Mugabe’s AU rant ‘a sign of panic’

Posted by on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 in Mugabe, Zimbabwe politics | 26 comments

Robert Mugabe ranted against the African Union

By Alex Bell
01 February 2012

Robert Mugabe’s reported rant against the African Union (AU) and its handling of the crisis in Libya last year, is a sign that the ageing leader is ‘panicked’.

This is according to a leading political analyst who told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that Mugabe is showing his true colours by criticising the AU in this instance.

Mugabe reportedly lambasted the AU as a “toothless bulldog” for failing to stop NATO from bombing Libya and helping with the ultimate downfall of the late Muammar Gaddafi last year. Speaking during an AU session on peace and security on Monday, Mugabe asked: “Well, well that was Libya. Who will be next?”

Mugabe then left the summit in Ethiopia on Tuesday and at the airport, he accused unnamed African countries of being “fronts” for Western powers whose “criminal” NATO bombardment of Libya helped lead to the killing of Gaddafi.

He also said it was “unprocedural” for the AU’s Peace and Security Council to make the decision to recognize Libya’s former rebels, the National Transitional Council (NTC), instead of the whole summit of leaders.
Zimbabwe has not yet officially recognised the NTC.

Political analyst Professor John Makumbe said on Wednesday that Mugabe is clearly showing the world his preference for governance in Africa.

“Mugabe is displaying his colours as a dictator. Its really embarrassing that a Head of State of a so called ‘democratic’ country would chide the AU for helping the freedom of another country,” Makumbe said.

The AU ironically has previously been labelled a ‘toothless bulldog’ and roundly criticised by Mugabe opponents for not taking action in Zimbabwe. Makumbe said it is now “laughable” that Mugabe is taking this route of criticism for the same reasons, but in a different context.

“Ultimately this is a preemptive move by him. Basically he is saying: ‘If there is a people’s movement in Zimbabwe, I expect the AU to stay out of it,” Makumbe explained.

He added: “He is trying to intimidate the AU so stay clear of the situation in Zimbabwe… I believe that African leaders will be strong and tough with him though.”

  • R_tague

    who is mugabe

    • Chimbido Warvet

      Mugabe is an African Head of State who is uncertain of the future. Due to his human rights record which is appalling, he dreams of the day he will be captured and this gets over his head.

      • Chimbi Manwa

        You are right, Chimbido. Ndiko kunonzi kuonaka uku. Wagona.

        • Chimbido Warvet

          I told you so before that Chimbido Warvet is the truth. He does not care whether it is President Mugabe or Prime Minister Tsvangirai, who does not get it. Chimbido Warvet simply criticizes and this is as it should be in a democratic Zimbabwe that you and me want to see in our country. We should not be scared to tell our leaders where they go wrong. Ndapedza shamwari.

        • Commint09

          Chimbi Manwa usanyengedze vanaChimbwido iwe. Ndiko kunonzi kugona kusaona panyaya iyi.Ukangofunga nyemba chete zvinhu hazvifambe, uye unonyebera vanhu. Iyo internet yakazotiparira, nevenyamba chete vavakutonyorawo twupfungwa twavo twudiki diki pamusoro peZimbabwe iri kurwirwana nevasvetasimba, vadi venyemba chete vasingaoni.

          • Chimbido Warvet

            Of course, I do not expect you to be very knowledgeable about the benefits mankind has derived from the internet. Zanu PF has successfully put its blinkers for you not to appreciate the advantages of the using the internet. You may want to benefit from the following snippets as it relates to Zimbabwe.
            The internet has freed the airwaves that used to be the preserve or monopoly of the Zimbabwe Herald for donkey years. Now we can educate our people through the internet without being quizzed by government. It also helps us to educate our people to appreciate that Zanu PF is no longer a political party that will take us to the promised land it has been preaching to us since Zimbabwe attained independence. Through the internet, we have empowered Zimbabweans to know that the world is a global village and as such Zimbabweans can not only rely on news churned by the Zimbabwe Herald but instead look further afield. We have even gone further in educating our people that they should not vote for Zanu PF in the next general elections because it is being led by a man who is almost going to his grave.
            The internet is the greatest thing that has ever happened in educating Zimbabweans who have been deliberately starved of anything meaningful in order to keep them ignorant of what is happening in the world. In horse racing, jockeys put blinkers on horses so that they do not see further than the race track. Zanu PF may have succeeded in putting such blinkers in you. But boy,this is the 21st century, you should refuse.

  • Aamm35

    BOB new tactics attack THE TOOTHLESS AU now because to him the AU is no good now .

  • Chimbido Warvet

    Who would not be scared if one’s hands are covered in blood of innocent people? Who would not be scared when one’s nationals are running away to seek refuge in far away countries? Who would not be scared when one has stolen the nation’s wealth to further his personal interests? Of course, it is the guilty who are afraid because they do not know what the future holds. They become jittery because they are scared of the unknowns. The other thing is that when elections are around the corner, the Zimbabwean leader gets very nervous. And when he ponders the havoc he has caused since coming to power, the more he gets scared of the future.

    The truth is there are no permanent friends but permanent interests. Those African countries that have recognized the NTC have their national interests to protect. They are being rational.

  • synfred synfred

    VIVA MUGABE….KING OF ZIMBABWE,TRUE LION OF AFRICA.MOST AFRICAN LEADERS ARE HOUSE NIGGERS BUT COMRADE MUGABE IS THE TRUTH MY FRIENDS….VIVA ZIMBABWE!!!!

    • John

      Why are there so many people dead, dying and homeless in Zimbabwe – this lion cannot even feed his pack my friend. Get a grip on reality, what happened to Gaddafi is too good for Bob. His time is nearly here…

    • Chimbido Warvet

      A lion without teeth cannot catch its prey and will eventually die of hunger. It has been proven world over that those leaders who have been praised by their people end up being the worst dictators. Of course, individuals who are beneficiaries of stolen land and diamonds will praise President Mugabe. To those of us whose land has been stolen and denied our basic human rights, President Mugabe is a villain.

      • David Gondokondo

        Mugabe is scared because he is now ideologically isolated. This time he is gone. He is too old to influence anyone.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/MJIPTT6YPX5UUH3OT2U6K36CG4 Humphrey,Henriques

    Alex Bell and Chimbido are in denial and are sellouts, Makumbe is clueless and does not deserve to even be talked about.The West and their allies are worse of than our African so called dictators when it comes to killing innocent people and double standards, they have no respect of the soveregnity of any nation and would kill and demonise Africans to get the Oil,minerals and to persue their other interests.The puppet AU leadership should be done with as a matter of urgency for us to survive the fresh plans to colonize our continent again!
    Mugabe in this instance is right and should be applauded and be supported.Africa will not sit and watch while these dogs comes and try and colonize us, We will defend our soveregnity!!!

    • Chimbido Warvet

      Dear Humprey,Henriques
      Nations have choices to make. They either decide to remain rogue states or join a group of civilized nations. Don’t say I never said it when your country gets into trouble. Your country’s leadership cannot continue to follow the path of confrontation with other countries for ever. Shouting at the top of one’s voice in order to attract attention or to express displeasure of things is not the answer. Diplomacy is the key, no matter how hurt your President may have been. Ndapedza shamwari.

  • DASUK LOCAL

    FOR Zimbabwe he is wrong for Libya he is right. What happened in Libya is the worst that can happen to any country. Not even democracy should be described as that. If the freedom from Gaddafi was genuine why are they gun fights in Libya today. Why are African Blacks being put in prison by the NTC in Libya long after Gaddafi is dead?
    We may not respect Mugabe on Zimbabwe but his claims on Libya are genuine and well founded. The AU is a toothless Dog ath is similar to the Arab League that is selling its brothers to the Western capitals for money and guns.
    look at what happening to Syria which when a puppet government is in place the next to be attacked is Iran. The Syrian country is going to be the launch pad into Iran making sure Isreal is safe from any retaliatory actions by Iran.
    The West does not care about human rights but has interests in what it wants in other countries. Syria is a necessary obstacle and to be in the hands of puppets if Iran is to be attacked for pursuing nuclear energy for its people.

  • Never moyo

    I think the message has finally hit home. Yes we cannot let the Gaddafis go on murdering us. The dictators are panickingGaddafi is not Africa. Its high time they knew that every sun which rises also has to set. We cannot suffer forever. What happened to Gaddafi is actually what the Africans have been dreaming for a very long time. Gaddafi created his own problems and overestimated his power against the people. If anyone Is a Gaddafi then the gaddafi thing ‘must’ happen. He was an African problem, a murderer par excellence and as corrupt as they come. His people hunted him because he was making their life, I repeat, Their Life unbearrable. Even he knew that he deserved every iota of what he got. In fact he should have faced a real trial were he not accelerated to hell by the Libyans. What we must know is that the shoe pinches the one who wears it. Nobody can understand what the Libyans were going through when Gaddafi was murdering. The fact that the people of Libya from scratch bravely fought Gaddafi with his vast resources tells us something. THat time AU did the best to let NATO remove the demagogue. It will happen again and again if another Gaddafi is found here. As for now Wade of SEnegal must go! If that does not happen then this is not the Africa we aspire. Africa is not there to feed greedy people. The West is not fighting against Africa but against tyranny. The demagogues create the necessary conditions by harrassing their people They never learn at all. One wonders what is going on in their heads. There ion no night without end……and the end is decided by the dictator. Long live the WINDS OF CHANGE. ZVinoita chete! Izinto ziyenzekha bantu bankulunkulu! It shall be done. Non pasaran to tyranny!

  • Zamburota

    VANGANI VAFA MUPALESTINE NEKUDA KWEISRAEL MUNOTI NAZVO, NOKUTI ISRAEL VANA VAMAMBO,

  • Never moyo

    Who has ever dreamt the the AU would fight Europe so that Gaddafi can be allowed to ride roughshod killing Libyans and Gbagbo refusing a clear electoral defeat. Which countries in Africa would have done that? Even imagining such a possibility is wishful thinking. In such cases African Unity does not exist…and shall never. We need development not to defend dictators who wade into pools of Matyrs blood after murdering them and then cry foul. Thi Nigerians say “One whi swallows the seeds of the Udala tree must surely be proud of his anus. It may seem unkind and crude…but it’s true. Dictators must not start it..if they cannot face it to its grand finale. Who could have imagined Gaddafi begging for anything…..the father Christmas of africa. But in the end he begged for something….respect….and his life. Now we are begging for respect ….and our life from the Gaddafists who remain on earth…because when D-day comes we shall be deaf with rage. Take this advice brothers. Wade in Senegal has already dug his grave ……he is boldly walking into it by being recalcvitranty in face of the innevitable. He shall be soon gone….We are behind the revolution in Senegal. WINDS OF CHANGE-WE SUPPORT

  • Never moyo

    THE BIBLE SAYS ‘HE WHO TRIES TO SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT” Mark my words

    • Commint09

      You preserve your life by believing in Jesus who died for your sins not the lies about democracy, disobedience to leaders, unforgiveness, revenge etc, period.

  • Anonymous

    Oh! He has been in panick mode since 2008. Couldn’t you read his facial looks.

    • Commint09

      Haunyari kunyeba manje? Iwe ndiwe uri in panic mode, uri kugara kupi!?

      • Anonymous

        I am living somewhere in Zimbabwe. Are you planning to abduct me? Why do you want to know where I am living Mr Green Bomber?

  • Marko Madubeko

    Mugabe is right and clear on his stament. Gaddafi was a leader, they failed to raise their figures to protect him. Do you real think they dear adout liaves of the masses in DRC where they selected Kabila’s son to take over after the death of his father? Are they are still at a meeting for three years to implement the GPA in Zimbabwe? In other hand Mugabe is telling them how useless they are. Somalia is still burning as we speak, do they care?

  • Opport4u

    Mugabe must stop interfering in the sovereignty of Libya

  • Commint09

    Don’t make people think that President Mugabe left the Summit while it was still in session on Tuesdy by saying. “…then left Ethiopia…” He only left after the closure of the Summit just like everyone else on Tuesday. No reasonable unbrainwashed academic will not see the legal sense in what President Mugabe said about the Peace and Security Council’s defiance of AU leaders which it serves to recognise the Libyan NTC just by iself without the holding of a Summit. In some circles, that is called disobedience which is equivalent to witchcraft. The council does not represent itself but the interests and decisions of countries at Summit level, period so, H.E. Mugabe will continue to be right as a matter of principle nomatter how much noise his detractors make