• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

whats happening in Zimbabwe

petra10

Graduate Poster
petra10
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
1,824
Whats happening in Zimbabwe?
Lots of rumours flying about. It looks like Mugabe is on the way out but will he give up power.All very suspicious.

I think there are deals being made somewhere. He will try and protect himself from facing any war crimes.

There are even report he has fled the country although I dont think thats his style.

Whats going on?
 
petra10 said:
Whats going on?
Click to expand...
Hopefully Mugabe is finally getting his well-deserved punishment. Voted out, disgraced, and hunted. Few individuals could have been stupid, corrupt and racist enough to turn the shiny jewel that was Zimbabwe into hellhole it is today.
 
Uh, last thing I heard on the news was the opposition party declared herself the winner, Mugabe's party denies it though.
 
Sefarst said:
Hopefully Mugabe is finally getting his well-deserved punishment. Voted out, disgraced, and hunted. Few individuals could have been stupid, corrupt and racist enough to turn the shiny jewel that was Zimbabwe into hellhole it is today.
Click to expand...
His actions and those of the "people" he turned loose to do whatever they felt like mean I would love to see him being chased down and repaired.:D:D
 
The best assessment so far has the new government taking over and Mugabe leaving the country.

Let's hope.
 
Come on folks. Let's not be killjoys. Mugabe is 84 years old, after all. Let's give him just one more go.
 
It appears his own government has turned on him, at last. Despite the usual attempts to rig the election, as well as numerous tricks to manipulate it, eg, no votes for people who had to leave the country to get work, it looks like the opposition is going to be declared the winner.

Will he have one last roll of the dice and try to get the military onside to stage a coup?
 
petra10 said:
Whats happening in Zimbabwe?
Lots of rumours flying about. It looks like Mugabe is on the way out but will he give up power.All very suspicious.

I think there are deals being made somewhere. He will try and protect himself from facing any war crimes.

There are even report he has fled the country although I dont think thats his style.

Whats going on?
Click to expand...

The was over more than 20 years ago. His crimes would be criminal ones.
 
a_unique_person said:
It appears his own government has turned on him, at last. Despite the usual attempts to rig the election, as well as numerous tricks to manipulate it, eg, no votes for people who had to leave the country to get work, it looks like the opposition is going to be declared the winner.
Click to expand...

I think you're right. And I think his age will have a lot to do with it. I mean, which aspiring 40 or 50 year old is going to stick his neck out for an 84 year old? Maybe only his son or grandson.
 
From what I've read Mugabe siezed land from his countries white farmers and handed it over to military leaders awhile back to gain their support. I hope this ends bloodlessly but the military brass has a lot to lose if they permit the MDC to take power. Under the best case scenario Mugabe will agree to leave in exchange for immunity and sanctuary in some 'neutral' country. I'm not aware of instances in roman history where the emperor ruled long without the support of his military.

However, even if he does agree to cede power and leave, restoring Zimbabwe's' economy could take years or even a decades. Mobs are impatient, uneducated starving impatient mobs prodded by a corrupt military leadership that has much to gain by re-establishing the status quo once Mugabe leaves, may not be willing to wait while the economy is restored.

Hopefully, the amount of time they're taking means they're not doing anything rash. Maybe they'll sit down and figure that they can't keep a 84 year old in power for that much longer just due to age. It's never to early to hope though, but speculation is running rampant so it's impossible to form a good conclusion rightnow. For example over at the Zimbabwe situation, a news aggregation site, the headlines are reading

As Zimbabwe waits tension rises higher
Deal averts Zim civil war
Zimbabwe blogs: 'Mugabe must go. He must go now'
Zimbabwe Opposition Says It’s Ready to Win Possible Election Run-Off
Mugabe will declare a rigged victory
A wonder that Robert Mugabe could stay on

So the reports are still highly contradictory. However, the bottom line is:

Post-Election Uncertainties Exacerbate Food Shortages In Zimbabwe

This kinda cuts the crap, even if he leaves that's just the first step. Food prices are soaring, and well, what can even be said for their economy? It's going to take a Nobel worthy effort to fight hunger in Zimbabwe.
 
Last edited:
It seems that the opposition has won, but without the 51% margin needed under Zimbabwean law to form a new government. Which means there will have to be another round of 'run-off' elections...giving Mugabe another chance to keep control.
 
Reporting this morning is to the effect that Mugabe's aides are trying to negotiate a "graceful" (IE=no prosecutions) exit for their man.
 
Wolfman said:
It seems that the opposition has won, but without the 51% margin needed under Zimbabwean law to form a new government. Which means there will have to be another round of 'run-off' elections...giving Mugabe another chance to keep control.
Click to expand...

Essentially what's happened is Zanu PF didn't rig the elections hard enough to overcome the sheer magnitude of the animosity towards Mugabe. If one only rigs +15% it won't cover the loss if one loses by more than 65-35. But it's enough for a second chance to rig it harder under Zimbabwe law.


Imagine if Bush were presiding over 50% unemployment, 1,000% inflation, mass starvation and only lost by 5-9 points after exit polls showed a 66-34 split. How pissed would the democrats be?
 
The truly sad thing is that all this rather vindicates Ian Smith's original racist position on majority rule for Rhodesia.

Rolfe.
 
Rolfe said:
The truly sad thing is that all this rather vindicates Ian Smith's original racist position on majority rule for Rhodesia.

Rolfe.
Click to expand...

Not really. The opposition leader sounds very impressive. The problem is if you have a civil war to get justice, the leader will be a good fighter and soldier, but not necessarily a good peace time leader. If Ian Smith had organised a peaceful transition, Mugabe would probably have never surfaced.
 
BPSCG said:
:boggled:

Is it Friday night in Ozzie already?

I got ten bucks says Mugabe finds a way to stay in office.
Click to expand...

Criminal as opposed to war crimes. Zimbabwe is not at war. Also civil crimes.

Mugabe is sitting tight, wondering if the country will explode and hang him from the nearest lamp post if he doesn't relinquish power, with a trillion zimbabwe dollars stuffed in his mouth.
 
one thing worth mentioning about that is the president of Zimbabwe can dissolve their parliament. (according to what I read, I'm not familiar with Zimbabwean law)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom