Reverse Prejudice?

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe made it legal for the government to seize farms owned by white farmers and sign them over to black Zimbabweans. He did this because during colonization, Europeans took the most fertile farmland away from the blacks. Now, for the past ten years, Mugabe has been re-distributing land. Most of the white farmers who lost land have moved to other countries, but the few still remaining are wanting land in South Africa as compensation for their lost farms.

Zimbabwe A Big Topic in UK

South African President Jacob Zuma is on a state visit to the United Kingdom where he has had talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The two discussed issues relating to the global economy, trade links, climate change, and the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.

But what received the most press were talks regarding South Africa’s neighbor, Zimbabwe. Gordon Brown stated that sanctions already in place against Zimbabwe should remain. Brown said Zimbabwe must show progress in key areas including democratic reforms.

Conflict Diamonds And The Kimberly Process: Part I

Last year I blogged Does the Blood Diamond Scheme Really Work. Global Witness had reported that the Kimberly Process could be failing because loopholes had been discovered in the process. Now there seems to be another break in the system. What is a blood or conflict diamond? The Kimberly Process (KP) defines them as diamonds mined for the purpose of fueling some sort of unsanctioned war or conflict.

This definition is now a problem and of all the countries to redefine this is Zimbabwe. The country is home to the Marange diamond fields which is a small scale diamond producing mine since the 1980s when it was owned by DeBeers.

Zimbabwe’s “Unity” Government Not Working

The deadlock between the power-sharing government of Zimbabwe seems like it will never end. Long time President, Robert Mugabe and head of the Zanu-PF political party seem not able to put differences aside with his Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the MDC. Both sides have complaints against the other, while nothing is being resolved or compromised.

MDC Boycotts Cabinet Meeting

Zimbabwe’s former opposition party, the MDC, boycotted a cabinet meeting with President Robert Mugabe yesterday.  Cabinet meetings with the President are typically held on Tuesdays, however since Mugabe will be traveling to Libya today for the African Union Summit, the meeting was pushed forward.

Obama meets with Tsvangirai

Zimbabwe Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai has been traveling virtually the world for the last two months.  His focus has been to talk with leaders and assure them that investing in Zimbabwe is much needed even if it is just for the survival of his people. 

Zimbabwe’s Health Care

The health care in Zimbabwe, as one would imagine, is in desperate need.  The seeming-less neverending rule of Robert Mugabe plagued his people to which Zimbabwe’s  foundations ultimately crumbled.  Steps are being taken now to re-structure the government through a new ‘power-sharing’ government in which Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai are basically co-leaders representing two different political groups.  However, with numerous sanctions and the international community hesitant to loan funds to the country has proved devastating for the Zimbabweans.

Being a Leader in South Africa

South Africa is buzzing about newly elected President Jacob Zuma.  Many country men claim that Zuma is the first real South African leader the country has had.  Many are quick to add that past presidents – Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki – either came from royalty or were educated abroad unlike Zuma who in his words is a self-educated “farm boy”.  We have yet to find out the kind of leader Zuma will be and we got a glimpse of Mbeki with controversial support of Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe.  With political turmoil brewing between Mbeki and Zuma, Mbeki was forced to resign as President.  My mind wanders to what kind of President Nelson Mandela would have made if he were President longer than his 5 years.  I suppose I ask because I wonder how dictators arise in African countries.  Please understand I am not assuming or insinuating that Mandela would turn into a power hungry dictator, however, most dictators still in power today on the African continent did not set out to be ruthless.

Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma?

Some are skeptical of possible incoming South African President Jacob Zuma.  His somewhat lengthy list of corruption and rape charges were all dismissed just two weeks before elections.  Zuma has fought strenuously against all allegations stating that they stemmed from political foe and former South African President,  Thabo Mbeki.  Unfortunately, outside of African countries, most of us just hear of the corrupt leaders and the poor Africans they are oppressing.

Mbeki vs Tsvangiari?

Am I the only one who felt that former South African President Thabo Mbeki was on the side of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe?  This latest stunt has pulled no punches for me as I fight to figure out why no one goes up against the dictator of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.  Mbeki has been criticized for being too lenient with Mugabe, however he found his way into mediating a supposed power-sharing conference between the two leaders(Mugabe and Tsvangiari) which has ultimately failed.  Now, Tsvangiari has been denied leaving South Africa which many believe is in effort to force the MDC leader into signing a power sharing deal with Mugabe.  A deal which has been altered in favor of Mugabe.

Unity Government in Zimbabwe?

Perhaps I’m too much of a a pessimist. But I don’t understand how the international community can expect these negotiations to be successful. Tsvangiarai and Mugabe have had a long and violent past. Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has on many occasions tried to murder opposition leader Morgan Tsvangiarai including an unsuccessful attempt of trying to throw him from a ten-story office building. Robert Mugabe, who has been in power in Zimbabwe since 1980, has always stated that he desired absolute power and his party would be the only ruling party. Mugabe’s wife has even been quoted as saying that no other political party would ever step foot in their capital building.

Mugabe’s Regime

Not until after British and American diplomats were harassed and taken into police custody, did we in America begin to hear of the atrocities occurring in Zimbabwe under a heartless dictator – Mugabe. I have been reading a biography of Mugabe by Martin Meredith for some time now and I shudder when I see his name in the news, but I find myself rushing to read the story with the anticipation of indirectly witnessing the next Nazi Germany.