September 2009 vol 8, National News
Mugabe fans hail ‘anti-Zimbabwe flop’
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s supporters in Zimbabwe, led by the state media, were yesterday celebrating the failure of the Southern African Development Community to discuss the country’s problems.
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s supporters in Zimbabwe, led by the state media, were yesterday celebrating the failure of the Southern African Development Community to discuss the country’s problems.
“Anti-Zim lobby flops” screamed the headline of the state-owned Herald.
State radio also made a big song and dance about how Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had left the DR Congo summit after “he realised Zimbabwe was not going to be discussed”.
The only mention Zimbabwe received at the summit was during Monday’s speech by the outgoing SADC chairman, President Jacob Zuma, who said the “SADC ... remains committed to working to encourage further progress”.
All the hype about how the SADC would get tough with Mugabe amounted to nothing when Zimbabwe was dropped from the agenda.
Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, had apparently lobbied SADC member states to hear his complaints.
He had hoped that the SADC — as the sponsors and guarantors of the unity government — would force Mugabe to accept real change.
