How cynical that tyrants like Mugabe hid behind sovereignty the one thing he robbed the nation of!

Liberty "Sovereignty refers to power to govern oneself," you say? By oneself- singular- you must be referring to individuals like Mugabe because that is exactly what has happened in Zimbabwe. For thirty years Mugabe has systematically denied ordinary Zimbabweans a meaningful say in the governance of the country by undermining the country’s democratic institutions, rigging elections, terrorising the electorate and would be political opponents, etc. In 2008 the tyrant took the repression to a new frightening level by getting the politicised Police, Army, CIO and other State Security organs to play an active role in the political repression. In the past these organs had turned a blind eye to Zanu PF inspired political shenanigans. The Zimbabwe Republic Police, National Army, CIO, etc are now actively involved in the beating, raping and murder of Zanu PF political opponents! We have more than political violence in Zimbabwe; we institutionalised violence just as we had institutionalised racism before independence. To who are the people supposed to turn for help if those sworn to protect them are they ones abusing them? The right to a meaningful say in the governance of one’s country, the right to life, etc. these are universal rights. And when these rights are being denied, the whole world has a moral duty to demand that this should stop. How cynical that tyrants should defend their continued brutal repression by claiming whatever they are doing are internal matters in which outsiders have no right to intervene. To do so is an affront on the nation’s independence and sovereignty - the very things the tyrants robbed from the people and nation! 9999999 It is hard to take SADC serious. Zimbabwe does not need SADC to "assist" her to hold free and fair elections. Everyone knows what is required. The problem is free and fair elections will result in regime change and THAT is something Mugabe and Zanu PF simply will not tolerate. SADC, if it really wanted to assist, should come up with guidelines on how to make regime change palatable to Mugabe. 7788888 Cote d’Ivoire has paid a heavy price economically and in human suffering and lives for Laurent Gbagbo’s stubbornness and greed. Now that he has been finally cornered he must be punished like the rat that he is! Cote d’Ivoire and the whole world have to sent a clear message to tyrants and would be tyrants that they will be called to account for their greed and brutal abuse of power! 8888 Paul Whelan Tsvangirai was desperate to hold some position of power and authority in Zimbabwe, so desperate that he willingly betrayed the most basic human values of freedom, liberty, and human dignity including the respect of human lives for it. Mugabe knew that and that was why the dictator demanded so much for himself out of the GPA. As long as he offered Tsvangirai the position of Prime Minister – even all meaningful power and authority taken away – he knew Tsvangirai would accept it. There was really nothing that Tsvangirai could have possibly accomplished as PM given that he had no power or authority to do anything! Tsvangirai talked himself into signing the GPA not because there were no other options open for him. The most logical option for him was to refuse to go into any form of power sharing or coalition with someone who had been so ruthless and brutal in denying the people their basic right in having a meaningful say in the governance of the country. The whole international community had already said they would not recognise Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s legitimate head of state. Mugabe had to either accept electoral defeat or face fresh elections in which he would not dare use violence again. It was Mugabe not Tsvangirai who was on the hook. Even if one was to accept the far-fetched idea that Tsvangirai wanted to give Mugabe a “soft landing” by agreeing to a power sharing arrangement with the losing tyrant; but did he have to give the loser all his dictatorial powers too? After two years of pretending the GNU was working, poor Tsvangirai has finally acknowledged that it is not working. But instead of thinking out a way out he is turning to SADC under the pretence that it is the regional body’s sole responsibility to get Zimbabwe out of this mess. He is so devoid of ideas; he could not even say what he expected SADC to do! U S Ambassador Dell was absolutely right is describing Tsvangirai as a “flawed and indecisive character” in his report back to Washington. Of course, the Ambassador was right; only a flawed leader would sign such a blatantly flawed agreement. But more significantly Paul, Zimbabweans have to realise that if they are serious about ending the tragic situation in the country then they must find quality leaders to deal with the cunning tyrant, Mugabe. 777777 Chimbido It would be wrong to even suggest that Tsvangirai was under any form of pressure to sign the GPA. It is true that before and during the sham 2008 presidential run-off elections Mugabe and his thugs were on a war footing; harassing, terrorizing and beating MDC leaders and supporters including Tsvangirai himself. When the election results were declared on the 27 June 2008, Mugabe called off his dogs. For one thing Mugabe did not have the money to continue paying his thugs but more significantly after 27 June he was keen to present himself to the world as an honourable statesman. Tsvangirai signed the GPA out of sheer stupidity on his part!