Skip Navigation

January vol 30 2011, Featured Articles, National News

As Egyptian Uprising Continues, Zimbabweans Consider Possible Lessons

By VOA   Tue, Feb 01, 2011

The Egyptian military said Monday it recognizes the "legitimate demands" of the Egyptian people, and vowed that it "will not use force" against the public.

The military statement comes as tens of thousands of Egyptians continue to protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square, defying the fourth night of a government-imposed curfew as they continue to press for an end to President Hosni Mubarak's nearly 30-year rule.

Protesters called for bigger protests Tuesday in a million-person march in Cairo.

The demonstrators also have called for a general strike, although much of the Egyptian capital already was shut down as demonstrations raged late Monday.

The military statement did not specify whether it considers legitimate the demands for President Hosni Mubarak's removal or just calls for reform.

As the standoff in Cairo continued earlier Monday, VOA correspondent Henry Ridgewell filed an on-the-scene report from the downtown square at the heart of the revolt.

Meanwhile, events in Egypt have generated discussion in Zimbabwe as to whether such an uprising could take place in Harare. President Robert Mugabe has not spoken about Egypt but Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe could take the same path.

But Director Sidney Chisi of the Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere such an event is unlikely to occur in Zimbabwe because the country's military is so clearly lined up behind Mr. Mugabe.

By VOA

Please login to post your comments.

More Featured Articles

CAUGHT CHEATING? HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER BEING UNFAITHFUL

We all learn to look out for signs that our man is cheating, or subtle hints that he might be seeing someone else on the side, but what if you are the one that cheated? Assuming that you still want to work on your current relationship, we have 7 ways to move on successfully after you’ve been unfaithful. This is not a “loop-hole” and is not praised, but the reality is 14 percent of married women have had affairs at least once during their married lives and 17 percent of divorces in the United States are caused by infidelity. If you fall into this category, and don’t want to be part of the divorce statistic, take a look at these helpful steps.

Sure signs she's cheating on you

MARRIAGES often break down on account of husbands not being loyal to their wives.

Who wants to be a monkey?

A student has been left feeling a little red-faced after an embarrassing incident with a monkey made her a global star. Charmian Chen, who just happens to be a model, was visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud in Bali last month when two of the primates decided she was a little overdressed.The 22-year-old student, from Taiwan, was on holiday on the tropical Indonesian island feeding long-tailed macaques when she was singled out.

Where would Gaddafi go?

Venezuela, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe have made supportive noises — as has Nelson Mandela — or will Muammar Gaddafi "go like Hitler?" writes Freya Petersen in the Global Post

What does China want from Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe has claimed that China is ready to pour $10 billion (£6.2 billion) into its ailing economy. If the figure is true, what might Beijing want in return? (Pictured:China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi)

Garikayi Chimuka: Who is behind violence and early elections campaign in ZANU PF and why?

ZANU PF has thrown the gauntlet on the irreversibility of the staging of elections this year to the extent that the party is even threatening to go for the plebiscite with or without a new constitution.

China's passion cools for Zimbabwe's natural resources

Evidence of prickly relationship surfaces in report of negotiations over $10-billion investment writes Jonathan Manthorpe, in the Vancouver Sun

Zimbabwe relatives fleece Diasporans

Last night as I was driving home, I came across a group of women who were chatting by the roadside.

Can Zimbabweans Catch The Revolutionary Fires That Have Engulfed The Middle East?

Harare - “This can never happen in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are cowards,” said Alec Sithole, while watching the uprisings in Egypt on CNN this week.

Mugabe’s Ncube DPM snub a political ploy against MDC-T

THE recent statements made by Robert Mugabe in Ethiopia to the effect that he will not accept the “recall”of Aurthur Mutambara and hence the elevation of Welshman Ncube to the DPM post must be treated with a pinch of salt.

Guy Lamb: Birds of a Feather - Is Zimbabwe Supplying Arms to the Gbagbo Regime?

On 23 January, the Sunday Times in the UK reported that in the dying days of 2010 the Zimbabwe government clandestinely transferred arms to incument President Laurent Gbagbo's administration in the Ivory Coast.

Has South Africa failed Zimbabwe?

There are far more benefits to South Africa of a Zimbabwe free from a dictatorship writes Vince Musewe.

Harare's aviation authority 'a farce'

The crisis-ridden Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) is again in the spotlight after being dismissed as a farce amid calls for management to resign.

Robert Mugabe running out of options very fast

A closer look at the Zimbabwean situation unravels a frightening slide into the unknown as Robert Mugabe shows he is running of out of viable options to salvage the fragile coalition writes Clifford Chitupa Mashiri.

Zimbabwe goes for elections

FRANCISTOWN: President, Robert Mugabe, and Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, of Zimbabwe are going to the presidential run-off this May but many have expressed concern about safety guarantees.

NOCZIM: The chickens have come home to roost

IN my view, the fuel problems being experienced in some parts of Zimbabwe are due to what I would call 50 -50, meaning 50 percent NOCZIM’s management fault and 50 percent politicians’ or government’s fault writes Clifford Chitupa Mashiri

No money for public sector wages

Zimbabwe's fiscal cupboard remains bare and the unity government will struggle to meet its wage bill for public sector workers in January 2011, finance minister Tendai Biti told the inaugural Global Poverty Summit in Johannesburg on 19 January.

UK Children as young as FOUR to be taught about homosexuality under plans to 'celebrate gay community'c

Children as young as four are to be taught about homosexuality in maths, geography, science and English lessons.

Zimbabwe Vigil Diary 15/01/2011‏

‘Tunisian President forced from power after 23 years’ was the news at the Vigil. It was a tail-between-the-legs exit for Mafia boss Ben Ali after an eruption of street anger over oppression and corruption. The sudden collapse of another African dictatorship cannot be good news for the Mugabe Mafia. If Ivory Coast is the writing on the wall then Tunisia is the wall collapsing. Who will be next?

A case for 'Sisi Grace' Mugabe

The first lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe, was in the papers again recently. She is suing the Zimbabwean Standard newspaper US $15 million.