Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Mugabe can pitch this as a foreign conspiracy

Daniel Howden,Deputy Foreign Editor
Wednesday 19 September 2007 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

There are two faces that Zimbabweans are used to seeing at election time. One is the seemingly ageless visage of their current President, Robert Mugabe, and the other is that of Tony Blair. The last polls to be held in the southern African country two years ago were billed as the "anti-Blair" election. After seeing off rumours of a palace coup from members of his own ruling party earlier this year, Mugabe launched into a four-hour speech in which he made no mention of millions of starving Zimbabweans, nor of astronomical inflation. There were, however, countless references to the former British prime minister and his sinister plot to recolonise Zimbabwe.

And so it has been for the past five years. Mr Blair told the Earth Summit in Johannesburg that the state of Africa was a "scar on the conscience of the world". Mugabe replied: "Blair, keep your England and let me keep my Zimbabwe."

Ever since Mr Blair's public attack on the disastrous handling of the seizure of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe, Mugabe has used the notion of a foreign conspiracy to enduring effect. Meanwhile, a country that was once Africa's bread basket has lurched into famine and the British Government has abandoned its megaphone diplomacy in favour of back channels and what the South African government calls "quiet diplomacy".

In the 27 years since emerging as the first leader of independent Zimbabwe, the former Catholic school teacher has proven himself incredibly adept at twisting the words of his allies and opponents and staying a step ahead of both. While the 83-year-old President is often portrayed as a cartoon of an African dictator in the British press, he has managed to identify himself so completely with the independence struggle that white critics are seen as a neocolonialist and possibly racist.

The very slim hope of political progress in Zimbabwe now rests with talks under way in South Africa. Sources close to the negotiations involving the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition groups have for the first time expressed "guarded optimism" that they might get an agreement. The International Crisis Group, an independent think-tank, said this week that British attacks on the Mugabe regime had been "counterproductive" and sanctions "ineffective". In private, many opposition figures inside Zimbabwe are wary of British leaders posturing and point out that there has been a significant gap between rhetoric and action. No one close to the talks in Pretoria seems keen for Britain to pick up the megaphone again.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in