Yesterday I watched Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe stand up in front of the United Nations and lay into the West, telling the watching and listening world that everything that has gone wrong in Zimbabwe is the fault of the US and the UK who want to speed up regime change.

He also made the most amazing claim that the land reform programme in Zimbabwe is an example for the rest of the world. Possibly - as long as it is an example of how not to do it!

Does Mugabe really think that the watching world is going to actually believe him?

Mugabe complained long and hard about ‘illegal’ economic sanctions imposed on his country by the West.

There are no ‘economic sanctions’ imposed on Zimbabwe. There are, however, targeted economic sanctions against Mugabe, his family and members of his government, senior civil servants, and the security force chiefs and their wives.

This is basically to stop Mugabe and his administration from making any money using their positions and then dispossessing the Zimbabwean people of the country’s riches. (Don’t tell anyone, but these targeted sanctions are not working, because the powers that be keep lifting them to allow the likes of Mugabe and his huge entourage to access the good life anyway!).

Mugabe is the accuser, and he wants to be the jury as well - making many decisions based upon his biased thinking.

Having heard Mugabe’s accusations, the UN chief has asked for permission to send in an envoy to verify the security in the country in the run-up to the decisive Presidential election runoff on June 27. Mugabe has stated that the security concerns in the country are ‘overstated’ and has denied permission to the UN.

If his allegations that the post-election violence was being perpetrated by the MDC were correct, then why should he prevent the UN from sending an envoy? If his allegations were in any way true, then surely a UN envoy would help him prove that case?

And Mugabe fancies himself as the executioner.

He loves the bright lights and the attention he gets at these summits - and he revels in the attention he receives when these various organisations insist on giving him the floor. (Why they do it, I will never know.)

Mugabe is comfortable as the President of Zimbabwe, and has received somewhat of a shock being rejected at the polls by the voting Zimbabwean public. Not that he will respect their choice.

Mugabe respects no one.

Mugabe’s wife - who incidentally, is with him in Rome - no doubt intent on filling a jetliner with all manner of purchases (if shopping were an Olympic sport, Grace Mugabe would easily represent Zimbabwe!) - has stated, quite openly, that in the event of “Baba Mugabe” (‘old man’ or ‘father’ Mugabe) losing the election, he will not vacate the office for Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mugabe’s war veterans, his militia, youth brigades and armed forces are currently beating his will into the people. He is intent that his choice of himself as President of the country will be seen to and achieved. (And whilst the violence continues and the death toll rises, his administration still maintains that the violence is not perpetrated by ZANU PF.)

It is Mugabe’s intention to remain at the helm in Zimbabwe.

Do not allow his statements in yesterday’s address queer your thinking. The ‘land grab’ was an unmitigated disaster - as was the urban slum clearance, Operation Murambatsvina, during the winter of 2005.

ZANU PF must put their hands up and admit that they got it horribly wrong... as they did with the administration of the country’s finances.

Inflation in Zimbabwe is the highest in the world - the last calculation by his Central Statistical Office, who admit that their formulae are flawed - is 165000% and the Zimbabwean currency, which exists in bearer cheques only, is worth nothing elsewhere in the world.

Can Mugabe claim that the West is responsible for the land grab, the demise of the agricultural sector, responsible for Murambatsvina and the economy in Zimbabwe?

I don’t think so! His statements show him to be nothing less that his own executioner. Mugabe’s own political suicide.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man