Mugabe's Exit Strategy?

This could be the biggest news for Zimbabwe in decades. Or, it could be complete and utter bullshit spun from the rather unreliable Independent.. I'm hoping for the former and counting on the latter.

Robert Mugabe will relinquish his leadership of Zimbabwe's ruling party by December, paving the way for his exit as President and new elections by June 2004, the South African President Thabo Mbeki has told George Bush.

The Independent has established that Mr Bush has pledged a reconstruction package for Zimbabwe worth up to $10bn (£6.2bn) over an unspecified timeframe, if a new leader takes over.

Even if the story is accurate, it also details the differences between Washington's approach and Mbeki's vision. Personally, I doubt that, even if the story is true, the deal could ever be finalized. What Mugabe wants for Zimbabwe is wildly different from what Mbeki wants for Zimbabwe is almost just as removed from what Washington wants for Zimbabwe.

It would be awfully nice if someone could find a way to let Zimbabwe decide what it wants for itself.

Read the story.

Posted by zombyboy at July 14, 2003 04:28 PM | TrackBack