Is Mugabe finally bowing to international pressure?

Zimbabwe’s new power sharing deal between the seemingly indomitable forces of ZANU –PF led by the ruthless Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai is certainly imbued with many flaws.

However, it is nothing short of seminal and historic in this turbulent and politically volatile region. The power- sharing deal, brokered by the efforts of South African president Thabo Mbeki saw an end to months of a bitter political feuding between the two forces. The power sharing deal may not result in a swift end to a seemingly never ending political and economic crisis but it does mean that even Mugabe can be subject to such scrutiny that he is willing to concede political power.

Read more from Neesha Fakir here.

My Zimbabwe Diary III

What choices does Mugabe have now? Stepping down is definately not an option... so, for now, he is just waiting.

Hello. So, now what is happening? He is waiting. I mentioned, perhaps not in this forum, that in four days the mood would be lost. Four days have gone (maybe I got the time wrong) but he is waiting for attention to leave Zimbabwe, then he will steal the election. Again. And the opposition (led by the MDC, or not led as the case may be) will sit around and do nothing. Lots of talks, going to the courts, and all that excuse for inactivity, but they will do nothing.

Read more from Michael Laban here.

A world without AIDS: Bangladesh to Zimbabwe

The spread of HIV has meant personal and national health crises in many countries. The disease has strained many poorer countries’ health care budgets and has challenged scientists, medical professionals and those in social services affected by it. But despite the devastation it leaves in its wake, some activists confronting HIV also appreciate the opportunities it provides to rethink, reimagine and revision a host of social, political, and medical engagements.

Read more from Amanda Atwood here.

Why Mugabe continues to rule Zimbabwe

Zimbabweans as a people need a change of governance for the sake of their very lives. The world is settled on that fact but has failed to agree on the informing motive. It is clear now, that besides an economic turn-around for the country, other, less altrustic motives have emerged.
Why is it that everyone feels in themselves activists for humanity while pouring criticism on President Robert Mugabe, but falls just short of committing to any action?

Read more from Thuo Kiragu here.

My Zimbabwe Diary II

An electoral candidate's bulletin of events and happenings pertaining to Ward 7, Harare, where he is running for office as a councillor. contd.... .

My Zimbabwe Diary

An electoral candidate's bulletin of events and happenings pertaining to Ward 7, Harare where he is running for office as a councillor. Michael Laban, a former councillor, is contesting for the Ward 7 (Avondale, Alex Park, Strathaven, KG6 Barracks, etc.) seat in the Harare City Council. Read more here.

Zimbabwe's enigmatic millions

As Ralph drove me to his rose farm in Enterprise Valley, some thirty kilometres outside Harare, he explained how anyone with access to foreign currency and local credit can become a Rockefeller in the new Zimbabwe.

"I bought my farm in 2000 for the equivalent of $150,000 US dollars," he said. "Paid for it in Zimbabwean currency, of course. Borrowed the whole lot from a local bank." The bank charged thirty percent interest on the loan, which would be a lot if inflation weren't outpacing it by several thousand percent. A year and a half later, Ralph's debt had shrunk to the equivalent of USD$18,000 and he paid it off with the proceeds from a single truckload of flowers.

Read more from Arno Kopecky here.

Your turn now, Zimbabwe

With even Kenyans starting to lose interest in the Kenyan saga, Zimbabwe looks set to become the next African media darling. This time around, though, coverage will be more spotty; president Robert Mugabe has banned reporters from ‘hostile' Western countries-meaning all Western countries-from entering the country in advance of the March 29th election.

Read more from Arno Kopecky here.

Hear no evil, see no evil

Rejoice Ngwenya comments on Zimbabwean Environment and Tourism Minister recent elected to chair the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.

The free world can no longer watch in bewildered paralysis as the United Nations continues to pander to the whims of political patronage. Just like Thabo Mbeki's quiet diplomacy, the UN's culture of corrosive tolerance casts itself as fatal collusion with fascist dictatorships. African presidents have been arguing for a case of UN reform - I say, forget UN reforms and close shop altogether.

Read more here.

US of Africa

This week, The African Executive Magazine spoke out on the clamour for the formation of a United States of Africa proclaiming, "we do not need a United States of Africa." According to the magazine, the African Union (AU) summit issued a road-map to a federation of African States (Accra Declaration) without mentioning a single idea on political or economic freedom for African citizens.

Read here as Ken Teyie advises African states to move away from ideology onto action that will lead to economic growth.

Zimbabwe needs other Africans' help

Rejoice Ngwenya:

Although we are an extreme case, these oppressive economic and political policies are not exclusive to Zimbabwe. The fallacy of the African dream of Ghanian founding father Kwame Nkrumah about self-rule has been exposed by the brutal failures of governments with a revolutionary history. Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Milton Obote, and perhaps even such so-called models of excellence as Yoweri Museveni and Thabo Mbeki, all espoused Nkrumaism, meaning state control of the economy and even of society.

What will this generation offer Africa? Read more here.

Poachers and Ivory- video

A few days ago lives were lost in a crossfire between poachers and KWS rangers.

Kenya which follows a strong non-hunting tourism tradition, thus finds itself at odds with the South African countries where hunting and culling are an integral part of wildlife management. In Zimbabwe which has annual hunting quota of 500, for example, a survey conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature and African Wildlife Foundation indicated an elephant population of around 110 000 against a carrying capacity of 47 000. Zimbabwe insists that Kenya has been ‘sent' to fight against Zimbabwe citing the fact that two Kenyan missions to Zimbabwe have in the past been vastly impressed by Zimbabwe's conservation efforts and by its attempts to resolve the competition for reasons between men and wildlife.

Join in on the discussion here on Kenya's wildlife future and the threat that KWS faces with poaching.