Never before have I written comments on this site, and I have never felt the urge to do so. But as a Zimbabwean myself who has been displaced from my country because of the activities of Robert Mugabe and his associates, I find the comments made by the auther very disturbing and dangerous. He should refrain from writing such works which give encouragement to a very cruel and brutal regime at whose hands many have been maimed, raped, killed and left homeless. Robert Mugabe never intended to give land to the black people of Zimbabwe [of which I am one]. He wanted to gain political ground and remain in power, a plan which has horribly gone wrong and has left Zimbabweans living like paupers, dying of AIDS and now hunger and cholera and a multitude of other preventable man made causes. The government of Mugabe will use any money they can lay their hands to built mansions for themselves and send their wives on international shopping sprees. His ministers plunder every resource available [from trees to diamonds] without a care for the ordinary citizen. Why should the British taxpayer [of which I am now one] fund this? The IMF should never release any money to Zimbabwe for so long as Mugabe remains in power. What on earth for?

I think what Zimbabwe needs now is not distorted history and misguided apologists of the status quo but what solutions we can come up with today, in the face of ravaging cholera and the ensuing and unprecedented deaths of our loved ones. The myriad of issues obtaining in the once pride of Africa, Zimbabwe and her people must not be left to continue unabated, and its time that all leaders of Zimbabwe placed peoples needs before theirs , I think that we need a paradigm shift of what a government stands for and its accountabilty to the people . I could go on but the bottom line is that something will have to give,we have suffered enough.

happy new year welcome to the year of Obama its time the mixed race voices were heard.

Baffour you are right that is all about protecting the economic interests of one's own kind. Racism is not even part of it. It is really just greed for a life of luxury while the blacks toil on the plantation style farms - huge sums of money are earned by just a few. We have seen this before in many places. The protection in the form of sanctions blocking lines of credit (CREDIT which every country needs to practice agriculture) will be lifted once the blacks agree that it is best that they give up the land and go and do the hoeing under slave like conditions.

Obviously, like so many of Mugabe's none Zimbabwean suppoters( andy they outnumber his Zimbabwean supporters) Mr Ankomah does not knw of the willovale scandal, the pay for your house scandal, the war victims compensation fund scandal, the noczim scandal, and many more cases of corruption that made WE Zimbabweans want a change a leadership in government. According to him and his ilk, WE Zimbabweans have no say in how our country should be run. It is corruption and mismanagement that WE Zimbabweans are aginst. Corruption and mismanagement by African governments are the causes of Africas problems. If these leaders cannot protect us from western interference then they are failing in their jobs. FOR ONCE LETS STOP BLAMING THE BURGLAR AND LOOK AT WHY THE GUARD IS FAILING TO STOP HIM. Mugabe has continualy let of his cronies, starting with Charles Ndlovu, aka Webster Shamu, who was convicted of fraud in the early 80s but got a presidential pardon, or turned a blind eye as in case of Canaan Banana.

Welcome to allafrica.com!

First thing to keep in mind, if you see any article credited to "The Herald," it will contain only pro-Mugabe propaganda. The Herald is the Zanu-PF mouthpiece, and will always pretend everything is wonderful in Zimbabwe, and if it isn't, then it's Brown and Bush's/Obama's fault, not Mugabe's, and certainly not the fault of the "social-democratic" (the new euphamism for "Marxist") government he operates with two iron fists.

I am tired of reading apologist drivel, no matter how articulate.

Dear Mr darkfish you might as well change your name to greensnake for all we care.It,s obvious you are being powered by the soundbytes from the imperialists machine, so go hang if you don,t understand simple history as articulated by a seasoned writer like baffour.you need a thorough lesson in history if you still don,t understand what he,s trying to explain,though, not the kind of history they teach in western (style) schools,mostly lies.

What a shame! So, the west is to blame for refusing to allow food to the communal areas? They are to blame too, for the deaths of over 20 000 Zimbabweans in the west country? (Perhaps they were punished for living in the west of Zimbabwe?) Then the west is to blame for collapse of agriculture, and the rule of law? The west to blame too for all the kidnappings and injustices; abuse of the courts and the judges? Come on, get real. Admit you are under the pay of mugabe and his cronies.

This was an interesting new approach blaming all Zimbabwe's troubles on the West.If the IMF gave Zim a $50,000,000 bailout package, we all know where the money would go....into Comrade Mugabes and Graces Hong Kong bank account. The world knows the Zim government (aka: ZANUpf) is so corrupt, giving it money would be like burning it in the fireplace. All the countries you listed as getting loans were countries with "real" governments elected by the people and a "real" head of state. They have worldwide credibility. Based on demonstrated performance of Strongman Mugabe and his richly paid staff, Zimbabwe has a "make-believe" government run by a "real" dictator. He has publically stated that "Zimbabwe is Mine." No wonder you can't get IMF loans. Look at your money. You obviously can't handle money effectively. The Western world obviously doesn't respect Zimbabwe because they have not earned it. Worse, they have squandered their independence. Happy New Year, Y'all. I'll pay that 2009 is better for you.

This author clearly has a rudimentary understanding understanding of what history is. I'm Zimbabwean and very appalled to read such garbage. Mugabe's survival at the expense of the suffering multitudes of Zimbabweans is applaudable as victory? What a shame! Schools and hospitals are shut down. Cholera is ravaging Zimbabweans and the author could not find space to write about this. Shame on you!

What a shame? The author is just blinded by by his nose. It seems he does not understand or know that he and his country's son-in-law are practicing politics of race more than the whites. Worse, Mugabe and the author are practicing it on and among their black race. US president-elect's "Yes we can dream" came true because of the democratic process in US. Had democracy been prevailing in Zimbabwe and Mugabe's political vocabulary in its true sense, Zimbabwe could have changed by now. The Zimbabweans voted for change before the Americans but 9months down the line, there is no government even that of national consolation unit based on equitable power sharing. Does the author know that the whole process is being humpered by none other than Mugabe and his crooks? Mr Author Sir! You need to recall or revisit John Mc Cain's acceptance defeat speech and his meeting with the President-elect in his home town of Chicago after the election. Just a minute, turn around, look, read and consider what your son-in-law (Mugabe's)daily dosage of hate speech in The Herald and Dead BC even on when addressing mourners and party members at a congress marred by food thefts. Do you think he will learn anything from such mature events, declare his defeat publicly or he declare that "Zimbabwe is mine and mine"? Mugabe have only learnt one side of politics i.e. win, win, win if you loose deny it. For 28 years he has faced no opposition nor competition even in his own ZANU PF party. It is many's sincere hope that one day Mr Author you will be repentant like the knighted british journalist you quoted in your article and give us your own testimony based on suppression of opposition politics.

I think the writer of this report is as sensless as Mugabe himself. Even though I know that these Westerners are countributing to the problems in Africa as a whole, it is stupid to compare the situtation in Zimbabwe to that in Iceland or Britain in terms of leadership. If Mugabe had not been holding wrongly to power, the situation woudn't be the same. He had been ruling the country since independence and still refuse to leave the sit despite all odds, instead, he continues to silence oppostions through killing, beating and putting innocent people in prisons. He turned the position to private affairs, He installed himself after an election as the only candidate, maybe that is the craziness that the writer is supporting. If Mugabe is not selfish, he would have left the position honourably instead of the disgrace that he is experiencing now. It is time for the stupid man to quit and respect the will of the people so that the country can prosper. Same message, goes to our corrupt leaders that are only selfish and have no interest of the populace in mind, making our people poor despite natural reaches, selling us out, causing instabilities and wars.

I think Zimbabweans need writers like this one because most of them have brain washed with the western propaganda to look at pres Mugabe as senseless and brutal.Look back in history and you might realise that the people you think are your saviour are non other than killers and crooks whose aim is to recolonise Zimbabwe through a fool like the leader of the MDC-T. Read articles,books and you will one day wake up. Do not read selectively ,Pres Mugabe is a Hero and a saviour of Zimbabwe.It fools like who are contributing to the suffering of Zimbabwe. Why is Cuba under sanctions because of its Ideology? Wake up Zimbabweans and rally behind pres Mugabe for the stupid sanctions to be lifted.After all its Morgan Tsvangirai who called for sanctions and military interventions as if he is blind to reality. Wake up Zimbabweans.

"Look back in history and you might realise that the people you think are your saviour are non other than killers and crooks "

You got that right!

"To separate the Zimbabwean people from ZANU-PF we are going to have to make their economy scream, and I hope you senators have the stomach for what you have to do." Assistant Secretary of State on African Affairs, Chester Crocker’s testimony to the US Senate [Democracy Now!, April 1st, 2005.

For a lot among us context has no meaning. For a lot among us there is no history, no precedence. History began only yesterday or today’s morning. We are trained to be allergic to research and analysis. Why, because history and analysis makes it difficult for official lies to continue unabated.

What the west is doing in Zimbabwe’s today was exacted in Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah, in Guinea under Sekou Toure, in Burkina Faso under Thomas Sankara, in Haiti under Jean Bertrand Aristide who currently is exile in South Africa after an American directed coup. This list does not even include developments in Chavez’s Venezuela, Castro of Cuba, Nicaragua under Ortega, Bolivia under Evo Morales or Chile under Allende. What is mind boggling is that despite the evidence of western machinations, mischief and divide and rule, the obvious is still not obvious to some. The past is prologue

After all is done with talk about democracy here and there in Africa, Africa today is deeper in the vice grip of western governments that the continent was as the time of so called independence. The WTO, World Bank, International Monetary Fund etc have deceptive all inclusive international sounding names, these are deception of perception. In reality, these entities and similar legions are controlled by a number of countries you could count on one finger. It is important for these countries as evidence by recent economic collapses in these countries to continue exploiting other countries. How do they do it? Unlike yesterday, they discovered globalization and the WTO. Unlike yesterday they no longer need armies to do their bidding. Africans have always been manipulated against each other, thanks to natural human instincts or payback, greed ambition, legitimate grievances etc. Kill or kiss them to conquer them.

No African country today is able to choose its trade partners, set prices for it commodities, choose its means of productions etc without permission from the west. For example though Colombia produces coffee and Ghana and Ivory coast cocoa, they are forbidden through artificial obstacles and barriers to produce their native raw material into by-products which could compete on the world market for buyers. Africa’s so called leaders do not control their own economies. Cries of corruption though legitimate are symptomatic of a dysfunctional system designed to fail its people and enrich outsiders. Governmental corruption could be viewed as the other side of hopelessness.

For those interested in the pre colonial history of Africa, the parallels are unassailable. In the very recent pre colonial history of Benin, Ghana, Southern Africa, Nigeria etc., the European predatory powers conquered and devastated the continent by pitting brothers against cousins. They exploit the natural and legitimate grievances among the natives for their own selfish benefits. Beyond Africa, the same modus operandi was worked up in the American Indian struggle against western theft of the land. Indian tribes were paid and convinced to fight each other. Ultimately they were all conquered. I refrain from blaming the victims. After all, we all have a price and we all have a braking point. At some point any people can be broken down; period. Predictably, humans often time do not see further than their local quarrels. Kill off the true leaders and replace them with liars madmen, mad women, thieves and sycophants. Soon the people will get used to this new crop of characters. African have always had their leaders chosen for them. Today it cannot be Marcus Garvey, or Malcolm X, Martin L king or… it has to be Barack. He who pays the piper calls the tune. Let us hope against hope.

Look at Iraq (Sunnis vs Shiite), Vietnam (north vs south, Korea (north vs South), India and Pakistan, Israel and Palestine etc., who was the catalyst and orchestrator? READ, RESEARCH AND THINK!

Today's African and Black so call leaders (actually plantation supervisors) from Nelson Mandela through Bishop Tutu to Kofi Annan are so dependent on western endorsements, western sponsored NGO programs, western accolades and titles, western largess and imprimatur that they find themselves in a bind. They observe the fate of their more independent but destroyed black leaders and predictably choose where to nest their eggs. Mugabe reminds me of the steely resolve of Africa’s past leaders, those who sacrificed and died.

Even our source of news should be questioned and the news itself consumed through the prism of healthy skepticism. Allafrica.com for example, was founded by members of Council of Foreign relations, an offshoot of the American State Department. Do some research on this council and discover its hidden objectives for yourselves. Who are its motivators?

The devil will always find work.

Wonderfully to the point! Thank you!

Wonderfully to the point! Thank you Wechuge

The author of this article is rather naive and not properly informed about the Zimbabwean mess.How he can draw any discernible parallels between the epoch making achievements of Barack Obama and Lewis Hamilton on one hand and murderous Mugabe 's brutal reign on the other, quite simply boggles the mind. It would be very interesting to hear what Obama and Hamilton would have to say to this absurd comparison.

Let us be clear on this , land is not the reason Mugabe ordered the brutal repression of his people. Up until 2000, before Zimbabweans rejected his bid to prolong his stay in power, Mugabe was more than happy to sup with his now hated western nemesis.Land was always a not very significant side issue for him which he only seized on to use as smokescreen after it became clear that his people were calling time on his reign.

The truth is Robert Mugabe is not a man to brook any threat ,real or imagined, to his power and authority.The Matabeleland massacres are well documented, but remember also what happened to Patrick Kombayi and Josiah Tongogara before him?

Yes Mr Bafour Ankomah this is the turning of tables and it,s making them think of what is next in coming.These countries of European stock, we say to you, your days of rampant criminality in Africa are over,believe it or not.To hell with those who think we,ll keep turning the other cheek ang for how long? you,ll pay in one way or the other for all the crimes you,ve commited and continue to commit in Africa.And for those who think this writer is not telling the truth,go hang a million times and never resurrect,you,ll surely be a waste heap on the dustbins of history,we,ll reclaime our heritage and that obviously includes land stolen by your thieving and plundering ancestors who we think are rightfully burning in hell if there is one(you came telling us there is one)for their sins against Black people.ARE THE TABLES TURNING? OBVIOUSLY, YES.

In the face of such stalwart opponents as Ankomah and Rafil, imperialism seems slated for an easy victory. Didn't we have this discussion almost 40 years ago about Idi Amin?

New African Magazine is wrong to side with Robert Mugabe and Zanu-pf. I have seen some of their articles and I wish they could refresh their take on Africa by visiting some of these near failed states or failed, like Zimbabwe. What Robert Mugabe is doing has very little to do with the West. Mush of Zimbabwe aid has been coming from the USA (not even UK) and some smaller European countries.

What has happened is that Mugabe has been using foreign aid money to pay wages for the police, military and other favored groups. Mugabe himself does not listern to SADC members, who have repeatedly told him to transion the country to somebody else. Also there is a great deal of mismanagement in Zimbabwe. New Africa should focus on helping African countries, including Zimbabwe on governness issues, economies, health and having elections that count! It is time to have a new editor at the New African Magazine. A lot of gabbage is being written!

the writer seems to miss the point that the European countries he mentioned all have working democracies and freely elected officials. Zimbabwe does not appear to be working, is certainly not a democracy and the legitimately elected officials are not allowed to undertake their responsibilites because of an unfairly "elected" non functioning president. I don't see any acceptable comparison.

The only way to write a truthful and credible analysis of the situation in Zimbabwe is to address the interests of the ordinary people. Any attempt to write in defence of the current crop of political leaders is bound to be an exercise in futility - producing heat rather than light.

"The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside us while we live"-Norman Cousins. It is pitiable that this piece was published in the first place, considering the still emerging humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.I am not Zimbabwean, but as a member of the human race,I am saddened by the pictures on cable networks of sick and malnourish children, of the impasse in the power-sharing negotiations that ought to bring some semblance of sanity to governance in Zimbabwe,of the arrogance of Mugabe who seem not to have come to terms with the fact that he is sitting over a failed state that is on the brink of an avoidable humanitarian crisis that decimate a large segment of his nation's youth. mugabe should avoid this lamentation of the Kalahari Bushmen before it is too late "The day we die, a soft breeze will wipe out our footprints in the sand, when the wind dies down, who will tell in the timelessness that we once walked this way in the dawn of time".

I don't always agree with all that Ankomah writes but believe he is an important voice in the crisis that is facing Zimbabwe. I see little to celebrate in the situation and the plight of the people there, but there is genuine debate to be had on the degrees of responsibility for the crisis. Don't forget that up until 1997 the Zanu-PF regime was seen as one of Africa's most successful Has an old man hung onto power and brought disaster on his people? Probably. Have Britain reneged on promises made upon independence? Probably. Unfortunately events have escalated beyond the land issue to bring disaster upon what was once the bread basket of southern Africa. There are degrees of responsibility for this state of affairs with Mugabe first, but certainly Britain has played its role, something that is not mentioned in the western media. The land issue will continue to rear its head in South Africa and Kenya to mention two. Will the same happen there?

I disagree with Ankomah's mission of defending the ruling elite and ignoring the ordinary people. While it is not deniable that the fomer colonial powers are largely responsible for Zimbabwe's problems, how does Ankomah fail to see the obvious economic mismanagement and corruption that has worsened the misery of the people? This kind of dishonesty reduces the credibility of Ankomah and his magazine - they are not serving the interests of Africa at all.

These are the usual excuses repackaged and recyled by the usual apologists of corrupt dictatorships that lost their bearings and use long ago. Now Cuba is Zimbabwe's role model ? It doen't even begin to compare.

The only reason Mugabe is till in power is that the leadership of the south regional superpower - South Africa - has chosen to side with the corrupt regime in Harare. It is not a stretch to suggest that South Africa does not want a strong and independent Zimbabwe next to it.

These are revolutionaries turned self-seekers and oppressors while still using fighting colonialism and imperialism as excuses.

It is the very nature of dominant and strong powers that they are imperialistic; that is history. To waste time argueing or expecting otherwise is to be delusional.

For example the Jews in Hilter's Germany were the oppressed, now that they are in the driver's seat in Isreal, they are the oppressors (of the Palestanians).

But that is no excuse for the corrupt order that now passes for leadership in Africa. On the contrary that is the very antithesis of sound leadership or socalled revolutionary movement idealogies they pretended to espouse.

The current African leadership is now the new oppressors of Africans, and they are MORE oppressive than colonialists!

For Africa the solution is a democratic/constitutional order; enough of Castro/Cuban styled revolutions that are as ineffectual as they are fantastical.

Ankomah wrote:

"... not one person of African origin is anywhere near the top echelons of the British government!"

It would be wise to check your facts. Look at the list of "non-white" members of parliament and members of the house of lords.

You should also mention the great efforts being made by the British parliament to eradicate racism, and to promote equal opporttunity for mall, regardless of colour, creed, gender / sexual orentation, physical disability, or social background.

When Zimbabwe beings to actively promote such a course of action, then will be the time for you to preach.

Incidentally, Obama and Hamilton are mixed race. Does that make them black, white, or just humans who have risen to join the top echelons of their respective peers?

Ebagum;

I pit you Ebagum. So according to your shallow thinking, being a member of parliament and the house of lords is your idea of being in the "top echelons of the British government". Sorry maningi!!

You are not defferent from another idiot who calls himself Awt_independent who purport to speak for Maori people saying that he and all the Maori people are happy to remain mere members of parliament.

The Maori people were clearly dispossessed, ethnically cleansed and are now only 1% of the population of New Zealand and Awt has the audicity to tell us that they are happy and thankful to the British for massacring them and bribing them with a few insiginificant seats in parliament. What a shame!!!!

Dear oh dear. There was no ethnic cleansing of Maori. There were only 100,000 Maori when europeans arrived in NZ at the beginning of the 18th century. Migration led to nearly 1 million europeans in NZ by the end of the 18th century. And Maori still make up the same proportion, around 10%. The British never massacred the Maori. It was the other way around. And Maori have a significantly higher representation in government than their population would suggest. It really is tiring continually having to educate those that simply guess what happened and pass it off as fact.

Takunya is just jealous that his ancestors werent brave enough to take on the might of the british army and win.

What the article states has complete historical validity! In what way can we determine or conclude that the West is interested in promoting the interests of the poor Zimbabweans, particularly the poor black Zimbabweans? If the West really cared about the poor in Zimbabwe, why do they blacklist the members of government and effectively blockade the country? Why do they deny them access to world financial resources to build their country, to buy the necessary seeds and agricultural inputs, forbid people to provide the country with even medical assistance or medical supplies and medicine? The major question is - Why does the West continue to wheel and deal in the politics and business of Zimbabwe in the first place? Why do they wish to blockade black empowerment? It is very clear that the West has gotten used to exploiting the land and mineral wealth of Zimbabwe and Africa in general and can not or will not not leave it alone. The West means to protect the interests of of their mighty countries in Africa and of their kith and kin, even at the expense of starving the poor Zimbabweans , leaving them with no ability to access resources for their needs. It is clear that even many government officials in the West have personal financial interests in Zimbabwe that they want to protect at all costs. The say President Mugabe destroyed the "breadbasket". It needed to be destroyed because it was built on baseless premises: on white supremacy, white minority interests, racism, lies, cheating, theft, oppression, suppression, and repression. Let it be rebuilt on equality, fairness, decency, honesty, hope and on Zimbabwean black majority interests.

Sorry, but in response to bluelagoon5's comments upon mediical care:

http://www.interaction.org/zimbabwe.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29420

What a twat he is!

Or could it be that the health service was destroyed for the same reason as the 'breadbasket? If so, he's an even bigger twat!

What utter twaddle from the depths of the bluelagoon5.

Most of it is unworthy of a response, but to say that the “breadbasket” needed to be destroyed (with the consequent malnutrition, etc) is a testament to stupidity.

Actually, it seems that the agriculture wasn’t totally destroyed, because bluelagoon5 and his ilk seem to be living in a dream world where the main crop is ‘wacky baccy’.

What an irresponsible and wayward way to view this,if that breadbasket was built on deception and thievery of a minority alien race that sought to steal in the first place and wanted that to´continue then there,s no propblem destroying that for a just and legal breadbasket based on truth and empowerment of the majority of rightful owners of the land as against the continued racist, thieving and wicked ideologies being held by the alien few from the west.Who invited them to Africa in the first place?albeit,initially, they came like good people and the unsuspecting natives opened their doors to wellcome them, but were gradually and systematically uprooted by a racist and inhuman and barbaric bunch from the west who are now preaching human rights and democracy.We don,t need peace but justice.Besides, we very well know that there,s no salvation without sacrifices,get it,no peace before justice,it,s the other way round.The land is not going back to the thieves and they better start getting used to that.South Africa, Kenya,Namibia e.t.c. Africa is waiting for restitution of justice and equality and want it now,there must be sacrifices, but one that is worth taking.

Quote ",there must be sacrifices, but one that is worth taking."

I take it that you are not one of those being sacrificed!

Any rational leader would establish a system whereby transfers do no harm

Instead, we sea an irrational bunch of despots who have taken decisons that justify their own self-interest, and who - being unable to handle the consequences - seek to place the blame elsewhere, and eradicate their opponents.

Fortunately for Africa, Mugabe is nearing the end of his days. He will go down in history, but what a pathetic legacy he will leave; and at what cost in human suffering?

You cannot kill human beings and your own people at that in cold blood and remain sane. Mugabe is possessed by evil demons and sees human beings in the same light as the cattle he slaughters.