Should sanctions be lifted on Mugabe's government?

[Viking Prince]

Mugabe urges lifting of sanctions

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has urged the lifting of what he called illegal sanctions against his country.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, he said the sanctions were hampering Zimbabwe's economy.

After his re-election in disputed polls this year, Western countries tightened measures against individuals and firms seen to be supporting Mr Mugabe.

At the UN, he also called for reform of the Security Council, saying it had become the tool of powerful countries.

Zimbabwe's economy has gone into a sharp crisis in recent years, with inflation now standing at 11,000,000%.

'False accusations'

"Once again, I appeal to the world's collective conscience to apply pressure for the immediate removal of these sanctions by Britain, the United States and their allies, which have brought untold suffering to our people," he said.

Mr Mugabe frequently blames the limited sanctions for his country's economic woes.

An attempt to tighten the sanctions earlier this year failed to get UN backing after China and Russia refused to support them.

Robert Mugabe appeals to world leaders to lift the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe



He said powerful nations on the Security Council - which he did not name - had falsely accused his government of human rights abuses.

Supporters of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party were accused of mounting a campaign of intimidation against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) during the elections earlier this year.

"By the way, those who falsely accuse us of these violations are themselves international perpetrators of genocide, acts of aggression and mass destruction," he said, referring to the invasion of Iraq.

Mr Mugabe said the Security Council had become undemocratic and should be re-organised to include greater geographical representation with permanent seats for African nations.

He also thanked South Africa's former President Thabo Mbeki for brokering a power-sharing agreement reached earlier this month with the MDC.
Under the deal, a new government is to be formed with ministers from both Zanu-PF and the MDC.
Mr Mugabe said the agreement showed Africans could solve African problems, which, he said, were often the legacy of the West's colonial involvement in the continent.

I say that we still need to see real progress towards democracy and less thuggery. Then the somewhat limited sanctions can be lifted.

[Sven788]

Nah just let him fail.

[Kleos]

"Mr Mugabe frequently blames the limited sanctions for his country's economic woes."

The Rhodesian Front didn't have an inflation rate of 11,000,000%, despite international sanctions, and it remained an important food producer...Mugabe is simply trying to take attention off his own failings by attacking the "colonial" powers.

However, I don't agree with the sanctions. Its the people on the bottom of the ladder that suffer the most, its not as if Mugabe is going to go hungry or become poor because of it. Obivously, an arms embargo is wise, and one I support.

[Princeps]

The Rhodesian Front didn't have an inflation rate of 11,000,000%, despite international sanctions, and it remained an important food producer

Mugabe is a scumbag, but defending Rhodesian Front is just despicable. Rhodesian front might've been more successful economically, but that success wasn't shared among the many.

Also Mugabe no longer represents any one but himself.

[Pious Agnost]

Shoot Mugabe in the head, get Morgan Tsvangirai(sp?) into power and give him a guard of combined NZSAS, German Special Forces (Name escapes me) and Spetznas THEN, lift the sanctions

[Kleos]

Mugabe is a scumbag, but defending Rhodesian Front is just despicable. Rhodesian front might've been more successful economically, but that success wasn't shared among the many.

The per capita income of Rhodesia in 1974 was over three times what it is now, its overal GDP is less, and the life expectance was a decade longer. Excuse me for thinking that maybe, just maybe, the RF was doing something right that ZANU PF is obviously not.

[Princeps]

The per capita income of Rhodesia in 1974 was over three times what it is now, its overal GDP is less, and the life expectance was a decade longer.

Irrelevant to my point. None of this excuses the nature of Rhodesian front.

Just because Mugabe and his cronies (and also western imposed structural adjustment programs) have savaged Zimbabwe doesn't mean that the Rhodesian front deserves any praise.

And it's Zimbabwe, not Rhodesia.

[Kleos]

Irrelevant to my point.

Your point was, I quote; "defending Rhodesian Front is just despicable" , relaying the historcial and economic facts concerning Rhodesia hardly equates to a despicable act. Or are you seriously arguing that they didn't cope better than ZANU PF, or that the country is not far worse off than it was?

Just because Mugabe and his cronies (and also western imposed structural adjustment programs) have savaged Zimbabwe doesn't mean that the Rhodesian front deserves any praise.

Well, in economic terms, and in compariosn to Mugabe, yes - yes they do.

And it's Zimbabwe, not Rhodesia

Not in 1974 it wasn't, as I specified in my post...

[jankren]

Sanction on Zimbabwe? Why not just supply him with more weapons so the Zimbabweans can die faster?

[Pious Agnost]

Sanction on Zimbabwe? Why not just supply him with more weapons so the Zimbabweans can die faster?

How incredibly racist and insensitive, I hope that was a joke .

[Viking Prince]

How incredibly racist and insensitive, I hope that was a joke .

Pardon my question -- how is that racist? Sarcastic, maybe. If serious , very poor thinking. But racist????

[Pious Agnost]

Pardon my question -- how is that racist? Sarcastic, maybe. If serious , very poor thinking. But racist????

"So the Zimbabweans can die faster", I think that is quite racist, or at the very best, extremely culturally insensitive... Damn I hate PC

[Viking Prince]

"So the Zimbabweans can die faster", I think that is quite racist, or at the very best, extremely culturally insensitive... Damn I hate PC

Sorry -- killing ones own citizens by virtue of opposition to the government is not racism. I will not even go into any question of blacks killing blacks. I am just suggesting that you find a more appropriate word to describe your disapproval and leave racist for those that do harm to others because of their race.

[jankren]

How incredibly racist and insensitive, I hope that was a joke .

If that is so then suggesting sanction on Zimbabwe is also racist because its the same like saying "Let the Zimbabweans die through a slow and painful death from hunger and disease." I would rather have a bullet in my head than die after prolonged period of starvation.

[Каие]

Not yet, until he goes...

[Axeman]

While I think that Mugabe is a crazy nutjob with the intelligence of a walnut sanctions do nothing. I do remember what it was like to live under sanctions , it hurts only the people while the government sits in the lap of luxury . Depriving Mugabe's government of rice only forces the few rice and food they get to go to the police , military , and Zanu PF loyalists. Stop shipping him weapons and make active political change.

[Watercress]

The main problem is Russia and China. they are the one's sending the weapons. they aren't going to lose a buyer without a fight.

[Axeman]

Give them no reason or negate the dangers of them selling weapons , I garuntee you with the ammount of Zimbabwean Townships in South Africa *so many we couldnt feed them all without endangering our own food so we had to close the border* we would be greeted as liberators.

[Pallantides]

oh beautiful Rhodesia how you have fallen ...

[Axeman]

As nostalgic as I am from the British the minority rule is something I will never miss, the fact is Zimbabwe did good for a WHILE under mugabe , then it proceeded to collapse with great speed.