Robert Mugabe is the worst of the worst. He has revoked property rights on farms and conducted massive electoral fraud. He starves his people—the so-called “breadbasket of Africa” is now a basket case. He has demolished ghettos and pushed the urban poor into the rural countryside, fearing that they will create a critical mass strong enough to undermine his regime. To summarize, he has transformed Zimbabwe into an international pariah.
And it keeps getting worse . Now he’s revoking the citizenship of Zimbabwe nationals with foreign lineage. Via the BBC:
In the wake of the government’s crackdown on illegal buildings and unlicensed traders, Zimbabweans of foreign parentage are finding themselves in a particularly difficult situation… A change in the citizenship law shortly before the 2002 presidential elections meant that being born in Zimbabwe no longer automatically conferred nationality. Although most observers believe the law was designed to disenfranchise whites, it also affected the status of Zimbabweans who have roots in other African countries.
People with just one parent or grandparent of non-Zimbabwean origins are now in a real fix as they prepare to be deported to countries that many of them have never known.
But I for one hope this law will be enforced across the board. Because it turns out the Hitler of 21st century Africa has a little secret: Mugabe’s father was from the neighboring country of Malawi. As much as I’m in favor of sending in the Marines to give Mugabe a taste of regime change with extreme prejudice, there could be an even easier way—if we could get this new citizenship law to apply universally, we’d solve the country’s biggest problem without any bloodshed.
(Implausible, but a man can dream…)
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COMMENTS / 8 COMMENTS
Eddie added these pithy words on 26 Aug 05 at 12:48 pmWatching Zimbabwe go the way of the Congo is pitiful even by the standards of the past 50 years in African history. What a wonderful law he’s passed, just like some of the more asinine ones Mobutu or Udi Amin instituted in their heydays.
Without South Africa taking the lead, I fear there will only be bloody violence, oppression and famine in Zimbabwe for years to come. No regime change, unless the African Union (and us) get serious about tackling Africa’s most serious problem; an endemic lack of security and rule of law.
Eddie added these pithy words on 26 Aug 05 at 2:39 pm(Via Zenpundit, thank you very much), I just noticed this comment from Ralph Peters. Participating in a symposium on Africa, he noted that South Africa effectively went into war-ravaged Mozambique and rebuilt it, and S. African businesses effectively own the majority of the infastructure. He continued that the S. Africans know Mugabe is ravaging Zimbabwe, and they’re just biding their time until they can go into Zimbabwe and repeat their “economic” imperalism of sorts there.
Mugabe is certainly doing his best to leave nothing of value in the country that doesn’t belong to him or his closest cronies.
Chief Wiggum added these pithy words on 26 Aug 05 at 4:15 pmFunny you should mention Robert Mugabe and Hitler…
This is from the Telegraph (UK) website-
http://www.opinion.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/26/wzim26.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/03/26/ixworld.html‘Hitler’ Mugabe launches revenge terror attacks
_By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
(Filed: 26/03/2003)_President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has compared himself to Adolf Hitler.
At the state funeral of one of his cabinet ministers, Mr Mugabe said: “I am still the Hitler of the time. This Hitler has only one objective, justice for his own people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people, and their right to their resources. “If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold. Ten times, that is what we stand for.” Hours later members of the Zimbabwe National Army, including Mr Mugabe’s elite force, the Presidential Guard, began a pre-dawn rampage in revenge for the opposition general strike last week.
Matthew J. Stinson added these pithy words on 26 Aug 05 at 6:12 pmSickening story about Zimbabwe. Mugabe’s on my short list of people who should up and die tomorrow.
To add to Chief Wiggum’s citation (eek, fix the chief’s link), Chenjerai Hunzvi, Mugabe’s right-hand man during the farm seizures, also enjoyed being compared to Hitler, so much so that his official nickname was Hitler.
Zamboonian added these pithy words on 29 Aug 05 at 4:51 amDon’t forget the Chinese trade relationship between China and Zimbabwe. Why would ol’ Rob listen to anyone when he knows he has a trade partner like China? China embraces Zimbabwe as a parent would a child – treats included.
There are countries far worse than Zimbabwe, I mean China has done an even better job at throwing its weight around. Does anyone actually still remember that Tibet was overrun by the Chinese? That Taiwan is the constant target of threats of violence, by China? Tiannamen Square, anyone?
Yet, China has become the darling of the world’s leading brands who have thought it good and proper to set up factories there. Where is the logic in that? Investing in China is severly politically incorrect in my book. I’m sure Harley-Davidson grind off the “Made in China” bits from all its parts, before assembly.
China is just a bigger version of Zimbabwe.
futuremongolian added these pithy words on 29 Aug 05 at 4:45 pmthe current situation is indeed heartbreaking. I lived there for a short period of time when I was 14 and it was a really great place. People were happy, lots of international exchange was occuring and the future seemed bright.
Now when I receive a letteï½’ from my friends in Harare or Mutare they only speak of destitution and plead for whatever help I can provide. Id like to go back but I wonder about my safety.
snow added these pithy words on 30 Aug 05 at 7:38 amYes, what is the left saying about this scumbag now? In the past, Mugabe was well regarded by the left, let’s just hope that they still aren’t apologizing or making excuses for him now (I know some on the left don’t like him).
futuremongolian added these pithy words on 30 Aug 05 at 6:10 pmthe left gotta love massive blanket generalizations which arent directed at anyone in particular.
