President Robert Mugabe

The master of Zim’s destiny makes his reappearance

Scene from the film 'The Ambassador' — Scene from the film ‘The Ambassador’

Africa’s oldest leader, president Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe, appeared in public again after he had not been seen for weeks

Mugabe, who turns 90 on February 21, spoke at the burial of his younger sister Bridget.

Belying recent rumours of ill health and even death, he spoke for an hour at a graveside in Zvimba, some 100km west of the capital Harare.

The old ruler who wiped out his political oppostion in a genocide in the 1980’s, is now the only survivor among six siblings. Bridget died in hospital on Saturday, aged 78.

“Zimbabwe’s land, its natural resources, belong to the people of Zimbabwe,” Mugabe eulogized.

“It is a relationship which is natural, God-given and which makes you owners of your wealth and therefore masters of your destiny,” he said.

The poverty-stricken people of the former Rhodesia is being ransacked by criminal mobs, aided by Mugabe, in the Marenge diamond fields, a scenario often seen in Africa and portrayed in the film The Ambassador (2011).

In the film, a Danish journalist uncovers chilling corruption linked to diplomatic title brokerage and blood diamonds in the CAR. Observers say it is similar to what is happening in Zimbabwe.

“Sure, we will need partners, but we need partners who do not become our masters,” Mugabe said at the funeral.

Mugabe’s health has been the subject of speculation in recent years, with some media suggesting he sought medical treatment in countries including Malaysia and Singapore.

Another top Mugabe ally dies suddenly

Former Zimbabwean government minister Kumbirai Kangai, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe and key leader in the fight to end British rule, died on Saturday, a party official said.

“I can confirm that one of our party stalwarts, comrade Kumbirai Kangai, died suddenly this morning,” Rugare Gumbo, spokesperson for Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, told AFP.

Kangai collapsed at his home and died on admission at a private clinic in the capital. He was 75.

“We don’t know yet the cause of his death but we suspect it might be a heart attack. It is a sad hour for Zanu-PF and the people of Zimbabwe,” said Gumbo.

Kangai’s death came just days after that of Enos Nkala, another top ally of Mugabe. – AFP

US unlikely to lift Zim sanctions

The United States (US) has reiterated its long held position that any easing or lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe would happen only in the context of a credible election.

At the weekend, Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement that in light of substantial irregularities they did not consider the election to be a credible expression of the will of Zimbabweans.

While at the United Nations (UN) in New York, there were no words of congratulations, only to say they are watching developments closely. There has been no ringing endorsement of President Robert Mugabe’s electoral victory, not from the US or UN.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson, Martin Nesirky says: “Obviously the SG continues to follow this closely and as we said at the time and it still holds true, and concerns that have been raised about certain aspects of the electoral process should be pursued through established channels and these concerns should then be considered transparently and fairly.”

The US State Department hinted that lifting of sanctions were unlikely. Spokesperson Marie Harf says: “We do not believe the results announced represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people in light of the substantive electoral irregularities reported by domestic and regional observers.”

She says voter rolls had some irregularities in them that were not credible as stated by preliminary reports from the African Union and Southern African Development Community. Harf says: “Domestic observer missions also noted some serious concerns, so we’ve been clear that any easing of sanctions will only occur in the context of credible, transparent and peaceful elections.”

“So I don’t want to get ahead of the process here but the Secretary made clear that we do not believe that these were a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people,” she says.

While the UN is waiting and watching to see how opposition concerns are handled by the ‘established channels’, the US has been absolutely frank that it does not accept the poll results placing it at odds with President Jacob Zuma who endorsed the process and has long held that sanctions be lifted against Zimbabwe, something that now seems increasingly unlikely.