Zimbabwe Update --Why Mbeki Supports Mugabe

There has been a lot of criticism in the international press and on the blogosphere regarding South Africa's policy with regard to Zimbabwe. As Mad Bobby Mugabe has instituted attacks against the nation's white population, depriving them of their homes and farms, as the nation's economy has collapsed, as he has undertaken massive social reconstruction that has left millions starving and homeless, international outrage has risen -- but not in South Africa.

A recent interview with the mad dictator suggests why.

Scotland on Sunday reports:

ROBERT Mugabe has ruled out ever trying to get back into the "useless" Commonwealth during a blistering attack on Tony Blair and his "gay gangsters".

In his first interview for more than a year, Mugabe also insisted he had discussed the issue at length during a meeting with Prince Charles, where he expressed his admiration and respect for the Royal Family.

....

He described the Commonwealth as "a useless body which has treated Zimbabwe in a dishonourable manner". Mugabe told the London-based magazine New African that he wants his rejection of the Commonwealth written in the hearts of the people of Zimbabwe.

"We will establish relations with individual members of the Commonwealth; there is nothing wrong with that. And even if we get a Britain which is not run in the same way in regard to our relations as the Britain of Tony Blair - fine.

"We will mend our relations, and this is what I told Prince Charles when we met in Rome recently at the Pope's funeral."
....

"We discussed relations and we said we have tremendous respect for the Queen. Every member of the Royal Family has been to Zimbabwe and we have tremendous respect for every member of that family.

"We have souvenirs of their visits here. We respect them and we continue to respect them." But that "respect" excludes Tony Blair, whom Mugabe says is surrounded by people he refers to as "Blair's gay gangsters".

A source close to the ruling Zanu (PF) party, who asked not to be named, said: "It's a typical Mugabe ploy. He is appealing to the British people over the head of Tony Blair...."

Ok, it's fun to see the mad old monster railing against Blair's "Gay Gangsters" and professing affection for Prince Chuckie, but what is significant is the final comment here. This is a standard Mugabe tactic -- appealing to the public over the heads of their rulers, couching his remarks in the most offensive manner possible -- one that he has been using successfully with regard to South Africa.

The article continues:

"Mugabe is clever. He uses the same tactic with the South Africans and threatens Thabo Mbeki whenever he can. He says to African leaders that Mbeki - who is George Bush's point man in Africa - wants Mugabe to go slow on land reform because he [Mbeki] is a puppet of the white man."

The tactic has been effective in intimidating Mbeki.

Mbeki and his Tanzanian counterpart, Benjamin Mkapa, are expected to tell Britain and other G8 countries to seek a fast agreement with Zimbabwe in order to stave off hunger and chaos in a key southern African country.

Read the article here.

Why has such a crass tactic worked?

Earlier I blogged regarding the low level race war that is taking place in South Africa [here].

Since the end of apartheid more than 1,700 white farmers have been murdered in South Africa. The reason is rising anger in the black population at the slow pace of land redistribution. So far the South African government has operated on a "willing seller/willing buyer" basis, purchasing lands and then transferring them to black ownership. By contrast, Mugabe in Zimbabwe simply expropriated white lands and gave them to his cronies. Although Mugabe's policy resulted in economic disaster they were politically popular both in Zimbabwe and in South Africa. By contrast the moderate pace of land reform in South Africa, while economically responsible, has generated violence and political unrest. Mbeki is sitting on a powderkeg and that is whyMugabe has been able to intimidate him.

Is there a way out of this mess?

The article cited above notes that there have been unofficial talks between British and Zimbabwean figures aimed at convincing Mugabe to retire. This, it claims, is also the desire of Presidents Mbeki and Mkapa. Mugabe's retirement would bring some relief to his suffering people and ease pressures on his neighbors.

They would like to see Mugabe retire and live comfortably with his young wife Grace and their three children at a £7m palace in the once all-white suburb of Borrowdale in Harare.

Now if only Mugabe could be convinced to take this sweet deal. It is unlikely, though, that the mad old monster will ever willingly relinquish the reins of power.