Many of us think that John McCain is simply too old to be President. Yet there is a guy much older than McCain who won't get out of the race for president in Zimbabwe. At 84, he's destroyed his country and his legacy. Why won't Mugabe get out of the race?
Charlayne Hunter-Gault wrote an excellent article on this topic over on The Root:
Zimbabwe will hold a run-off election on June 27. Presidential contender Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, insists that he and his party have already won. But Robert Mugabe, the wily leader of the ruling ZANU-PF party refused to accept the results and in time—an unprecedented long time—the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission agreed that neither presidential candidate had gotten the necessary majority to declare himself the winner. But throughout the contested campaign and prolonged announcement of the results, one question keeps coming up:What makes Mugabe run? Robert Gabriel Mugabe is older than John McCain. Eighty four, to be exact. His country, as well as his struggle legacy is in tatters and the era of the Big Man all across Africa is drawing to a close as new rules of the African road call for an end to the era of president for life, and a growing number of African leaders are answering the call.
Click here for the rest of the story
We don't discuss very much about Africa here in America. I am reminded of my need to rejuvenate my Alkebulan Journey blog-post series. In the meantime, I would be interested in your thoughts about what is taking place in Zimbabwe. What say u?
6 comments:
I got to believe it is the fear of the unkown with him, what is he going to do if was to retire?
how does he know the next president wont come in and reverse or drastically change the things that he accomplished?
Mike - In the past, it appears that African leaders would take a large part of the country's treasury and live large in exile...
As for others changing things. That is the way of the world. None of us, including Mugabe, should feel that we are indispensible...
I've been following this situation for a while. Zimbabwe was said to be the food basket of Africa but because they chose a divisive policy of giving fertile farmland back to Africans instead of leaving them to white farmers don't be surprised if that land doesn't produce what it used to produce. While it could be spun as justice it was another way for Mugabe to maintain his control. I don't think the ole man wants to give it up.
Levois - Thank you for sharing your insights. Why wouldn't Zimbabwean farmers be just as able to produce food as the colonial white squatters who were removed from their illegal ownership of farmland?
He just wants power. Some people fight revolutions for freedom and others for power. You figure out which they are in the struggle for when the dust clears. Mugabe is a dictator and Africans have to step up since Western Europe doesn't have credibility on the continent.
Homeland Colors - Well, it appears that Mugabe has bullyed his opposition out of the race. Does Mugabe have a son or someone that he plans to turn the power over to when he is done? Or is there a chance for the will of the people to be listened to after Mugabe dies?
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