Townshipvibes

American President Barack Obama has announced that the United States will provide $73 million in aid to Zimbabwe. Speaking at the White House after meeting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, he said he wanted to encourage the rule of law, human rights, basic health and education in Zimbabwe.

“I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the Prime Minister (Tsvangirai) has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe,” said Obama.
“There was a time when Zimbabwe was the breadbasket of Africa, and continues to have enormous potential. It has gone through a very dark and difficult time politically.”

He also added that, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe

“has not acted often times in the best interest of the Zimbabwean people and has been resistant to the democratic changes that need to take place.” “We now have a power-sharing that has promise, and we want to do everything we can to encourage the kind of improvement not only on human rights and rule of law, freedom of the press and democracy that is so necessary, but also on the economic front.”

Meanwhile Prime Minister Tsvangirai said he is grateful of the generosity. In an interview with CNN he said,

“whether it is humanitarian aid or transitional support, it adds up to the relief that Zimbabwe is seeking.”

The US aid will not be going to the government directly but “direct to the people in Zimbabwe,” said Obama.

I think the Unity Government has done well in the few months they have been sharing power in Zimbabwe. They have done enough so far to attract aid from some Western countries. There is still a lot of work that need to be done in terms of re branding Zimbabwe and making it attractive again to international investors and the international community. But so far they seem to be in the right direction.

It’s up to to the two parties, MDC and Zanu Pf to make sure the Unity Government works, and also to ensure there is peace and stability in the country.

Feel free to add your views on this and other issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe’s depature will be “in the best interest of everyone”, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

Clinton told South African television that the US will not resume aid to the Zimbabwean government as long as it’s not sure aid will reach the right people.

Two guards looking after Bona Mugabe, the daughter of Zimbabwe’s President may face trial in Hong Kong for allegedy assaults. Government lawyers in Hong Kong are considering whether to prosecute.

The guards are accused of assaulting photographers Collin Galoway and Tim O’Rouke in February outside a house where Bona Mugabe is living while on a University course in Hong Kong.
The two man were allegedly attacked outside the home reportedly bought in June last year by a middle man acting on behalf of Mugabe and his wife Grace, according to the Sunday Times.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe attending EAC-COMSA-SADC summit in Kampala Uganda Wednesday Oct. 22, 2008.

He joined the presidents of Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya who all gave speeches outlining ideas for increasing economic and political alliances among three of Africa’s major trading blocs.

But was President Mugabe listening or in deep sleep?

Whatever happened, how I wish he could do the reasonable thing that will end the suffering in Zimbabwe. Step Down! Probably we will see and end to all this suffering in Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe has been described as a good example of somebody who’s an appalling man who loves talking and showing you he’s clever than you, he is the ideal character for television, according to John Simpson, BBC World Affairs editor.

John Simpson, the big man from the BBC who sneaked into Zimbabwe in the run up to the presidential elections in March was speaking in an interview with the metro newspaper.

Simpson says the most memorable person he has interviewed is Nelson Mandela. He says “he is he only leader who really is what you’d want him to be. He is genuine.”

So, do you think our dear leader is a reality television actor? Feel free to tell us what you think by posting your comments.

After wasting the little foreign currency that the country has got going to the UN, it’s sad that more money will be wasted taking people to the Airport to welcome Mugabe whilst millions of Zimbabweans are on the brink of starvation.
Zanu PF Harare province called on all Zanu PF supporters to go to the Harare International Airport in numbers to give a “heroes welcome” to President Mugabe when he returns from the United Nations General Assembly.
What did Zimbabweans gain from Robert Mugabe attending the UN General Assembly that he deserves a “heroes welcome”?

In a statement to ZBC News, Zanu PF described Mugabe as “a true hero of Zimbabwe who deserves a rousing welcome for his tireless and dedicated efforts on behalf of the voiceless in Zimbabwe and Africa.”

Are these Zanu PF loyalists living in a different Zimbabwe from everyone else? Give us a break, Mugabe is responsible for the current suffering in Zimbabwe irrespective of what he may want us to believe.
These corrupt and greedy Zanu PF members should stop wasting government resources on Zanu PF functions. I wouldn’t care much what Zanu PF members do, but not when it involves wasting the country’s resources, whilst people starve.

How much money did Mugabe and all those people he takes with him where ever he goes waste on their trip to the United Nations? How can they justify that? Plus how did that benefit the country?

Glorifying Mugabe does not help the country at all. Zanu PF says, “Mugabe stood out as a champion for democracy as demonstrated by his address to the UN General Assembly where he challenged the developed world’s policies of dominance and exploitation.”

Who in their right senses think Zimbabwe’s problems will be solved through Robert Mugabe’s continuous ‘attacks’ on the Western governments? The developed world may dominate and exploit developing nations, that is wrong, but for how long has Mugabe dominated and exploited the people of Zimbabwe. What do we have to show for the 28 years that Mugabe has been in power? More poverty and suffering!

I find it insulting to portray Robert Mugabe as a hero for presiding over a government which is responsible for the current suffering in Zimbabwe. It’s insulting to ask Harare residents faced with a Cholera outbreak to give Mugabe a heroes welcome whilst they live with sewage in the streets and they drink dirty water. It’s insulting to all those who have lost their relatives because the health system has collapsed in Zimbabwe.

The more we glorify politicians, the more they abuse power and exploit the people. Feel free to share your views by posting your comments.

Seeing that the people of Swaziland love President Mugabe so much, maybe they could make him their country’s President. I don’t thing Zimbabweans would mind or would they?

According to reports from Swaziland, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe received a rousing stadium reception in the Swaziland capital Mbabane on Saturday as he joined King Mswati III and other top guests for the king’s lavish birthday celebrations.

President Mugabe, 84, was one of a dozen state and government heads attending the Somhlolo Stadium celebrations amid tight security. He raised his fist in acknowledgement of the welcome, clearly delighted.

The celebrations went ahead amid heavy criticism in southern Africa that they ignored the plight of the poor, and tight security was ordered.

If they love him so much in Swaziland wouldn’t it be better if they make him the President of Swaziland, and we will see for how long they will be giving him such receptions in future.

Let’s face it, in Zimbabwe who cares much about what he is doing in Swaziland? Because that does not bring food on the table, that does not create jobs for the unemployed 80 percent of the population.

There are a lot of problems in Zimbabwe today which deserves more attention, so I don’t see any reason to be celebrating.

Feel free to have your say by posting your comments.

The government of Canada has imposed targeted sanctions against the Zimbabwe government of Robert Mugabe for what it says is the regime’s violation of human rights and “perversion of a legitimate democratic process”.

“Since the election on March 29, and the presidential run-off on June 27, the government of Zimbabwe has subjected opposition supporters to intimidation and state-sponsored violence, and has made no visible effort to improve the lives of its citizens,” Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson said in a statement on Friday.

“Despite efforts by international mediators, and despite calls by the international community to return democracy to Zimbabwe, the government has shown itself unwilling to negotiate in good faith, and uninterested in meaningful reform.”

The sanctions include a ban on the export of arms, freezing the assets of top Zimbabwean officials and prohibiting Zimbabwean aircraft flying over or landing in Canada.

Well, this is not the first time targeted sanctions have been imposed on the government of Robert Mugabe. In the past, these sanctions do not seem to have helped or put any pressure on Mugabe to change his policies.
Will these sanctions work this time? Does Mugabe care about these sanctions? Probably not.

Have your say by posting your comments.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has paid a glowing tribute to the late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa praising him for his “courage” and “frankness”. President Mwanawasa had been an outspoken critic of Robert Mugabe and his policies, once referring to Zimbabwe as a “sinking Titanic.”

“Mwanawasa was a very courageous leader. He was very frank and wanted to change not only his country but the entire Southern Africa region. We will greatly miss him,” Mugabe was quoted as saying on his arrival in Lusaka, Zambia for Mwanawasa’s burial.