Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Mugabe is a thug

How has Mugabe managed to maintain control of Zimbabwe for the past 28 years? First he destroys Zimbabwe's farmland, then he refuses foreign humanitarian assistance and now his people are dying of cholera. And I haven't even mentioned the atrocities he and his cronies have committed against those who speak out against him and his political party.

This from an article on CNN.com:

Zimbabwe's information minister said Tuesday the cholera outbreak was under control, and he argued the West caused the health crisis and was using it as an excuse for military intervention.

Zimbabwe, already experiencing an economic crisis, was struck with the water-borne cholera in August. Health experts say the battle against the disease can only be won if Harare has adequate water-treating chemicals and disposes of refuse properly.

The information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, maintained the country has enough chemicals to purify water and enough money to buy pipes to mend sanitation lines.

I love it when the West is blamed for a dictator's actions. And if the country has enough chemicals and money to solve the outbreak, then why aren't they doing it?

I don't understand how someone in power could allow people - their own countrymen - to suffer in this way. I guess you can become so power-hungry and ego-obsessed that you're blinded to the terrible things you do to get that power. This guy reminds me of Amin. Why doesn't the rest of the international community do something to get this guy out of power and bring real democracy and peace to the country?

3 comments:

Jessica said...

"Why doesn't the rest of the international community do something to get this guy out of power and bring real democracy and peace to the country? "

Because that's what Bush did and Bush is bad! Bad Bush! Bad!

MonkeyGirl said...

I totally agree, but Bush did that unilaterally, without the agreement of the rest of the international community. I'm suggesting that different countries come together (maybe through the UN, for example) and get this guy out peacefully. I'm not suggesting that the US needs to go in there and stormtroop Zimbabwe, but these people are genuinely suffering and I think the rest of the world tends to turn a blind eye.

pogonip said...

There is so much suffering in so many places. The worst though has to be the suffering like this one caused solely by hard-heartedness; it's so preventable.