Like it or not, Robert Mugabe is the president of Zimbabwe. Mugabe sure isn’t going to step down from power anytime soon. It would seem that the best thing to do would be to wait for Mugabe to croak. Depending on Mugabe’s health, it should start deteriorating soon since he is about 84 years of age. At the African Union (AU) summit in Egypt, Mugabe received a leader’s welcome.
However, none of the leaders within the AU had criticized Mugabe. The only African leader that had spoken out against Mugabe would be Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Mugabe had some things to say about Odinga as well. Not long ago, Odinga had criticized Mugabe about the situation in Zimbabwe. He had demanded that Mugabe step down from power.
Odinga had called Zimbabwe and embarrassment to Africa.
Mugabe spokesman George Charamba brushed off any ideas of a power sharing agreement. It is highly unlikely that Zimbabwe will come to such an agreement. Mugabe will certainly not come to such an agreement with Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader and former opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai had dropped out days before the scheduled June 27 runoff election amidst pressure from his peers within the MDC.
So far, the leaders of Africa have been silent in the matter.
Mugabe has faced international condemnation. However, international criticism has been brushed off.
The United States, Great Britain, and the European nations have given such condemnation. The US wants more sanctions against those that support and side with Mugabe.
It is unknown at the moment what is in stake for the future of the people of Zimbabwe. The time between the elections at the end of March up until the runoff election on June 27, there has been much chaos and bloodshed. Mugabe said Zimbabwe will not be like Kenya.
Mugabe was right, Zimbabwe was not like Kenya. Zimbabwe seemed to be far bloodier than Kenya. At the same time, Zimbabwe seemed to end up like Burma.
In regards to the Western nations, Charamba told them to “go hang.” But, what does that mean? Is he telling them to go hang themselves? Perhaps this is the political correct version of something far brutal. Perhaps this is Charamba’s own way of telling the Western nations to screw off.
In a sense, Mugabe has “won.”
The rest of the African nations have grown silent when Mugabe attended the AU summit.
The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) has contemplated possible military intervention in Zimbabwe. However, that is easier said than done because Britain would need cooperation with the neighboring African nations.
Ultimately, Mugabe has won this round.