Africa has a lot to answer for considering the support it has given RG Mugabe, then again don't look to SA for help any time soon. Shame on my country!

Oh come on guys, this is Obama we are talking about. The savior of the "free" world. I have no doubt that the men and women he is to honour are feeling fantastic about this honour, and in fact will be running into the streets in droves encouraged by his unbelievable gesture. God help us all.

Mugabe is the hero of the west, he boldly goes and wipes out local natives where others fear to tread. We need more mugabes to destroy the riff-raff on the african continent, how dare america interfere in a legitimate genocide!!!! They must start their own genocide without african help!

Let me quote"America has no friends, only interests"....personally Obama is a nice guy but unfortunately he's also a product of the American system. they support murderous regimes in Afghanistan,South America & the Nazist Israel.....I agree that Mugabe has committed a lot of wrongs but the only reason why America is crying is because they also had interests that they lost when Mugabe took over.....it's not rocket science why terrorism around the world is spreading, it's simply a reflection of American activities in other countries.

Mugabe should HANG by his neck in Freedom square. He is NOT the elected leader of Zim. He is a murderer, a rapist, a thief and deserve to die a slow death. Burn him alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why are Nationalists complaining about the USA's hypocracy when they're using their currency?

This stupid Dzvinyangoma is always barking to anyone who talk of Mugabe's evils. This is not Zimbabwe where one can not openly say what he feels. The truth will always be said. You are benefiting Mugabe's evil rule and the majority are suffering. Dont talk shit when our relatives have been murdered by the dictator.

AMOS MAKOBA, the most prominent statement said while I was growing up in rural Zimbabwe was, "Facts are stubborn." I can see your anger is mostly in response to the fact that the anti-Mugabe crusade exaggerates things. Just like you said truth will always be said, that's exactly what I am doing. Sorry that it annoys you but as I said, facts are stubborn. These are useless awards given to mercenaries. The only question left is, will they spend the US$60,000 with other women or are they now set for life?

AMOS MAKOBA read this: According to Africa Confidential, up to 4,000 ex-ZIPRA guerrillas deserted from the national army (1 Dec. 1982). The same source of information described the deserters' activities in the following terms:

Activity by the ex-ZIPRA dissidents usually takes the form of armed robberies of stores, farms, buses, trucks and mines, and harassment, sometimes murder, of resident Shonas. Probably about 100 people have been slain including eight whites and an Asian in Matabeleland since February [1982], when Joshua Nkoma was expelled from government (ibid.).

In its 4 August 1982 edition, Africa Confidential referred to "six foreign tourists abducted by ZIPRA guerrillas on 23 July" [1982].

Describing the dissidence within the Zimbabwean army, Africa South of the Sahara revealed that:

During 1982 dissiden[ce] from ZIPRA, ZAPU's former guerrilla army, and former colleagues who had deserted from the new national army, perpetrated numerous indiscriminate acts of violence.

This might help your selective self to put into perspective what Gukurahundi was all about and not the one sided versions you get from Sokwanele and the likes.

A sixth of the US population is battling to put food on the table!

@Fungayi...yoo hoo.

Re Gukuruhundi: "This might help your selective self to put into perspective what Gukurahundi was all about and not the one sided versions you get from Sokwanele and the likes."

...the likes, the the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, and all the other members of the clergy?

And if 1/6th of the US population is battling to put food on the table, that pales in comparison to Zim where something like 70% of the population are.

Let the Zim women be an example to follow for the women of the USA who more and more are being marginalyzed by Mr Obama, whose behaviour is becoming more and more like that of Mr Mugabe.
Our Glorious Leader has really bought into the massive hoax of human-made global warming! He's too busy with his golf ( how much gasoline for mowers and water for irrigation does that take?) to pay attention to actual science that discounts the fraud being perpetrated on us. Or, maybe, he's busy entertaining the laegest crowd ever assembled for dinner at the White House (guess who's paying for that!). Obama's USA State dinner plans include having an outdoor tent to handle the overflow. Does our "Glorious Leader" now plan changing his name to Muammar ? (as in Muammar Al Ghadaffi)

Fungayi: stop repeating yourself and mis-quoting!!

Fungayi
ZANU murderers who kill political activists and come threatening people at the funeral, but Dzvinyangoma talks about what took place during the 80s. I am not talking of what happened in the West. Its typical of Zanu to talk of past talking of the past other than solving the country's ills. Zanu pretends to be holding elections while terrorising and murdering Zimbabweans. We have never seen the West which they bark everyday murdering people during or after elections. Zanu is a wolf in a sheep's coat when they appear to the world. Back home they force march people to their rallies. We are tired of these hypocrites. Be happy because your militia are doing you pride to enjoy freedom brought by the blood shed during Chimurenga. Pray to your God that Zanu will rule till you die.

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama presented Magodonga Mahlangu and her organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in a White House ceremony.

The irony of this award is astounding, given that it is done on the backdrop of increasing calls for an explanation of why thousands of innocent civilians died in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East over an illegal war waged by the US and UK and their allies

The pictures of Mahlangu and Jenny Williams at the White House are sad reminders that while African states will be labelled dictatorial and dragged to the Hague, there can never be justice for millions who die elsewhere as powerful states kill with impunity.

They are being praised for "defying" Mugabe's riot police yet in the British papers today was this headline, "Police image damaged by strong arm tactics at G20."

The judge who oversaw the trial of serial killer Dr Harold Shipman is to lead the inquiry into alleged war crimes by UK soldiers in Iraq. BBC News 25.11.2009

Fungayi
What are you smoking!? what has a British judge got to do with Obama or the women defying the unelected president of a country who's very borders were defined by those you castigate.

Johann Braunstein we are talking about human rights here aren't we? For your information Mugabe is the elected president of Zimbabwe according to the supreme law of the land and the electoral law. Even Tsvangirai has the potrait of the president in his office. Mugabe won the run off elections against Tsvangirai something alluded to by both MDCs and all Zimbabweans. We do not need Rhodies or their sympathisers to tell us who our elected president is.

"The pictures of Mahlangu and Jenny Williams at the White House are sad reminders that while African states will be labelled dictatorial and dragged to the Hague, there can never be justice for millions who die elsewhere as powerful states kill with impunity." You ignored this very valid point didn't you?

ths is the world we live in...its either u are reaping of some one or some one is reapin 4rm u...politicians are like ticks they suck u til u dry...Obama is in a system that he can do little 2 change...an overhaul of the system will lead 2 his fall...if they realy wanted Mugabe out of power he wud hev long bin in the dustbins of history...abt those women well they gt the awards n they are set 4 life so thats that...either u do the same and u get killed or loose family members or u get lucky n score big n get "awards" reality check 101...

All western leaders condemn Mugabe, most cover him with scalding rhetoric, but nobody has even contemplated removing him while he is a hundred times worse than Saddam...
Alas, Zimbabwe has no oil!!

Fungayi

If Mr Mugabe was elected then why was he forced into a GNU.

As I am not a Rhodie or a sympathiser then I guess I am qualified to say he is the President of a GNU agreed and signed, but not currently honoured by himself but honoured by MR Tsvangirai (Who you say displays his portrait)
Correct?

Johann Braunstein if you knew your politics well you would know that there was a hung parliament in Zimbabwe and a coaltion government is not unique to Zimbabwe. Germany has a coalition government, Belgium has a coalition government, Italy, Ukraine, Greece, Portugal, do you want me to go on?

It's a figment of your imagination that Mugabe was forced into a coalition. Mugabe's position was never negotiated or contested in the GPA.

They dream of Mugabe being elected but that wont happen. The dictator was embarrassed in the elections and failed to announce results. Zimbabweans are tired of being force marched to elections which I witnessed. The dictator wants pirate radio stations closed so that it will kill and crush oposition in silence. This Zanu cronie by the name of Fungayi keeps on talking of other countries trying to withdraw attention from Zimbabwe. Mugabe is the same as Ian Smith.

Amazing is it not. You still have this Fungai character who has benefited from the blood of the true heroes of our nation. Men whose genitals have been crushed so Mugabe can have one more day. Women I saw at the hospital 2 weeks back with broken limbs because they were MDC. Children whose faces had been butted with rifle butts. What about the Thuthuka kids in Byo who were assaulted so badly 3 weeks back because they defied a member of the presidential guard who was illegally on their property to see a girl. (Thuthuka is a project that takes street children and rehabilitates them on Christian principles) 2 trucks pulled up full of soldiers and assualted these kids many of whom sustained broken bones but could not do anything. If anyone thinks this is bull ask Sauerstown police station (if they have not lost the docket already)It does not matter whether Obama is a hypocrite, how does his hypocrisy justify the brutality and rank madness of the Mugabe regime. How do people like Fungayi who really should be blocked from such forums as they have done to the media in Zimbabwe. Fungayi how much are they paying you. The likes of you will sell your mother to the state so that she can be boiled for her oil to be used on state machinery. Where have you been when this govt cant even account for a cent for the last 8 years? which enemies of the state bankrupted our economy, ruined the health system, started a national youth training program where the kids are raped and come away with hiv aids. Propaganda I hear you say, except that when one day its your young sister we'll see who you are going to be telling propaganda. For the people with buttocks burnt with burning plastics, pregnant women raped so that a Zanu Pf seed may be planted. Families who had to watch their fathers opened up with Bayonettes, mothers who will never know what happened to their children who were taken in the night never to return. Children who are 2 years behind on their education because whilst we could not afford US$117 000 in November last year for cholera medication, we havd enough money to buy new landcruisers, toyota hilux vigos, pajeros, isuzu double cabs etc so that state machinery could go about its business. I am not a politician, I am not MDC, I am a Zimbabwean who is not interested in anything else but a stable economy, jobs for the people not party members, security for all not the elite, an absence of intimidation, an environment where one can trust the institutions of power like the police the army, zimra etc who cant breathe because of the pile of corruption weighing them down. Call me whatever you want, I have no guilt but pain for the masses who look so poor and like shhep without a shepherd. Everything has its time, and so does the current regime, regardless of what it does it will not live forever. To all Zimbabweans, you are heroes to me. Those in the diaspora who have kept our nation running with your hard earned cash. The teachers who still faithfully try against all odds. Those who remained at home and kept watch. I HAVE A DREAM.

Amos: What you say is so true. The likes of Fungayi are the few who have benefit for Mugabe at the expense of the rest of his countrymen. He should hang his head in shame instead of spouting his nonsense from the safety of his home in England.
I pray for the day Mugabe's rule ends and the truth of his cruel and oppressive rule is exposed; what will Fungayi say then. He certainly wont be welcome back to Zimababwe and would have to live in the land of his colonial oppressors. And that would be justice served!!!!

AMOS MAKOBA and Megan Holden you are the ones dreaming and living in a wishful world. Mugabe is the president of Zimbabwe end off. You can analyse, disect and visualise all you want but Baba Mugabe vari kutonga muZimbabwe.

You can praise each other all you want in your own wishful world but we the realists know that at the end of the day Mugabe is the people's president. Megan you are praying the wrong prayer or your belief system is weak that's your prayer is not being answered. I remember former Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube once said he was praying for Mugabe's demise and found himself exposed as an adulterer instead and lost his glory.

Leaders come from God and Mugabe is one such blessing from God. He is there to serve a purpose of empowering the people of Zimbabwe after which I am sure the good Lord will call him home.

Amos when I highlight similar issues about other countries that Zimbabwe or Mugabe is being villified for it's a sign of enlightenment and world awareness which you obviuosly lack hence your fixation with Mugabe. Noboby can withdraw attention from anything as long as it has an effect on their being. It's all about balanced coverage.

Which god gave Mugabe his blessing?
And whats that saying: Stop looking at the splinter in someone else's eye when you have a log in your own. TAKE HEED Fungayi!
When Zimbabwe is a perfect country and has a perfect leader then you can critise other countries.

boy, Fungay, you are one scary dude

Fungayi
Mugabe is your partner in enjoying the fruits of the liberation struggle and uses Ian Smith tactics to remain in power. You maybe either his son or a son of one of the cronies. Oppress people and we wll be all equal in death.

This fungayi Dsvinganyama is really something else, his convoluted arguments alone deserve some form of sympathy award!!! Two women are given an award and he starts ranting on about former Zipra soilders deserting the army in the early 80s, what on earth has that to do with the human rights awards given to these two gallant women? Lord give me strength!!

Yes Fungayi plagues of locusts also come from God