Why can nothing be done about Mugabe and his destroying of Zimababwe???

[tiredemma]

Im watching the news aghast and saddened for the people of Zimbabwe. I will admit that I am not at all familiar with world politics- but why is Mugabe being allowed to get away with this?
the world was quick to interfere with Iraq's business - why does nobody in power seem to care about the terrible plight here?

someone please educate me.

I don't think it is too late for it to recover if the country had a decent leader I truly believe that, with international support, it could pick up again.

Zimbabweans are very resiliant people, DH commented last year when we visited and saw lots of 4x4's and pick-ups (as opposed to the old Mazda cars that people used to drive) "this is the problem with Zimbabwe we adapt to the situation around us....the roads get bad - so we buy more suitable cars" etc etc

I know of a LOT of Zimbabweans who would go "back home" in a flash if there was an accountable government/president in charge and would be eager to start picking up the pieces again.

Hate? Yikes, thats a strong word. Here: I'll bend over ( | ) so you can just kick me up the arse custy .

PMT certainly affects some of us. I'm not sure I'd like you to speak for me when you say that.

Desi - I'm not sure what speculation you have seen. Perhaps you could show me? I'm always happy to stand corrected.

goodness VVQ i could never do that its such a lovely arse.

Well, it'd get it over and done with quicker....

I've got nice tits too ( )( )

Well, I've no idea now to respond.

I'm not a racist. I'm an historian.

Sorry, girls, but I get the Impression that I'm due on, so best go.

historian - that doesn't know that all around the world, even before being colonised people farmed the land???

Desi desi desi. Come and have a cuddle or manly punch on the arm. I have plenty of choc to share (to appease my raging hormones).

This is soooo not like you lady.

(I'd also quite like to know about the 'speculation' accusation, if I'm honest).

Kerry

I seem to be in a place ....

this discussion aside if I hear 'bread basket of Africa' one more time I think I'll scream!

I watched ITV report tonight at 6 o'clock and was really choked .

That is madman at the helm and it looks like the people are going to be bludgeoned to voting him in yet again.

It's time for Western leaders to wake up and stop talking and DO something.

Desi, I for one would like you to stay.

QoQ, disagree with your cynicism. Our children were starving from hunger in the 19/early 20th c, so we found a way to feed the world. Don't denigrate your own nation ..... what happiness is there in that?

QofQ - I was talking to someone (zimbabwean) just back from several weeks in Zim and he said that the remittances that those that have left are sending to their families are staving the country from total disaster and are, therefore, in part propping him up. ie ZImbabwean resilience!

I hate to say it in some ways but I think the best way forward for the country is for him to be given/make a "gracious" get out at the Zanu congress next year. If he dies no-one will know what to do. Someone said they won;t even know who gets to tell everyone - let alone who gets to stand in his shoes.

"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely" You see it time and time again, leave someone in power for too long, their thinking gets distorted, they become surrounded by yes-men who fail to challenge them when their thinking becomes too extreme. One thing the USA do well, is to stop any President taking power for more than 8 years. Stops the rot.
Desi, I really think the history of every country can be told from two sides. If you study the history of a country as told by a colonising country, you will hear how they improved that colony. If you talk to the people who were colonised, you will hear the opposite. I know you're not racist.

Well, if you'll not back your claims up Desi, then I'd rather you didnt cast aspersions on my 'good character'.

I have posted on MM threads in the past, and have posted again very recently. But not speculatively. The only time I have was right back in May, that is so innocuous its not worth noting.

My postings (4) in the last 7 days have consisted of my posting my sympathies for the poor girl, to mention a quote from Jeremy Clarkson, to clarify how toxicity tests work on hair samples (someone was mistaken), and today to question an innocuous photograph posted as 'questionnable'. Hardly speculative - rather more like smothering speculation.

In the politest possible way - if you cant put up - shut up.

"he said that the remittances that those that have left are sending to their families are staving the country from total disaster and are, therefore, in part propping him up. ie ZImbabwean resilience! "

oh definitely - in the last few months we (as in DH and I) alone have paid an architect (for our house we're going to be building!), paid for my SIL to take her driving test (3 times - she did finally pass lol), every month we send £10 which pays a distant cousin of DH's who works as a maid/looks after FIL's house when he's away at the village, we've paid for one of his Aunts to have her teeth sorted (whole lot out and dentures put in), paid BIL's school fees, helped pay for 2 funerals , and sent other numerous small amounts of cash to fund various things for family members. Each of those transactions from us has provided work/buying power/improved prospects for someone out there.

Desiderata, don't leave, please. Haven't got time to read everything, but will come back later to make bloody sure you dont' leave

In answer to the OP. Mugabe is making sure that the police and army are the few who are looked after, in this way he buys their loyalty.

Once he can no longer do this, I think there will be change.

this Life in Zimbabwe in pictures says a lot - especially pictures 8 and 9

also interesting

it would seem DH and I, are helping to prolong the agony

To be fair - you have raised many points QoQ, but put them in a rather emotive and agressive manner. When people get on the defensive in arguments clarity is usually the first casualty.

Historians specialise - they are not specialists in the whole of history and maybe (if I may be so bold Desi) you are on the edge of your particular specalisation with pre and post colonial politics. I don't think any of us have a PhD in that.

And just cos you may know people, friends and family from Zimbabwe doesn't make you an expert either.

^gets ready to duck^

oh...you cant hid from QOQ.......

Monkey, here's the thing.

If you have lived in a country - as QoQ has lived in Zim and in fact is married to a Zimbabwean - you know its political structures far far better than anyone on here. So relative to most Mnetters, she is an expert on Zimbabwe.

The points Desi made were very inflammatory, and very ignorant. It ignored the effects of colonialisation on Africa, ignored the impact of nationalism on a continent which was predominantly tribal. She actually argued that whites taught the blacks to farm. Was bonkers. Or to borrow hatwoman's most concise phrase - it was a racist revision of history.

Worse than that, she blamed Mugabe upon politically correct lefty liberals. Imagine that you were a lefty liberal who had lost family members to a despot - then imagine being told it was all your fault.

So I understood why QoQ got heated.