Zimbabwe opposition questions its leader - 14 Nov 07

Zimbabwe's main opposition party is facing internal strife which could destroy its chances of wrestling power from President Robert Mugabe in next year's elections.

The Movement for Democratic Change has been led by Morgan Tsvangirai since forming in 1999.

Now, senior members are again questioning his leadership credentials.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Al
• Jazeera
• aljazeera
• Zimbabwe
• MDC
• opposition
• Morgan
• Tsvangirai
• Supa
• Mandi-wan-zira

[MustafaPresents]

Political parties are concerned with gaining power, not necessarily with doing what is right. If we pin our hopes on one partisan group or another we will be forever disappointed. We have been brainwashed by the parties themselves to believe that they hold the answers to our problems, which they don't.

[brick4sale]

Yeah, real dignity he lets his people starve while has a million dollar birthday party.

[kullmassivemassive]

Robert Mugabe is the only real leader in Africa.

[Znaika1]

Unless Aussies send their own supervisors and auditors to monitor the progression of work, little will be repaired, much will be received in kickbacks and the rest will be stolen. Welcome to Zimbabwe's socialism!

As for the sanctions, they are only against corrupt government officials; ordinary Zimbabweans are not affected. Mchigubu can not provide even a single example of an independent Zimbabwe business that has been affected by 'sanctions' she is raving about. It's because there is none.

[mchigubu]

Thanks AUSTRALIA GOD BLESS AUSTRALIA. Canberra is providing $6.4m (A$10m; £4.7m) direct aid to restore basic water, sanitation & health services. I'm shocked PresObama slaps PM Tsvangirai with SATANIC SANCTIONS. PresObama makes CHANGE by shutting down Quantanamo, lift Cuba sanctions, lift Bush's embryonic stem cell research, BUT EXTENDS Bushs SATANIC SANCTIONS designed DEPOPULATE BLACKS in ZIMBABWE thru extreme poverty & use MUGABE as SCAPEGOAT. CARNAGE to destroy natives goes beyond 1800

[metrop42]

Well Actions speak louder than words...Politicians speak crap all the time.

[Znaika1]

"What is your point exactly?"

My point is that Rhodesia had capable leaders and it could have evolved onto a multicultural state, but it missed its chances largely due to the position of black nationalists but also because of spineless British policies. Rhodesia had first chance at 1962 elections. Nkomo first supported UFP, but was pressured by ANC to revoke his position. If he didn't, then UFP would have won the elections of Whitehead would have proceeded with the equalisation reforms.

[Znaika1]

"Znaika1 where is the evidence of this? Actions speak louder than words."

Sorry, the comments here are sometimes sorted in a peculiar way; to which my passge this question is addressed precisely?

[Znaika1]

The requirements were not unattainable for Africans; 1961 constitution required:

For A roll (50 "white" constituencies) - yearly income of 330 pounds and four years of secondary education.

For B roll (15 "black" districts) - yearly income of 132 pounds and two years of secondary education. For a reference, at the time average monthly salary of black workers in manufacturing was 40 pounds, in agriculture - 12 pounds. Reality proved this: the number of voting Africans was quickly growing.

[Znaika1]

"property and education qualifications for voting that were in place...in 1923."

It is true that qualification requirements excluded vast majority of Africans. However the right to vote presumes sufficient level of responsibility and an ability to make conscious decisions independently, this is why children are not allowed to vote. But it is not physical age that makes a person a responsible and able adult. So I question if the rules that were in place were unreasonable.

[Znaika1]

"People will fight back when they are mistreated"

True, but there is a fine border between being truly mistreated and being treated according to the value but genuinely believing in being mistreated. Here is one example: Rhodesia spent L16 per black pupil per year, but L160 per white one. Mistreatment? Yes, but dig deeper and you will see that 5% of whites paid these 16 pounds for 95% of blacks, blacks hardly paid anything. Result of the revolution: In 1990 Zimbabwe spent Z$6 dollars per pupil.

[Znaika1]

I asked you if you know about anything racist Smith said or did because it is much too easy to brand any criticism of Africans as "racism" and to deny it on this basis. This behaviour serves bad service to Africa as any improvement starts with recognition of a problem.

Talking about this particular quote, it has a little known continuation: "I believe in equal partnership between black and white, I believe in a joint black and white rule." I can't see how this is racist, I think it is not.