 Growing Africa-EU rift makes poor Zimbabweans suffer
By Alois T. Mbawara
16 December 2007
The growing negative diplomatic and economic rift between Africa and European countries will not help but prolong a solution to the Harare crisis, Speaking from an observer point of view the just ended Africa-EU Youth and Heads of State Summit in Lisbon did not bring anything practical in the Zimbabwean context but increased the diplomatic stand-off between Europeans and Africans leaders in finding a solution to the Zimbabwean crisis.
At every level discussions on good governance, Democracy,conflict resolutions,Globalisation, Migration and mainly trade sparked strong rift as developing nations felt economic policies injected on them contributed to the state of poverty ....and treatment they get in European migrating rules. The EU wanted to replace the expiring trade accords with so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which anti-poverty groups and Pan-Africanist have criticised for failing to provide protection for Africa's poor farmers and its fragile industry.
On Zimbabwe our observation was the continued pressure from EU is strengthening Mugabe's position within Africa and developing countries as a victim of neo-Conservative.... criticism from Europe is seen as a dis-respect for the Regional initiative(Mbeki) particularly when all players within the negotiating table have endorsed the process as fruitful...
So it important to acknowledge political " isolation/strangling, arm twisting " factor would not help to solve the problem facing Zimbabwe and its indigenous it is equally a negative factor since all its effects are directed in reviving rhetoric Colonial wounds.
The Global wide intimidation and strategic " smart Sanctions " promoted by Westminster Administration and its Western allies against the ZANU PF, Harare Regime shows their incapacity to solve the national problem that faces us indeed the problem is beyond their comprehension and vision.
EU turns to cloud its judgement on the national issues that are besieging the Southern African state (Zimbabwe) by ignoring its historic Colonial and economic relevance vis a vis the effects of the cocktail of poisons neo-liberal policies(ESAP) pushed to Africans by IMF/World Bank....
Therefore the regional bloc (SADC) has acknowledged the need to assist the masses in Zimbabwe to resolve challenges that besiege them.
While the masses, civil society and progressive forces in Zimbabwe still challenges the provisions of the sated talks against a compromised elite deal it is important External players(West) and US can only assist in support of the Regional African heads to facilitate an engagement diplomatic support, outside the Mugabe Must Go Philosophy.
The Zimbabwe question is being used in the Global political demography as an guinea pig "pond" on how it needs to be addressed as an "African Problem that needs an African Solution" hence its imperative that its resolution will remodel not only African Politics but be instrumental in the cleansing of the Global Powers shoddy foreign policies.
Brown gesture politics plays into Mugabe’s hands and diverts attention from the real issues in Zimbabwe dodging the Land Issue. Issues of legitimacy, fraud electoral and legal framework,a militarised state must be directed to African Institutions and mechanisms (AU/SADC) by Zimbabwe's civil society groups,
As young Pan-Africanist we strongly feel a multilateral approach towards the Harare crisis will not work...certainly we belong to a generation of truth, a generation that seeks to see a genuine transitional process.
It is also important to expose African leaders thats Zimbabweans don't eat solidarity...or Pan-Africanism and should accept Mugabe have overstayed his welcome.
Zimbabwe Youth Charter must pave way for a new socio-politico-economic thinking for Zimbabwe.
Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.
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