Zimbabwe "Election" results

[MMMike]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/04/01/zimbabwe050401.html

Big surprise! How's that for an election - Mugabe appoints one third of the seats directly, and has an election for the rest??? The big loser is the people of Zimbabwe, where the suffering will continue...

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

Not really news, MMMike. The thing is that we all knew how this was going to go. The surprising thing is that the opposition gets any seats at all. The good thing is that was less violence this time.

I think we'll be seeing some changes there soon though...within the next few years. People won't stand for it for very long and the economy is in such poor shape that Mugabe will not be able to maintain his military. I hope it isn't too violent, but it likely will be.

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

I think it is quite telling that under the rule of Mugabe, Zimbabwe changed from what was seen as the granary of Southern Africa to a country where it is said 30% of the population is now undernourished.

 

[MMMike]

Re: RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

Not really news, MMMike. The thing is that we all knew how this was going to go. The surprising thing is that the opposition gets any seats at all. The good thing is that was less violence this time.

I think we'll be seeing some changes there soon though...within the next few years. People won't stand for it for very long and the economy is in such poor shape that Mugabe will not be able to maintain his military. I hope it isn't too violent, but it likely will be.

I don't hold out too much hope.... Most of the people in Africa have been suffering in extreme poverty and violence for years and years. No uprising yet. There's a timebomb waiting to explode.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

It is a time-bomb. In the case of Zimbabwe, at least, it will be local first. It won't stay that way though.

Wait until all those AIDS orphans grow up and figure out that the west, especially the US, screwed them for years when we could have been helping.

There will be a bunch of white guys in suits standing around with their thumbs up their asses mumbling things like, "They hate us because we're rich," as the pharmaceutical plants get bombed.

We'll likely see a wave come out of South America first though. They're mostly done with the blaming each other part.

 

[Jo Canadian]

Let us not forcet Mugabe is also around 81 years old, I'd like to see what'll happen when he kickes it.

Any predictions?

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

Civil war, military dictatorship, starvation, disease.

 

[no1important]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

The Zimbabwe people are probably wondering where the great "democracy fighter" "W" and the boys are..............

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

I rather think, and that is the sad part, most Zimbabweans don't think about that at all, no1important; I think their thoughts are at "will I have food tomorrow?" or "what should I do when my father/mother/child dies of AIDS?"

 

[no1important]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

I meant that as a smart ass remark.

I am just wondering is anyone trying to help those people? If not, why not?

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

Sorry, wasn't my intention to make fun of you, no1important.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

Well, let's see. The US policy on AIDS in Africa is keeping them from getting drugs and discouraging them from using condoms. The food aid poicies are tied to accepting GM crops that are ecologically dangerous and keep Europe from being an export market. The World Bank and IMF policies are still forcing developing nations into debt and debt relief has been slow at best. The hotter the world gets the more crop failures there are in the developing world. Annan's UN reforms are meeting resistance.

I'd say that the closest thing they'll get to help is a small peace keeping force after the shooting is done.

 

[no1important]

Re: RE: Zimbabwe "Election" results

Sorry, wasn't my intention to make fun of you, no1important.

You have nothing to apologize for. It was a smart ass remark to show how the USA can be such hyprocrits. I mean if they had oil the USA would of been in long ago.

 

[Reverend Blair]

It was a smart ass remark to show how the USA can be such hyprocrits. I mean if they had oil the USA would of been in long ago.

It was a dandy remark too. The US has also been active in parts of Africa that have mineral resources. It always oil. Rwanda was desperately tied up in the French (in Rwanda) and the Americans (in Uganda) working to ensure their mining companies were making a profit. Zimbabwe is more likely to fall under the push for spreading GM crops so far and wide that Europe is forced to accept them.

There's more than one sow in hog barn, and Georgie wants a turn at all of them.

 

[MMMike]

How can you blame the woes of the entire world on U.S. intervention, and then turn around and blame U.S. inaction for the AIDS epidemic? Make up your mind.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

The US has resisted...vehemently...the production and distribution of generic AIDS drugs. People have died because of it. Many people. It isn't a matter of making up my mind, it's a matter of the US government and corporations killing people for profits.

 

[JorCON5]

I think it's a failing for the international community. They knew the spread of HIV was going to be explosive. Many African countries don't get the media coverage other places get. (Sierra Leone, Sudan, etc, where virtually unknown). I don't even want to get started on the drug companies. They are in the biggest conflict of interest there is.

 

[no1important]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

I remember that Rev, they did not want to pay for or donate generic drugs to help fight aids. They should also be sending condoms as well. Bastards is all I can say.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Zimbabwe "Election" r

They took an agreement that was a couple of paragraphs, expanded it to 300 pages, and basically denied medicine to sick people. Oddly enough the pharmaceutical giants are huge contributors to the Bush camp.