Robert Mugabe to be stripped of knighthood - Page 5

**Jezer** · #41 (**permalink**) 28-06-2008, 05:56 PM

I did see it Esca, and there are some others featuring events in Zimbabwe.

Less deserving people have been taken out by covert means, I would imagine, but would killing Mugabe solve the situation?

It would possibly turn him into a martyr, turn opinion against the west, and are the Army running the show?

I don't know.

Escafeldia · #42 (**permalink**) 28-06-2008, 07:58 PM

Jezer, the whole situation is complex. Any right thinking individual would convict Mugabe based on the information which we get via the media, both newspapers and television. The question is whether the stories which we get are the whole picture - I doubt it. I know that tribalism is rife in Africa - it always has been and I think it always will be. After Mugabe got into power the Matabile people were almost eliminated. This wasn't just a political act although the Matabile people supported the opposition party, and they still do, they were a different tribe. There are those who think that Mbeki is related to Mugabe and there are others who think that Mugabe is suffering from tertiary syphyllis. Pictures which are shown on TV show a man who looks fit so the madness due to syphyllis scenario looks weak. However, in the present climate Mugabe is getting critisism from his close neighbours which hasn't happened before. South Africa seems to be the country which all the others are looking towards aand it is here where the stumbling block occurs. The question is why? Is Mbeki so enchanted by Mugabe that he thinks butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, or is he getting pressures from somewhere else not to rock Mugabe's boat.

My gut feeling is that the Zimbawean Armed Forces Generals hold the reigns and Mugabe is basically their puppet. Putting the MDC in charge would put an end to that situation. Is the Zimbawean Army strong enough to cause trouble should South Africa take decisive action against Mugabe? Probably is my feeling. Zimbabwe put troops into the Congo and were withdrawn as late as 2002. The armed forces strength is around 30,000 with about 5,000 air force personnel. There are reports that following the March elections, when Mugabe got the minority vote, the military gained control of the political life in Zimbabwe. If this is the situation then the actions and suppresion in Zimbabwe which we have seen begins to make sense.

One thing is certain - nothing which the UN or the Western Powers do will do anything to get rid of Mugabe and any actions could be counter productive. Africans will have to sort the situation out.

Sorry for the long post but as I said initially - the situation is complex.

**Jezer** · #43 (**permalink**) 28-06-2008, 08:08 PM

I thank you for the post Esca and found it very interesting.

Interesting about the syphilis and how that will affect him, and also re the army.

How is he paying for them? I guess he's raided the wealth that was there, but nothing lasts for ever especially if there's thousands of the veterans and regular army to support.