Maravi

Prof Mutambara accuses the West of destroying Zim opposition

Prof Mutambara accuses the West of destroying Zim opposition
Written by George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 5:02:55 PM

SPLINTER MDC leader and deputy Prime Minister designate Professor Arthur Mutambara has accused the West of ruining the opposition in Zimbabwe.

And Prof. Mutambara has stated that the US foreign policy is always characterized by double standards, hypocrisy and dishonesty all rooted in the pursuit of US permanent interests. In a statement, Prof. Mutambara wondered whether the west was not noticing that they were destroying the opposition parties in Zimbabwe.

"Can't you see that you are ruining the opposition you seek to assist, and strengthening Mugabe that you seek to destroy? You are foolishly confirming everything that Mugabe has said about the opposition; that we are puppets. Moreover, Mugabe's strengths are Africa, Pan-Africanism and anti-Imperialism," Prof. Mutambara stated.

"Any foreign policy that undermines African leaders and African institutions plays right into Mugabe's game plan. Why can't Western diplomats master these basics? Why do we have a premonition that most of the destructive grandstanding by Western governments is meant for their domestic constituencies?"

He stated that the US foreign policy is always characterized by double standards, hypocrisy and dishonesty all rooted in the pursuit of US permanent interests.

"We seriously hope that incoming US President Obama and his new team will depart from this ignorant, ruinous and ineffective foreign policy that effectively undermines its intended beneficiaries, strengthens the targeted villains, while blighting the US standing in the World. Things have to change in 2009," Prof. Mutambara stated.

"We are not na•ve. We know that the general thrust of the US foreign policy objective is largely independent of both the individual who is US President and the Party they belong to. However, we hope the policy execution, nuances and tactics will be different. Zimbabweans have great expectations."

He further stated that the most bizarre, irritating and clearly ineffective critics of the current Global Political Agreement (GPA) between Zimbabwe's rival parties were those that premise their proposals by denouncing one of the two key protagonists.

"Usually it is Mugabe and his ZANU-PF who are dismissed. How do you even conceptualize a negotiated outcome without the involvement of the ZANU-PF group? We thought it was common cause that you do not make peace with your friends, but with your opponents. One would expect someone of Jendayi Frazer's (US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs) stature to understand all this," Prof. Mutambara stated.

"How does she say that the US supports the negotiated power sharing, but insists that Mugabe must not be involved? Making these statements while defying the consistent advice that she received from all the South African leaders that she interacted with means that Jendayi is insulting the SA leadership at every level. By this disrespectful conduct, she is humiliating both SADC and the AU.

"In this situation, with respect to the US proposed dialogue framework, who will be the principals, negotiators, facilitators and guarantors? South Africa is the only country with leverage on Zimbabwe. To bring any kind of change in Zimbabwe you have to work with SA, and not insult or humiliate them. Anyone serious about the Zimbabwean agenda must grasp this."

Prof. Mutambara wondered whether the US had respect for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"Jendayi, I assume that you are supportive of Mr. Tsvangirai and you want him to succeed. Do you actually have any respect for him? He signed the GPA in which Mugabe is designated as the President. Is it that you think Mr. Tsvangirai does not know what is good for him and therefore you have to lead him every step of the way? By the way, it is not true that the US government supported the agreement when it was signed. For the record both the US and the UK were opposed to the GPA from the beginning," Prof. Mutamabara stated.

"They did not like the fact that Mugabe was both Head of State and Chairman of Cabinet, and they despised the GPA positions on land reform and sanctions. Everyone knows this. We are not children. The US and the UK are now taking advantage of the delay in implementation of the agreement to savage and destroy the GPA. Jendayi, do you have a workable alternative framework to the current GPA, together with an enforcement mechanism?"

He further accused the US of doubting Tsvangirai's competence.

" And what is this that you said about the weakness and incompetence of your favorite GPA principal? Did you not say the following; "Tsvangirai is too weak and incompetent for us to allow him to be in an inclusive government with Mugabe. He will be completely outmaneuvered. Tsvangirai is not as strong as Odinga. If he was, we would have allowed him to get into the GNU with Mugabe?" How can you possibly say such insulting remarks about your favorite opposition leader?" Prof. Mutambara asked.

"With friends like these who needs enemies. Incidentally, did you share your views about Tsvangirai with him? Why not? Anyway, who are you to allow or disallow African leaders? Does the US government have locus standi to do this? From where do you derive such legal, political or moral authority? Would a reverse scenario where international players seek to influence US politics be acceptable to the US?"

Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, RAILA ODINGA

posted by MrK @ 5:03 PM