Killing the wives of Mugabe opposition

[JoshandJamie]

Why is this acceptable?

Why do we have loads of troops trying to help the Afghanistan and Iraqi people to help them live in a democratic, non violent society, yet we don't do the same in Zim? I just don't understand the double standards.

Here's the first three paragraphs:

The families of Zimbabwe's opposition leaders are being targeted for brutal execution in the latest twist to the brutal electoral violence gripping the country.

With Robert Mugabe seeking to stifle the challenge to his power before a presidential run-off vote on June 27 the most recent victim of the his supporters was the wife of the unofficial mayor of Harare.

Abigail Chitoro was so badly beaten by the mob that dragged her and her four-year-old son from their home that even her brother-in-law struggled to identify the body.

Because it would be political dynamite for troops from an old colonial country to go into somewhere like Zimbabwe.

Anyway, where has "helping" Iraq and Afghanistan got us? Dead troops, dead civilians, political instabilty.......

I agree liath on the political dynamite and I'm not convinced I agree with us having troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Saddam was captured and tried for crimes against humanity wasn't he? Mugabe is surely guilty of the same crimes so why is he not dealt with the same way. It just seems so wrong.

I am right there with you.
but the case for intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan was not to do with breaches of civil rights and atrocities, unfortunately.
politically it would be unacceptable for the west to intervene.
it is appalling though and I share your frustration and horror

Why is it politically unacceptable? sorry - I don't fully understand.

I think there is a humanitaria case for miliotary involvement - as there was in Afganistan, Iraq and Bosnia. Tony Blair would certainly have considered it knowing his record, not sure where Brown is on this though.

I know nothing about this but I imagine that they will have to weigh up the costs and benefits very carefully - as in Iraq, things will probably get much worse before they start to get better. And maybe terrain is an issue. Plus Mugabe won't let in any NGO's will he, so there will be no aid on the ground.

I agree with liath - there would be uproar across Africa if an ex colonial power went in, and I think millions would flock to him across the whole Africa. And he then goes from a dictator to a freedom fighter.

I suppose the fact is that the West expects the neighbouring countries to pull finger and bring Mugabe to check. However, when the SA president is photographed holding the hand of Mugabe and insists that the only way is 'quiet diplomacy' there is a snowballs' chance in hell that anything is going to be done...

Perhaps the article should also outline that the fleeing Zimbos get even worse treatment in SA ....

well the neighbouring nations should do something about him.

You know I don't even know why they are holding this election - we already know the outcome, why risk your life?

But surely it doesn't have to be a British force that goes in, I thought this was the kind of thing the united nations was supposed to do, a peace keeping force rather than an invasion. Didn't the UN end up going into Sudan? Diplomacy isn't doing a bloody thing.

I think it is absolutely shocking that the rest of the African nations sit by and watch this country go down the pan. As a political commentator said s while back this will be a big stain on Nelson Mandela star as while he was in power and in a place of polictical influence he was unable to to any thing about Robert Mugabe. Mugabe is a despot of the worst order.
Much as I would love the British troops to go in and sort it out it would be political suicide. It is a shame that none of the African countries feel the same. They even applaud Magabe as a hero when they see him as a bastion of anti colonialism.

none of the other African countries will go in because they don't disapprove of what he's doing. They might not be all killing their own but they're all equally corrupt.

And South Africa aren't interested because South Africa is the next zimbabwe. Nelson Mandela is currently South Africa's stability. Once he dies there is a lot of fear of what will happen.

Is there any oil in Zimbabwe?

Tiny bit cynical kimi

Same as tibet then

Kimi has it spot on. Plus - George bush has not ordered his poodles to go sh%^t in that country (much good is has done them anyway .)

wannabe's right - that generation of leaders see themselves as brothers in the struggle against colonialism. Sadly they don't seem to care that Mugabe has gone from hero to villain and is killing, torturing and starving more Africans than the old powers ever did.

I was just about to post about the oil but Kimi beat me to it.

It just makes me want to weep so I don't watch the news anymore

Oh please lets stop being so naive about oil. If it wasn;t for oil we'd all be living on the shitheap. Maintaing control of an oil suppy to the west is very much in our natioanl interest, as we'd be f*cked without it - and our kids too.

Oil was a big part of going into Iraq, but not the only one. There were sound humantiarian reasons for doing so too. I don;t want to start an argument, but I wish we could just begin to see the whole situation from the bigger picture.

There was no oil in Bosnia but we went in anyway. It isn't all about oil.

My half brother went to Iraq the first time, for daddy george bush, he came back in more bits then he went in. If it was only about getting rid of SH then why not do the job right the first time?

No we got control of the oil and came out, then son George wants to be daddys golden boy so in we all go again.

The world is full of evil and corrupt leaders but we only seem to "help" if there is something in it for us.

what was in it for us in Bosnia then?

It breaks my heart.

I was born in Zimbabwe but my family left when I was still a child. I can never go back to the land of my birth, not wih Mugabe or his cronies in power...

I no longer regularly read Cathy Buckle's website as it is too painful.

This was a country that was entirely self sufficient, even for a land locked country. It had the means to buy in what it could not produce. It had a fabulous climate. It was a beautiful country.

I know that apartheid was not fair and I'm glad that Zim got independence. I am just absolutely horrified that the new rulers did nothing to learn from the outgoing government, did not arrange for a smooth transition and did not work to achieve harmony between all citizens. I am gutted that they have let this once beautiful country slip into decay and murder. Not only of human beings, of any colour, but also of the valuable wildlife and farmed animals. They too are treated with the utmost cruelty and most species are now extinct within the boundaries of Zimbabwe.

30 years later this idiot madman would still blame Britain if the sun did not rise. He is totally off his head, likens himself to Hitler and is probably raging with syphilis too!

Why the rest of the world does nothing stuns me!!!

Klaw, I am 1 million % with you. I'm South AFrican and have travelled in Zim and it kills me the way both countries are going. I felt this article was an excellent piece by SA journalist Nomfundo Xulu.

The phrase 'attitude of entitlement' is exactly right.

Your personal circumstances are tragic Kimi, and I'm sorry for your loss, but no one said it was only about getting rid of SH either. Unsuprisingly, it's very complicated.