Mugabe is the Mobutu of our time
Marian L. Tupy wishes that Zimbabwe would follow the lead of Botswana, a market democracy. For now, it swelters under the oppressive rule of a tyrant who is wrecking his country.
On 29 March, Zimbabwe will hold a presidential election. A public opinion poll conducted by the University of Zimbabwe last week found that Mugabe had the support of only 28 per cent of Zimbabweans. Support for his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, stood at 42 per cent, while Simba Makoni, the former finance minister, was yet to break into double digits. Unfortunately, the election will likely be rigged in the incumbent’s favour. But, at 84, Mugabe is an old man. He may yet die in office or be forced out.
The Zimbabwean diaspora is abuzz with rumours of flight plans and comfortable exile in Malaysia or Namibia. There is talk of Far Eastern bank accounts stuffed with treasure. Either way, Mugabe will be gone one day. When that happens, the new leader of Zimbabwe should look across the border with Botswana. He will see that freedom and rising prosperity are possible — even in Africa.
Marian L. Tupy Is A Policy Analyst With The Center For Global Liberty And Prosperity At The Cato Institute In Washington.
More articles from: Marian L. Tupy | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Georgia and Ukraine should be allowed to join Nato - Debate report
Lloyd EvansLloyd Evans on the latest Spectator / Intelligence Squared debate
Clinton Democrats are to blame for the credit crunch
Dennis SewellOur current financial turmoil is not the fault of greedy bankers, says Dennis Sewell. In fact, the banks were bullied into lowering their lending standards by left-wing idealists intent on equal opportunities at any cost
Sex, lies and apparitions
Simon CaldwellMillions travel to Medjugorje each year but, says Simon Caldwell, the world-famous pilgrimage site may soon be exposed as a fraud
I’m proud to be famous for being rude
Giles CorenSwearing and shouting are underrated, says Giles Coren. Four-letter words can be immensely satisfying and extraordinarily effective
The masters of the universe have turned to drink
Venetia ThompsonThe failure of the $700 billion bail-out has driven her former City-boy chums to despair, says Venetia Thompson. But they must rally soon to keep the market moving
‘You grow up with footballs. We grow up with kukris’
James DelingpoleJames Delingpole meets the Gurkha veterans seeking citizenship rights in the courts and says that, this time, the government has picked the wrong fight
Brown has exploited immigration to hide from deep problems
Fraser NelsonThe PM’s claim to have created three million British jobs is a grave deceit, says Fraser Nelson. Strip out immigrants from the picture, and Labour has barely dented the problem of British worklessness. Over to you, Mr Cameron
Economic recovery plan? Forget it, Gordon
Martin Vander WeyerThe Prime Minister’s survival is pinned on a September ‘relaunch’ to ease the voters’ economic woes. But, says Martin Vander Weyer, each door through which Brown tries to escape his predicament slams in his face. His room for manoeuvre is negligible
Big Brother versus YouTube: let the Beijing Games commence
Mark LeonardMark Leonard, Britain’s pre-eminent analyst of modern China, says the Olympic genie is out of the bottle. The prospect of global scrutiny has actually increased repression as the authorities try to stamp out dissent. But digital technology is impossible to police
I feel for Ingrid Betancourt — I was kidnapped, too
Tristan Garel-JonesTristan Garel-Jones on being kidnapped and why the world should stand with Colombia
Latest blog posts
sponsored links
Sky TV, Broadband & Talk from £16 a Month
Sky TV & free broadband packages available from £16 a month. Choose from a standard free sky box, sky plus or sky hd.
Sky TV, Broadband & Talk from £16 a Month
Sky TV & free broadband packages available from £16 a month. Choose from a standard free sky box, sky plus...
ROME CENTRE
PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique
City Breaks. ROME and PARIS
ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit www.romanreference.com and www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.
Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).
Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs! You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other
Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine
Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2008 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
Roy
March 21st, 2008 8:24amTo give people an earthy grounding to Britain's complicity in the handing over of S.Rhodesia into the jaws of Marxist Leninist saboteurs. Read: "Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal and the Dreadful Aftermath", by Ian Smith. So great was Britain's wish to be rid of this jewel of Africa. So great was the anger of the then PM toward Ian Smith's unilateral declaration of independents. So great was the British torque for appeasement towards black Africa's advancing communists... They gave it away!! There were safeguards but they turned a blind eye. They just couldn't be bothered. The devil in their eyes was the white minority government ... who wanted more time before handing over to majority rule. Who ... we should ask, is the devil now?