[The Telegraph U.K.]

The Financial Gazette, Zimbabwe

American 'Imperialists' Plan Mugabe's Ouster

Is time running out for the 27-year-reign of one of Africa's cruelest tyrants? In this surprising article from Zimbabwe's pro-government, state-controlled Financial Gazette, the author admits to the undemocratic nature of the Mugabe regime, and forecasts that due to mounting American pressure, 'It may already be too late.'

By Ken Mufuka*

March 21, 2007

Zimbabwe - Financial Gazette - Original Article (English)

Williamston, South Carolina: I find myself in the unenviable position of agreeing with Professor Tafataona Mahoso, who wrote in his Sunday Mail column  that the imperialist plot to overthrow Zimbabwe's government is thickening.

Even worse is that every Zimbabwean organization abroad I know of is cooperating with the imperialists in this endeavor.

But the worst is the real possibility that Tafataona Mahoso's prophecy about the re-colonization and repossession of our land could happen. First, let us start with black organizations that support a radical reorganization of government in Zimbabwe.

[Editor's Note: Tafataona Mahoso is chairman of Zimbabwe's Media and Information Commission. He is known by regime critics as Mugabe's "media henchman" for his zealous repression of press freedom.]

The Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum, based in South Africa, was formed in 2005. In four memos to me during one week alone, the Forum said that, "people feel that their lives failed to improve as the years since independence in 1980 have ticked by. Economic growth has dropped every year."

Andrew Quinn, writing for Reuters from Cape Town, interviewed a World Bank official who said that inflation would top 5,000 percent this year. Such prophecies are self fulfilling and to our detriment.

A Black sister wrote me from South Africa. She had read my previous articles and wanted to confirm that she too fled Zimbabwe in 2002 and had a good job with the Barclays Bank. Another sister wrote me from my alma mater at St. Andrews in Scotland to say: "I'm involved with Action for Southern Africa in trying to raise awareness of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe. I'm speaking at an Oxfam Conference tomorrow ."

A white foreigner living in Zimbabwe wrote. "Ken, Zimbabwe could do very well with her minerals, but mining requires heavy machinery and huge investment outlays."

An undemocratic government doesn't have to be an economic ignoramus. Putin's Russia and the Chinese communists are tyrannical, but their economic management is in sync with the economic realities of the modern world and hence their people enjoy rising living standards.

What provoked this anti-Zimbabwe onslaught these past three weeks is ostensibly the Zimbabwean government human rights abuses. This galvanized all kinds of anti-Zimbabwe movements here. It was as if International Human Rights groups in New York were handed the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

As soon as Reuters and the Associated Press had secured the photograph of Movement for Democratic Change [MDC] leader Morgan Tsvangirai's swollen head, all hell broke loose. The picture made good copy and was shown every 30 minutes on television. My students in Zimbabwe called me from class. Our university has television sets in the corridors that relay emergency news.

Two additional stories were a God-send for anti-Zimbabwe campaigners. For example, there was the story during International Women's Day about MDC spokesperson Grace Kwinje, who was allegedly knocked senseless by authorities. Pictures of her bloodied head are being circulated on the Internet.

The New York Times of March 13 had a lead story about 50 MDC supporters still in the hospital. The Washington Post repeats a similar story. The BBC which is showing the reports in the U.S., followed suit. These stories come from virtually the same sources, the Associated Press and Reuters, often based in South Africa. But the imperialists have only a peripheral interest in human rights. The Matabeleland atrocities - which were much bigger than the present activities - were ignored because they didn't touch on imperialist interests. Nevertheless, the combination of these imperialist interests and the poor performance of the economy have brought these two factors together.

[Editor's Note: The Matabeleland atrocities that the author refers to took place in 1980 just after Robert Mugabe took power. At the time, 20 000 minority Nguni tribal members in Matabeleland were slaughtered at Mugabe's command].

One senses the urgency of the situation in the air. At the same time, Zimbabwe's government appears to underestimate the intensity of the onslaught. The U.S. Under Secretary of State held a special press conference. The British Foreign Secretary held a special press interview with the BBC. The significance of The New York Times story is that this newspaper is regarded as the conscience of the nation. If The Times says that the Zimbabwe government is bad, few will assailable its credibility. Together with Australian newspapers, these forces are all preparing their audiences for covert as well open sanctions.

It may already be too late. The imperialists smell fresh blood. The Congressional Black Caucus has disavowed its position in support of the Zimbabwe government. This gives the green light to covert action - not that the Central Intelligence Agency ever asks for permission. But the action by the Congressional Black Caucus makes any action, covert or open, justifiable.

The great American coalitions that in the past have moved mountains are beginning to take shape. First the great newspapers and international human rights organizations have come together. Secondly, the Black Caucus and religious groups are falling into line. And Bishop Desmond Tutu, here promoting his new book, added his voice to the onslaught.

The American government is actually preparing to intensify sanctions. My thinking is that they are revisiting the idea of intensifying covert and not-so-covert actions against the Zimbabwean government. The Zimbabwe establishment, formerly thought to be impenetrable, is now regarded as vulnerable.

The imperialists have been heartened by divisions in the ruling party and are revising their plans. The imperialists are promising jobs and a better future … never mind their track record.

*Ken Mufuka is a professor of history at Landers University in Williamston, South Carolina.