Opinion / Columnist
Tighten targeted sanctions to make Mugabe reform
25 Feb 2012 at 09:45hrs | Views
In view of Robert Mugabe's reluctance to reform ahead of elections, the only remaining effective option is for more targeted sanctions on him and his inner circle.
More restrictive measures by the EU and the United States are urgently needed on Mugabe and his allies, to prevent the country from sliding into an unstable kleptocracy.
The basis for that observation is three-fold - Mugabe's moves to amend the draft constitution unilaterally; his threat to disown S.A.'s President Jacob Zuma as the mediator and his push for elections regardless of key reforms.
It is clear that Mugabe is trying to transform the draft constitution into a Zanu-pf election manifesto in the run-up to a referendum and elections. That will be resisted and will have potential for greater instability.
The dictator is diverting attention from the real issues which are his poor human rights record, bad governance, flouting of the rule of law, abuse of presidential powers and making a mockery of the justice system for as long as he lives.
Mugabe's recent threat to disown Zuma as the mediator on the Zimbabwe crisis for demanding key reforms before elections should not be dismissed as hot air because he has thrived on high profile political controversy for the greater part of his rule.
Hopes that Zuma would be tougher with Mugabe were flawed and wishful thinking because they overlooked the mutual interests of the ANC and Zanu-pf in the post-colonial discourse in terms of their real and imagined enemies in Zimbabwe and beyond.
It is important to note that an equitable and transparent land redistribution programme with fair compensation supported by donor countries remains unfinished business in Zimbabwe, and no shortcuts through constitutional clauses can override that reality.
As Mugabe's age advances and his health deteriorates (based on the mysterious 10 long haul flights to the Far East in one year), his well-provided-for inner circle is increasingly anxious about the prospects of indictment to the Hague.
Not only will history judge Mugabe as a 'people's oppressor' but also as 'Africa's most uncharitable bully', in the wake of his attacks on other countries calling them fronts of the West.
The people of Zimbabwe inevitably need help of Western countries in safeguarding the unsteady peace in the country. Pretending otherwise would be self-deception.
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Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
More restrictive measures by the EU and the United States are urgently needed on Mugabe and his allies, to prevent the country from sliding into an unstable kleptocracy.
The basis for that observation is three-fold - Mugabe's moves to amend the draft constitution unilaterally; his threat to disown S.A.'s President Jacob Zuma as the mediator and his push for elections regardless of key reforms.
It is clear that Mugabe is trying to transform the draft constitution into a Zanu-pf election manifesto in the run-up to a referendum and elections. That will be resisted and will have potential for greater instability.
The dictator is diverting attention from the real issues which are his poor human rights record, bad governance, flouting of the rule of law, abuse of presidential powers and making a mockery of the justice system for as long as he lives.
Mugabe's recent threat to disown Zuma as the mediator on the Zimbabwe crisis for demanding key reforms before elections should not be dismissed as hot air because he has thrived on high profile political controversy for the greater part of his rule.
It is important to note that an equitable and transparent land redistribution programme with fair compensation supported by donor countries remains unfinished business in Zimbabwe, and no shortcuts through constitutional clauses can override that reality.
As Mugabe's age advances and his health deteriorates (based on the mysterious 10 long haul flights to the Far East in one year), his well-provided-for inner circle is increasingly anxious about the prospects of indictment to the Hague.
Not only will history judge Mugabe as a 'people's oppressor' but also as 'Africa's most uncharitable bully', in the wake of his attacks on other countries calling them fronts of the West.
The people of Zimbabwe inevitably need help of Western countries in safeguarding the unsteady peace in the country. Pretending otherwise would be self-deception.
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Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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