THIS IS BAD NEWS! MUST I `EAT CROW'?
A reliable friend in Zimbabwe is patently angry with me for `blogging' re my feeling upbeat about Morgan Tsvangirai's overseas visit and my welcoming his prospects for persuading his audiences that he will bring change to Zimbabwe. Here is my worthy friend's argument:
"We would like to see how/why you can feel upbeat, even vaguely; but we cannot afford to go online to read blogs any more at US42 cents a minute! As far as we and most people we know, things are worse by the day-----water (despite amounts of aid unseen for years), electricity, phones , violent crime (we have spent more on security in last 4 months than in previous 40 years) , inflation (only country in world to have inflation in real terms), extortionate charges by government, parastatals, utilities etc, decline in economic activity ([a family business], amongst many, closing down--worst 4 months ever), corruption, farm-grabbing, harassment of MDC members, civil society groups, journalists etc etc. Mr T and MDC are delusional and ineffective, their MPs unapproachable and out of touch with their supporters and reality; the only issue on which they have been vocal, forthright and united is the affront they have suffered by being given twincabs instead of something superior (i.e. Mercedes). The only exception to this sorry state is Coltart who has had some impact in education.
The current joke doing the rounds is that despite all this, Eddie Cross still writes interestingly------but about another country. They are losing urban support by the day and our ZANUPF acquaintances becoming quietly confident that if there is no dramatic change they will be able to win next election even without tricks.
The jeering at Southwark Cathedral is indicative of general feeling here. Of course one still hopes all this will change but what is the evidence out there, that we don't see here, that it might? What we saw on TV today was'nt it."
My previous blog, `Tsvangirai Telegenic..etc' was greeted by the rest of the folk I sent it to, with no comment. Does this silence speak volumes?
I will keep this missive short and await more commentary from those on the spot who clearly know better than I just how much hope there is or is not for the current regime in Zimbabwe.
In conclusion I must repeat, however, that the image of Robert Mugabe and his cronies basking in the sunshine of goodwill that warms Morgan and the MDC is not a pretty one.
Copyright © 2004 Diana Mitchell
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI UNDER INTERNATIONAL SCRUTINY
TELEGENIC, ARTICULATE BUT NOT WHOLLY UNDERSTOOD
That Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is currently Zimbabwe's best hope for an end to its glaring problems is not generally doubted. What is still in the realms of wishful thinking is that the ordinary folk should experience the extraordinary turnaround that Morgan himself has recently experienced. From political pariah, target for murder, traitor, and police punchball this brave leader is now embraced by none other than the author of all his sufferings. It almost beggars belief.
So it is with intense interest that those of us Zimbabweans involuntarily exiled in Britain are watching, listening and praying - if so inclined - for his success. Today he performed well for watchers in Britain on the Andrew Marr show which is almost as good an annointing of an emergent national leader as you can get.
He has been given wide exposure in Europe and America: shaking the hands of world leaders of the stature of Angela Merkel and Barak Obama for instance. Its a great change from the ancient tyrant, Mugabe's indiscriminate embrace of everything non-Western.
When he smiles and his rotund, faintly scarred face lights up, he looks every bit the charismatic, friendly yet serious person I first met when continuing in my Whos Who, political-pundit-mode back in 1998. It was then that I asked Trevor Ncube, editor of The Independent newspaper at that time, if he would publish an interview I wanted to do to promote Morgan for his paper's readers. My subject's brisk, intelligent delivery of answers to pressing questions of the day hasn't changed either.
He certainly looks confident. Every inch the leader. My concern is that he has got his time cut out trying to make Mugabe look respectable. His sincerity in believing that this is the only route to delivery from the evil wrought by that man and his cronies, is not in doubt.
My only concern is the disjuncture of `then and now' for the people he hopes to rule. He waves away Marr's valid questioning the continuing grabbing of the last remaining farms (he knows as we all do that this is the only way through to the stony heart of his new partner) and of the continued infringements on the freedoms, - never mind the human rights - of those Zimbabweans perceived to oppose the ruling party. In essence, these, his MDC followers are the people who have so joyously elevated Morgan Tsvangirai to his present high position. Beatings, rapings, stealing farms? "That was then and this is now" is not a reassuring approach.
I don't know how he could do better but I do know that the begging bowl will fill more rapidly when we see indisputable evidence that the security of persons and property has been convincingly and irreversibly restored to that great country.
Copyright © 2004 Diana Mitchell
That Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is currently Zimbabwe's best hope for an end to its glaring problems is not generally doubted. What is still in the realms of wishful thinking is that the ordinary folk should experience the extraordinary turnaround that Morgan himself has recently experienced. From political pariah, target for murder, traitor, and police punchball this brave leader is now embraced by none other than the author of all his sufferings. It almost beggars belief.
So it is with intense interest that those of us Zimbabweans involuntarily exiled in Britain are watching, listening and praying - if so inclined - for his success. Today he performed well for watchers in Britain on the Andrew Marr show which is almost as good an annointing of an emergent national leader as you can get.
He has been given wide exposure in Europe and America: shaking the hands of world leaders of the stature of Angela Merkel and Barak Obama for instance. Its a great change from the ancient tyrant, Mugabe's indiscriminate embrace of everything non-Western.
When he smiles and his rotund, faintly scarred face lights up, he looks every bit the charismatic, friendly yet serious person I first met when continuing in my Whos Who, political-pundit-mode back in 1998. It was then that I asked Trevor Ncube, editor of The Independent newspaper at that time, if he would publish an interview I wanted to do to promote Morgan for his paper's readers. My subject's brisk, intelligent delivery of answers to pressing questions of the day hasn't changed either.
He certainly looks confident. Every inch the leader. My concern is that he has got his time cut out trying to make Mugabe look respectable. His sincerity in believing that this is the only route to delivery from the evil wrought by that man and his cronies, is not in doubt.
My only concern is the disjuncture of `then and now' for the people he hopes to rule. He waves away Marr's valid questioning the continuing grabbing of the last remaining farms (he knows as we all do that this is the only way through to the stony heart of his new partner) and of the continued infringements on the freedoms, - never mind the human rights - of those Zimbabweans perceived to oppose the ruling party. In essence, these, his MDC followers are the people who have so joyously elevated Morgan Tsvangirai to his present high position. Beatings, rapings, stealing farms? "That was then and this is now" is not a reassuring approach.
I don't know how he could do better but I do know that the begging bowl will fill more rapidly when we see indisputable evidence that the security of persons and property has been convincingly and irreversibly restored to that great country.
Copyright © 2004 Diana Mitchell
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