Which is worse?

[BishopMVP]

That there is a leader like this, that he'll be able to get away with the plan, or that the conclusion that once the white people are gone even fewer people will care about the forced starvation of half the country is probably right?Evidence that President Robert Mugabe’s regime is considering a plan to rid Zimbabwe of most of its white population has come as little surprise to an embattled and dwindling community.



But the stark language used in a document apparently drawn up by advisers to the director-general of operations in Mugabe’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has intensified concern that after four years of land seizures, Zimbabwe’s whites may soon be facing a new threat.

The paper, which has been leaked to the British embassy in Harare and The Sunday Times, describes a sequence of events that would set the scene for the ethnic cleansing some analysts have long predicted.

It would start with a bomb attack on a strategic economic target in Zimbabwe. British explosives would be used and South African experts called in to verify this. The outrage would then be blamed on “British funded terrorists”, says the document, which is dated June 8, 2004, and headed, “Solution to the White Problem”. . .

British nationals . . . would be given 48 hours to leave, their relatives who had given up British citizenship would probably accompany them and intimidation at roadblocks would encourage many other whites to go too, the document says. It suggests that up to 90% of all whites would be gone after six months. . .

The secret service plan suggests that the “white problem” could be tackled more directly if British citizens were targeted. . .

A source privy to discussions within the CIO said Mugabe believed the removal of the whites would draw the international spotlight away from Zimbabwe. “This comes right from the top,” the source said. . .

“In Mozambique, where there are no whites, the government can get away with whatever it likes and the world doesn’t bother. Mugabe would like Zimbabwe to be like that.”

[sterlingice]

Whoa. That's creepy. Like something out of a bad movie.

Certainly glad I live here. But I'd be curious to see how this plays out and to learn more about it.

SI

[NoMyths]

"Solution to the White Problem" sounds too much like "Final Solution to the Jewish Problem" for my tastes.

[mordhiem]

I don't know how much coverage Zimbabwe gets in the US, but in the cricket playing nations (UK, Australia, South Africa, India etc.) it is very big news, mainly because of their cricket team.

Quid pro dotty quota

Geoffrey Dean

The origins of the crisis that has enveloped Zimbabwe cricket can be traced back to the start of the millennium when the Zimbabwe Cricket Union commissioned an integration task force to prepare a plan for what was termed "the rapid evolution of Zimbabwean cricket".

The task force, led by an American named Dr Zackrison, reported in March 2001 recommending a quota system in team and squad selection. The ZCU, which had tried to be proactive in anticipation of government pressure for more non-whites in the national side, was delighted. But the means by which it has since sought to achieve these `goals' led eventually to the strike by white rebels last month.

The ZCU's mission statement in Zackrison's final document said the quota system must be accompanied by "the least possible reduction in individual and team performance". In fact there has been rapid and manifest decline. The minimum of six non-whites in any Test or one-day side is palpably unrealistic. Excluded white players of varying ages have retired prematurely. Malcolm Jarvis (fitness trainer) and Kevin Curran (assistant coach) were sacked after the World Cup without explanation.

But, when Zimbabwe's reconstituted team of fringe players and youngsters, all but one of them black, were bowled out in April by Sri Lanka for 35, a record low score in a one-day international, the ZCU propaganda machine was more forthcoming. Senior officials claimed that Vince Hogg, its white managing director, along with the white groundsman Robin Brown, had sabotaged the Harare pitch overnight.

Hogg has been reduced to little more than a pen-pusher at the ZCU. With its chairman Peter Chingoka a figurehead, cricket in Zimbabwe is run by a small politicised caucus: Macsood Ebrahim and Steven Mangongo, the two selectors with minimal playing experience whom the rebels want replaced, the powerful Ozias Bvute, whom they see as a government `plant' and whose pre-strike brief was an annual increase in the quota system, Givemore Makoni, another political appointment, and Elvis Sembezeya.

The last two have both received bans from domestic cricket for racial abuse during games and Makoni reportedly head-butted the nephew of the convenor of selectors during a league match. His club, Takashinga, founded by Andy Flower and his father Bill for non-whites in the early 1990s, now has a reputation for overt racism and threw Henry Olonga out after his black armband statement at the World Cup.

Under this regime the domestic game is suffering in all areas. Dire financial straits have virtually wiped out club cricket and reduced the first-class structure to the verge of collapse. Yet the ZCU sent all its 12 directors with partners to Australia on a fully paid business trip last October when Zimbabwe's two Tests there happily coincided with the Rugby World Cup. Double standards are common-place. While the Strang brothers, Bryan and Paul, were recently banned from playing domestic cricket as a result of political comments, two cricketers whom the ZCU sacked from its employ are permitted to play: Darlington Matambanadzo, who went AWOL from work for a month, and Innocent Chinyoka, who allegedly stole a team-mate's vehicle and personal belongings during a match in Kwekwe.

Within the ZCU administration non-whites are fast-tracked into positions of authority. Twelve months ago the four general managers of the provinces were white. Today only one is left, in Manicaland. The other three have been replaced by non-whites with political agendas.

Ebrahim actually told Ken Connolly of Midlands, a province with an excellent integration and development record, that he was no longer required because he was white. Makoni, implicated in a financial scandal surrounding Mashonaland's provincial finances, has replaced him.

Cricket in Zimbabwe is self-destructing on the back of corruption and political interference before the blind eye of the ICC.

This article is not biased. In fact it is far more even handed than some reactions. Since its publication, Zimbabwe have been effectively banned by the ICC from playing Tests for the rest of 2004, with the situation regarding ODI's and 2005 and beyond left unclear. The ICC (Intenational Cricket Council) is really draging it's feet. Popoular opinion across the globe wants Zimbabwe thrown out of international crikcet completley, but they refuse to do so and have threatened to severely fine any countries who pull out of tours to Zimbabwe (as England may have done this October, even tough the ICC would have fined them £1.3 million, which is a very substantial amount for the ECB).

Overall, Mugabe is a dictator on a par with what Saddam was, only there is no American lobby pushing for his removal.

Wow, I managed to sneak a cricket based post onto FOFC!

[Flasch186]

Bishop, I think that we (the UN) should go there too, BUT Under the premise of protecting people from ethnic cleansing and with the UN backing we can share those responsibilities. This is horrible if the paper work turns out to be true...No one can stand by while that happens. I hope CNN is right there to put some antiseptic on it and quick.

[JPhillips]

Mugabe has also recently inacted a plan to confiscate all farm land. The black farmers, who took the land when Mugabe forced the mostly white owners off the land, will be forced to pay rent to the government for the use of the land.

It appears that Mugabe isn't just concerned with a "white" problem. He's looking for a solution to a "population" problem. If we had the manpower and inclination I don't think it would be hard to put together an international coalition to get Mugabe. Nobody likes this jackass.

[Wolfpack]

Problem is, if we (that is, the US) do it, we're warmongering and if we succeed, Mugabe simply takes his place alongside Aristide, complaining the US is doing what it takes to keep his nation down and running his country with puppets, and people here will believe that (remember the circus around Aristide's removal and exile?). Another "enlightened" leader brought down by a cruel, corrupt American government that seeks to dominate and enslave the world for it's corporatist elites. And for kicks, this situation has a race angle that will no doubt sell well in certain corners of the country, regardless of what some will say.

[JPhillips]

That's why we go through the UN or let Britain or even France run it. There is no shortgage of countries that would be willing to take out Mugabe. He has no friends in the developed world.

As for the Aristide comparison, sure there was some bitching early, but has it really led to anything beneficial for him?

[clintl]

It's a former British colony, and British citizens are directly affected. It seems like Britain should be taking the lead on this problem.

[Driftwood]

Maybe people will bite my head of for saying this, but why is Africa the ass-crack of the world? What is it about that area that prevents people there from getting their act together?

I realize there is extreme poverty, but (this is the part that might get me into trouble) why does it seem like almost all of Africa is so completely helpless without other countries help?

It really seems as if Africa is several hundred years behind most of the rest of the world when it comes to anything and everything.

I`m not interested in a racial discussion, im more interested in understanding what everyone thinks is keeping that continent FAR behind in all forms of development and societal growth.

[rdo]

Driftwood

I highly recommend Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. It explores why societies have evolved the way they have.

It's been a while since I read it so I can't vouch for the accuracy of my next couple of paragraphs.

I think the main reason Diamond gives for Africa being well behind the rest a world in terms of development. Is the lack of readily domesticateable (if that's a word) animals. Elephants, Rhino's and Hippo's being too large and or aggresive and antelopes, zebras etc being too skitish. This forces the people to operate as hunter-gatherers because they can't farm effectively (Early farming relying heavily on beasts of burden).

In hunter-gatherer societies a much higher percentage of the population is involved in feeding the society leaving fewer people to think, invent etc.

[mordhiem]

Maybe people will bite my head of for saying this, but why is Africa the ass-crack of the world? What is it about that area that prevents people there from getting their act together?

I realize there is extreme poverty, but (this is the part that might get me into trouble) why does it seem like almost all of Africa is so completely helpless without other countries help?

It really seems as if Africa is several hundred years behind most of the rest of the world when it comes to anything and everything.

I`m not interested in a racial discussion, im more interested in understanding what everyone thinks is keeping that continent FAR behind in all forms of development and societal growth.


Short answer: Debt.

Long Answer: In the late 60's, when Africa was as a whole doing a lot better than it is now, many African nations borrowed money from organisations such as the IMF in order to speed up the industrialisation process. Things looked rosy for the future, as Africa had only recently thrown off the shackles of empire and was advancing fairly rapidly economically.

Cue global depression just a few years later and all of suddden the rich companies and nations that lent Africa the money want it back now. Also, the goods that Africa is now producing are not in demand as the largest markets for them (USA, UK) are in a real sticky time and many people are trying to 'buy domestic' to save local business. Now riddelled with loans to pay back that the intrest rate has skyrocketed on due to measures beyond their control and with no market to sell goods to, the whole continent was essentially down the shitter.

Since the global economy recovered, the richer nations are basically making too much 'free' money from the debt repayments to call them off and if they did either taxes would go up or spending would go down, both of which are usually unpopular for governments. Even though the initial value of the loans has been paid off many times over, the intrest due rises every year. The whole continent's economy is geared toward paying off the debt as best as possible, leaving no money for essential long-term industrial investment or even the most basic of social programs. In this climate it is very easy for dictators to take power (see: Germany 1933; Russia 1917) and they beleive that aggressive measures ae needed to stop the rot. Meanwhile, the first world twidles its thumbs, talking on about how much aid they send (far less aid than what they recieve in debt repayments) and how African imports are higher than ever before (but any profit made here goes straight back in debt repayments, and many of the imports come from large multinational companies who just use Africa to exploit the cheap labour market). Basically, if world leaders genuinly want to help people in Africa and end the vast poverty, disease and bloodshed experienced all to much there, they should just have the balls to call off the debt. The situation would improve instantly and the foundations for a revival would be in place.

[BishopMVP]

SI - The situation has been going on for a couple years, beginning with the takeover of every white-owned farmed. The opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai (sp?) either won an election or was poised to until it was rigged by Mugabe. Mugabe's bigger strategy is to starve all of Tsvangirai's supporters to death.

NoMyths - Especially when you consider that Mugabe's right hand man goes by the self-chosen nickname Hitler.

Flasch186/JPhillips - CNN? The ones that covered up Saddam's crimes so they could continue to report from Baghdad? Also, forget the UN (they're already ignoring one genocide in Darfur while putting the Sudan on the Human Rights Commission and possibly a second in Ethiopia, and where they have gotten involved they don't do anything or rape the refugees hxxp://www.instapundit.com/archives/015935.php) or France (everyone in the Ivory Coast hates them and wants them to leave - hxxp://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/2004/06/ivorian-crisis-actors-no-longer-trust.html plus they armed the Hutu back in Rwanda so they obviously don't give a shit and they've been the only country to ignore the EU ban on allowing Mugabe into Europe because Chirac just loves those 3rd world dictators.) The African Union won't do shit, especially since Mbeki appears to more or less support Mugabe. If the US was willing to intervene without UN support and take all the inherent criticism, there are other more pressing areas, so I doubt that'll happen. Hopefully because Zimbabwe was/is part of the Commonwealth Britain/Australia/NZ will lead something, but since close to 30% of the population has already left for those countries pressure will diminish.

Driftwood - Combined with what others have said, the constant ethnic clashes in parts of the continent, the rampant epidemics of disease (Malaria because the UN has banned DDT, now AIDS.) Also, some countries are doing fairly well (like Senegal) but too many countries have the diseases/wars and dictators that prevent growth. And probably not because they are black, but more because post-Cold War there is no strategic interest in almost all of Africa means that countries really don't care enough to try and solve the problem. If Nigeria (sitting on large Oil Reserves) devolves into a Civil War between the Christians and Arabs (very likely in the next few years) expect a much quicker response.

[andy m]

why this guy gets away with this stuff whilst iraq gets a full on invasion is beyond me.

[sterlingice]

Thanks for all the info here. I really didn't know anything about the situation and I'm still looking for more.

SI

[BishopMVP]

why this guy gets away with this stuff whilst iraq gets a full on invasion is beyond me.No it's not. Whatever bad shit Mugabe is doing, there is almost no potential effect on America/the West. He's trying to kick out all the Westerners so he can centralize and control/profit off of every part of the country while people like Saddam/al-Qaeda want to take the offensive against the West. If Saddam wasn't sitting around so much oil and had stuck to killing Kurds and Shi'ite Iraqis he'd almost certainly still be in power today.Thanks for all the info here. I really didn't know anything about the situation and I'm still looking for more.

SIThis has some backround - hxxp://www.instapundit.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=mugabe