Many of the commentariat in my previous post on the ongoing horror that is Zimbabwe indicated that the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) were a poor choice for me to suggest sending arms to in order to oppose the ZANU-PF tyranny. The MDC are purely a movement dedicated to bring about change democratically via the ballot box, right?
Then please explain this rather inspiring outburst:
The people of Zimbabwe have a right to defend to themselves and to rise up against the oppressive Mugabe regime, Tendai Biti, the MDC member of parliament, has said. Speaking in a radio interview with SWRadioAfrica’s Violet Gonda, he said leadership would emerge to direct popular uprisings.
“I can’t tell you by who, but I can assure you that there will be decisive action against fascism and I can tell you that the next few days are going to be interesting,” said Biti.
Pressed to identify the leadership, Biti replied: “I can’t tell you – and the hundreds of Central Intelligence Organisation officers who I know are listening to me right now – about who is going to provide the leadership, who is going to do what, and so forth – but what I can guarantee you is that the anger is overflowing in the veins of the average Zimbabweans. They will defend themselves. The time for smiling at fascism is over.”
Sounds to me if someone would just provide them with enough guns and a few truck loads of ammunition, these boys are well and truly good to go. Well Godspeed, gentlemen, may you all soon be celebrating together in Harare whilst Mugabe hangs from a nearby lamppost.
I’d like to see it happen, but I’m not confident this is anything more than empty words, hardly atypical of African politics. On the other hand, Mugabe’s regime is incompetent even by African standards, so perhaps it has gone just far enough to provoke insurrection? We’ll see.
EG
A month ago I laughed at the people who said it couldn’t get worse. I t could always get worse. Now, I don’t know.
I will be very happy if I’m proven wrong on this and Mugabe is ousted by the people of Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.
The leader of the MDC is Morgan Tsvangirai, not Tendai Biti. Tsvangirai has been very consistent in insisting on fighting Mugabe through the ballot box, peaceful demonstrations, and the courts.
Comments on “exit strategies” seem to be all the rage.
I wonder what Mugabe’s exit strategy is, if his control of Zimbabwe becomes untenable.
I fear that it will take more than a few guns. Unless a significant part of the army decide to join the revolution, or ( more likely) remain neutral/inactive, there’s little hope of a violent overthrow.
More to the point, violent overthrows of despots don’t have a great track record of improving the situation. Iran, Russia, England, France (debatably), Afghanistan, Russia, Vietnam, North Africa, most of South America being examples.
Tyranny with popular support is only very slightly better than tyranny without it.
Waste of time. When a rebel faction wins a civil war in Africa, they just install their own Mr Big as the new dictator. If MDC could arrange one of these eastern-european style democratic revolutions, that might return the rule of law to Zimbabwe – but an armed coup would do no more than change the face on the bank notes.
Glad to see the MDC is finally getting on the boat, but the nationawide strike has been called at least since this past weekend. It was done by a coalition of churches, unions, and civil society groups. They spread the messages via fliers and cell phone messages.
They’re going to be staying away from work Thursday and Friday. The whole country is going to shut down. Last time this happened, the country erupted and that’s how the MDC formed. It WILL be an interesting few days.
But read up because there is a lot to know.
Mugabe won’t be outed, except by outside forces or natural causes. It’s easier than you think to simply shut down all opposition, and keep them shut down permenantly. The Nazis pioneered the methods, the Communists perfected them, and Robert Mugabe has taken all their lessons to heart. He himself was installed by a revolution, and nobody knows better than a revolutionary how further revolutions can be prevented.
Every time I hear more bad news about this poor country, I sing out loud (in an angry, sarcastic voice):
Peace has come to Zimbabwe
Third World’s right on the one
Why hasn’t anybody called Mr. Wonder up to the plate on this freaking tragedy? He and alot of other progressive libs egged this on, supported it, rejoiced when the Moo-Gob grabbed the reins (and the guns). Would it were that these things followed the basic shopkeeper’s rule “You break it, you pay for it.”
Naw, those nummies just move on to their next “cause” and blithely ignore the misery wrought. How long, O Lord, how long?
I fear that it will take more than a few guns. Unless a significant part of the army decide to join the revolution, or ( more likely) remain neutral/inactive, there’s little hope of a violent overthrow.
I wonder what he’s using to pay the army? Once the soldiers can’t buy food Mugabe will find his position is rather more dodgy. Can you really destroy your country’s economy and not suffer any consequences?
The history of post-colonial Africa would tend to suggest that one can indeed do this.
EG
If Mugabe is overthrown he will do just what the other despots did and move either to Paris or to the Middle East, probably Paris. He will be welcomed there with open arms and probably buy an apartment in good area and live well for the rest ofhis misbegotten life.
The Mashona tend to be passive aggressive: They put their heads down and take it…but eventually they rise up and expect to see massive violence. Alas, they don’t have guns, and you have to consider that hunger and fear and low grade infections (HIV, malaria, etc) will sap the strength of many…as will killing/jailing the leaders.
However, much of Mugabe’s terror has been against the Matabele tribe, and they are a Zulu warrior offshoot…if anyone manages to start a people power revolution, it will be in Bulawayo…watch the bishop there…