Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Lessons in democracy...
...what Robert Mugabe doesn't need from anyone. Zimbabwe's upcoming "election" sprang to mind when reading about the whole Belarus thing, since there's a similarity there: Both states have relatively strong neighbors who wield great influence, but have chosen to stand on the sidelines while the bad guy does bad guy stuff. In Belarus, the complacent neighbor is Russia, in Zimbabwe, it's South Africa, which is thrilled to hear that there is somewhat less political violence in Zimbabwe now.
Translation? "For a fat girl, you don't sweat much."
Morgan Tsvangirai, who in my mind can't get a Nobel Peace Prize quick enough, officially announced his campaign, running on the simple issue that Mugabe has wrecked the place:
Mugabe's plans are to keep stealing elections and beating the crap out of the opposition to yawns from abroad. (Mugabe did throw off the chains of racist colonial oppression, you know. The fact that he is now a racist colonial oppressor himself...mildly amusing irony.) Eventually, the opposition will stop taking part in the sham elections, Mugabe will "win" in a "landslide", and everyone will conclude the opposition has no popular support. This plan had moderate success in Iran, and appears to be on the agenda in Venezuela.
Translation? "For a fat girl, you don't sweat much."
Morgan Tsvangirai, who in my mind can't get a Nobel Peace Prize quick enough, officially announced his campaign, running on the simple issue that Mugabe has wrecked the place:
Almost a quarter of century after independence, Zimbabweans are as poor as they were in 1970, fewer people have formal sector jobs now than in 1980 and life expectancy is lower than in 1960.Mugabe's response? "White people like the MDC."
Mugabe's plans are to keep stealing elections and beating the crap out of the opposition to yawns from abroad. (Mugabe did throw off the chains of racist colonial oppression, you know. The fact that he is now a racist colonial oppressor himself...mildly amusing irony.) Eventually, the opposition will stop taking part in the sham elections, Mugabe will "win" in a "landslide", and everyone will conclude the opposition has no popular support. This plan had moderate success in Iran, and appears to be on the agenda in Venezuela.
