Zimbabwe: How to get Mugabe out

[independent_uk]

The international community is stepping up attempts to boot Robert Mugabe from office.

In Britain, the government and the Church of England have gone further than ever before in the strength of their language against Africa's great survivor.  The question is, how far would you go to remove Mugabe?  Are words and modest sanctions enough, or is there

Comments

[wretched_threat]

I've no problem with the idea of Robert Mugabe being forcibly removed whether overtly or otherwise, should there be any evidence that this would benefit the people of Zimbabwe and the surrounding region. I would do it myself if properly equipped, trained and inserted. The question, however, is one of if Morgan Tsvangirai would be any better a leader than Mugabe. Until there is a definitive answer to that question, any speculations as to the state of Zimbabwe minus Mugabe are about as good as US projections on Iraq prior to the 2003 invasion.

Trade sanctions don't work for the very reason that nations engage in trade with one another. So long as one nation has something another nation wants and that other nation can trade something for it, it benefits both nations to engage in trade, regardless of any other ethical considerations. This is more or less why trade embargoes and international trade sanctions have never stopped any nation from engaging in activity that the west, global north or rich world has found abhorrent (go ahead, find an exception).

The fact of the matter is, outside pressure and the threat of force (preferably coming from South Africa's leadership) are the only solution which might actually hasten the end of Mugabe's hold on Zimbabwean power. Unfortunately, TIA and the prospects of such are doubtful at best. Mugabe will likely die a natural death in a few years and we'll probably be revisiting the same situation which we presently see in Zimbabwe now under the reign of Tsvangirai.