The die-hard Mugabe
Apr. 2nd, 2008 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mahnmutSome observations about the elections in Zimbabwe.
While he was casting his vote the other day, Mugabe said that "If you lose an election and are rejected by the people, it's time to quit politics". But at that moment he seemed to be pretty confident about his victory. Now it seems he hasn't done as well as he expected. While Zimbabwe's economy is going from bad to worse to disastrous in the last years, Mugabe's political downfall has been predicted many times over and over but he always managed to disprove his critics... at least up till now...
In order to understand Mugabe we should understand the 1970s guerrilla war where he emerged on the scene. Back then, he was seen as a revolutionary hero, fighting white minority rule for the freedom of his people - that's why many African leaders are still too reluctant to criticize him. But since Zim's independence, the rest of the world has moved on... but his outlook remains the same. Now any critics are dismissed as "traitors and sell-outs", and that's a serious accusation remaining from the times of the guerrilla war, when such labels were equal to a death sentence.
He blames Zim's economic problems on a plot by Western countries led by the UK to oust him because of his seizure of the white farms. On the other hand his critics blame him that he hasn't shown any understanding of how a modern economy works. Cause he has always concentrated on the question "how to share the national cake", rather than "how to make the cake bigger". Mugabe once said that no country could ever go bankrupt... but Zim is now the fastest shrinking economy in the world, inflation is over 100,000%... so he really seems determined to test his theory ;-)
The first time he ever faced some strong opposition, he wrecked what was one of the most diversified economies in Africa by nationalizing the white farms which were the backbone of the economy - he did this in order to re-gain political control over his country... and then he went on to pursue popullist economic policies in order to save his ass in front of the people. But when we're talking politics, Mugabe has managed to outsmart all his rivals. Because you see, he's STILL in power. When he suffered his 1st and only electoral defeat (until now) in the referendum from 2000, he unleashed his personal militia (most of whom were war veterans). He used violence and murder as an electoral strategy. The man who in the beginning fought for the "1 man = 1 vote" principle then forced a new requirement that the voters should prove their residence with utility bills - but this means that the young, still unemployed opposition core suffers from this.
Certainly, he had some good achievements. Like the modernization of education. Zimbabwe still has the highest literacy rate in Africa - 90% of the population. More than any other country on the continent. All thanks to Mugabe (or all despite Mugabe). But one could also say that by developing education he was practically digging his own grave. Because those youngsters would eventually grow up and start to analyze the problems of their country for themselves, and start to blame the government's corruption and incompetence for the inflation, unemployment, etcetc.
Maybe he thought that it'd be easier if he ruled a country of stupid farmers than the well educated, industrialized working force that he tried to build. Because these tend to ask some uncomfortable questions... He still claims that he defends the interests of the poor rural people but most of the land plots that he forcefully took from the whites are now in the hands of his cronies.
The famous South African arch-bishop Desmond Tutu (a Nobel peace prize laureate) is now one of Mugabe's biggest critics, much unlike the government of Mugabe's most powerful and influential neighbor, South Africa. He called Mugabe a "cartoon" character representing the typical dictator which Africa has seen so many times. Mugabe has even started to build a Kim Chong Il style personality cult about himself - or so he thinks. On the last elections in 2002 he wore bright t-shirts with his face on them. Not his own invention, though - he saw this from many other African leaders. Until then, he was rather seen as a conservative guy who wore only a suit and tie, rarely even a safari suit.
Now, the situation in his own party, "Zanu-P.F." is looking like an alligator lake. Some of his closest officials are working behind the scenes and fighting for his inheritance. But those hypocrites haven't dared to utter a word of criticism on him yet. Maybe with the exception of Simba Makoni, the finance minister, who's now appears as an Independent candidate for presidency. He's now labeled as a "traitor", just like the rest of the opposition.
Many Zimbabweans wonder why doesn't Mugabe just step down with dignity and enjoy his remaining years like Mandela. He's got a decent family, a wife and three kids (she gave birth to the last one when he was 73 years old! WOW...) He claims that he's a devoted Catholic, but that didn't seem to be a problem for him to have 2 children from his secretary while his previous wife was dying from cancer :-/
Now, although the predictions about his downfall have always been proven too premature, the increasing strain of the recent years means that he's badly shaken now. But it'd be too unwise to write him off yet. What's for sure, he's a tough proud ass and he'll step down ONLY when he decides that his "Revolution" is complete - whenever that is. What his Revolution means? First and foremost, the re-distribution of the "cake" (the white-owned land). But he's also looking for a successor (which he'll want to hand-pick personally, of course - just like Putin - to make sure his policies are inherited). Naturally, the successor should be from the "Zanu-P.F." party. Thus he might think of ensuring a peaceful old age without any nasty investigations about his time in office. One year ago everyone predicted that either his party or Zim's neighbors (mainly SA) would finally stand up and press Mugabe to step down. But so far nothing like this has happened, and both sides have remained loyal to him. Now, with the changes coming on the political scene of South Africa, a domino effect is expected to happen involving Zimbabwe as well. But so far, Mugabe is still regarded as some kind of "king" of his country - both inside and outside of Zimbabwe.
What I can say is, whenever the economy gets in the way of politics, the politics always wins. And this is always bad for the people...
While he was casting his vote the other day, Mugabe said that "If you lose an election and are rejected by the people, it's time to quit politics". But at that moment he seemed to be pretty confident about his victory. Now it seems he hasn't done as well as he expected. While Zimbabwe's economy is going from bad to worse to disastrous in the last years, Mugabe's political downfall has been predicted many times over and over but he always managed to disprove his critics... at least up till now...
In order to understand Mugabe we should understand the 1970s guerrilla war where he emerged on the scene. Back then, he was seen as a revolutionary hero, fighting white minority rule for the freedom of his people - that's why many African leaders are still too reluctant to criticize him. But since Zim's independence, the rest of the world has moved on... but his outlook remains the same. Now any critics are dismissed as "traitors and sell-outs", and that's a serious accusation remaining from the times of the guerrilla war, when such labels were equal to a death sentence.
He blames Zim's economic problems on a plot by Western countries led by the UK to oust him because of his seizure of the white farms. On the other hand his critics blame him that he hasn't shown any understanding of how a modern economy works. Cause he has always concentrated on the question "how to share the national cake", rather than "how to make the cake bigger". Mugabe once said that no country could ever go bankrupt... but Zim is now the fastest shrinking economy in the world, inflation is over 100,000%... so he really seems determined to test his theory ;-)
The first time he ever faced some strong opposition, he wrecked what was one of the most diversified economies in Africa by nationalizing the white farms which were the backbone of the economy - he did this in order to re-gain political control over his country... and then he went on to pursue popullist economic policies in order to save his ass in front of the people. But when we're talking politics, Mugabe has managed to outsmart all his rivals. Because you see, he's STILL in power. When he suffered his 1st and only electoral defeat (until now) in the referendum from 2000, he unleashed his personal militia (most of whom were war veterans). He used violence and murder as an electoral strategy. The man who in the beginning fought for the "1 man = 1 vote" principle then forced a new requirement that the voters should prove their residence with utility bills - but this means that the young, still unemployed opposition core suffers from this.
Certainly, he had some good achievements. Like the modernization of education. Zimbabwe still has the highest literacy rate in Africa - 90% of the population. More than any other country on the continent. All thanks to Mugabe (or all despite Mugabe). But one could also say that by developing education he was practically digging his own grave. Because those youngsters would eventually grow up and start to analyze the problems of their country for themselves, and start to blame the government's corruption and incompetence for the inflation, unemployment, etcetc.
Maybe he thought that it'd be easier if he ruled a country of stupid farmers than the well educated, industrialized working force that he tried to build. Because these tend to ask some uncomfortable questions... He still claims that he defends the interests of the poor rural people but most of the land plots that he forcefully took from the whites are now in the hands of his cronies.
The famous South African arch-bishop Desmond Tutu (a Nobel peace prize laureate) is now one of Mugabe's biggest critics, much unlike the government of Mugabe's most powerful and influential neighbor, South Africa. He called Mugabe a "cartoon" character representing the typical dictator which Africa has seen so many times. Mugabe has even started to build a Kim Chong Il style personality cult about himself - or so he thinks. On the last elections in 2002 he wore bright t-shirts with his face on them. Not his own invention, though - he saw this from many other African leaders. Until then, he was rather seen as a conservative guy who wore only a suit and tie, rarely even a safari suit.
Now, the situation in his own party, "Zanu-P.F." is looking like an alligator lake. Some of his closest officials are working behind the scenes and fighting for his inheritance. But those hypocrites haven't dared to utter a word of criticism on him yet. Maybe with the exception of Simba Makoni, the finance minister, who's now appears as an Independent candidate for presidency. He's now labeled as a "traitor", just like the rest of the opposition.
Many Zimbabweans wonder why doesn't Mugabe just step down with dignity and enjoy his remaining years like Mandela. He's got a decent family, a wife and three kids (she gave birth to the last one when he was 73 years old! WOW...) He claims that he's a devoted Catholic, but that didn't seem to be a problem for him to have 2 children from his secretary while his previous wife was dying from cancer :-/
Now, although the predictions about his downfall have always been proven too premature, the increasing strain of the recent years means that he's badly shaken now. But it'd be too unwise to write him off yet. What's for sure, he's a tough proud ass and he'll step down ONLY when he decides that his "Revolution" is complete - whenever that is. What his Revolution means? First and foremost, the re-distribution of the "cake" (the white-owned land). But he's also looking for a successor (which he'll want to hand-pick personally, of course - just like Putin - to make sure his policies are inherited). Naturally, the successor should be from the "Zanu-P.F." party. Thus he might think of ensuring a peaceful old age without any nasty investigations about his time in office. One year ago everyone predicted that either his party or Zim's neighbors (mainly SA) would finally stand up and press Mugabe to step down. But so far nothing like this has happened, and both sides have remained loyal to him. Now, with the changes coming on the political scene of South Africa, a domino effect is expected to happen involving Zimbabwe as well. But so far, Mugabe is still regarded as some kind of "king" of his country - both inside and outside of Zimbabwe.
What I can say is, whenever the economy gets in the way of politics, the politics always wins. And this is always bad for the people...
