News / Local
Zimbabwe welcomes Sarkozy defeat
07 May 2012 at 15:58hrs | Views
Political analysts say the defeat of French president Nicholas Sarkozy should spur Zimbabwe to launch a new diplomatic offensive under the newly elected Socialist, Francois Hollande.
Sarkozy is the latest national leader to be toppled by the effects of Europe's debt crisis after the fall of governments in Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy, Greece, Spain and the Netherlands.
While noting that Sarkozy's leadership was very bad in every context, political analyst and diplomat, Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa says his fall should spell a new dispensation for Zim-Franco relations.
"He was one of the worst leaders Europe ever had and Africa will never remember him for anything good. He was a bad man for Africa," said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
University of Zimbabwe History Lecturer and political analyst, Dr Kenneth Manungo says the Francois Hollande era should be an opportunity for re-engagement.
Dr Manungo however recalled the deceitful role played by Mr Sarkozy who was instrumental in the murder of former Libyan president, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi with media reports revealing that the former French president received US$50 million for his campaign in 2007 from the man he later murdered- Colonel Gaddafi.
Dr Manungo said: "He was deceitful and his gun-toting diplomacy was the worst example of leadership."
Mr Sarkozy lost the French presidency to Mr Hollande who has vowed to define a new foreign policy discourse.
Observers say it was Sarkozy's personality more than his policies which cost him his job.
He was also the first sitting president to get divorced and remarry while in office and the French never forgave him for failing that moral test.
The French also rejected his austerity measures approach and his close ties with Germany in that regard.
Sarkozy is the latest national leader to be toppled by the effects of Europe's debt crisis after the fall of governments in Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy, Greece, Spain and the Netherlands.
While noting that Sarkozy's leadership was very bad in every context, political analyst and diplomat, Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa says his fall should spell a new dispensation for Zim-Franco relations.
"He was one of the worst leaders Europe ever had and Africa will never remember him for anything good. He was a bad man for Africa," said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
University of Zimbabwe History Lecturer and political analyst, Dr Kenneth Manungo says the Francois Hollande era should be an opportunity for re-engagement.
Dr Manungo however recalled the deceitful role played by Mr Sarkozy who was instrumental in the murder of former Libyan president, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi with media reports revealing that the former French president received US$50 million for his campaign in 2007 from the man he later murdered- Colonel Gaddafi.
Dr Manungo said: "He was deceitful and his gun-toting diplomacy was the worst example of leadership."
Mr Sarkozy lost the French presidency to Mr Hollande who has vowed to define a new foreign policy discourse.
Observers say it was Sarkozy's personality more than his policies which cost him his job.
He was also the first sitting president to get divorced and remarry while in office and the French never forgave him for failing that moral test.
The French also rejected his austerity measures approach and his close ties with Germany in that regard.
Source - zbc
