Sherri Siegele
I visited Zimbabwe a year and a half ago. The dinner tab for six of us was 65 million Zimbabwe dollars ($241). Since then, the dollar has eroded to almost nothing, a disputed presidential election ended with the incumbent dictator (Mugabe) as the winner, nearly half its people require food aid, the UN and Jimmy Carter were denied access to the country, and a cholera break-out has caused bordering states to protect their countries. In September of 2008 a power-sharing deal where the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition leader Tsvangirai would be granted a seat as prime minister yesterday became a constitutional amendment. Along with this came the release of Biti who last June was arrested and nearly sentenced to death for being accused of a coup against Mugabe. The MDC is also calling for the release of many MDC activists who were jailed as part of the election process.
During the election process Mugabe showed his muscle power. When it was first determined that Tsvangirai had won the election, Mugabe used the ZANU—PF militia to intimidate and commit violent atrocities against society forcing Tsvangirai to withdraw. Although Mugabe has agreed to this power-sharing government, time will tell whether or not it gives the MDC enough power have a positive effect on the country and/or to overthrow Mugabe.
No comments:
Post a Comment