I often am accused of being decidedly anti-Mugabe, and if you were in my position, you may agree with my stance.

But there are times when the man shoots himself in the foot - and categorically proves that he is a man with a wandering eye and dubious morals.

I could go to town on the various times that Mugabe has lied to the free world, the times that he has said one thing and done another - and these would date right back to before the Lancaster House Agreement signed in 1979.

But, for the sake of space, and the want to keep your attention, I will just highlight two such mistruths - one that he uttered not even 48 hours ago.

In the days in the run-up to the March 29th Presidential election - an election which he lost on paper to Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe famously stated: “ZANU PF party would accept defeat at the polls - and saying opponents also should respect whatever result emerges.”

Just two days ago, we read: President Robert Mugabe is vowing that the country’s opposition leader will never rule Zimbabwe and says he is prepared to fight to keep the opposition from taking power.

In another instance, just last week, it was reported: “Zimbabwe’s government has given the assurance that they won’t arrest Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.”

And the very next day: “”President Robert Mugabe’s regimeZimbabwean intensified repression yesterday, despite having given assurances to the South African government that it would stop the crackdown on the opposition as the presidential runoff vote approached.

Police arrested opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai while he was campaigning - and again late last night in Gweru.”

Mugabe’s allergy to the truth is apparent and whilst the free world watches on, no one seems intent on questioning the statements that Mugabe makes, and his diametrically opposed actions on the ground.

Today, talk on the internet has once again turned to a coalition government for Zimbabwe, and the possibility that the runoff on June 27th would be scrapped - allowing a five-year transitional government to rule (with Mugabe as President and Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister).

I argue the need or want for a Government of National Unity (GNU) mainly because in 28 years Mugabe has never seen fit to share power with anyone else (including Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU in the 1987 Peace Accord), and now that he loses an election, he wants - nay - demands a share in power.

Obviously, it is more acceptable to reach an amicable agreement and avoid the bush war that Mugabe has threatened the country with - but I am still opposed to ZANU PF having very much to do with power in Zimbabwe.

I have said it before - and will probably say it again. In 1980, for Zimbabwe to succeed, Mugabe needed to change nothing. He could have kept the good ship Zimbabwe well afloat and an example to other African countries…

But he chose to fiddle with a few things initially - which then necessitated further changes, and before we knew it, the entire prospect of a prosperous Zimbabwe flew out the window.

As he fiddled some more, the economy suffered - and with it, the Zimbabwean people. At the time of writing, the British pound fetches 10000000000 Zimbabwean dollars on the black market (that is a one followed by ten zeroes). Put back the three zeroes that Gono slashed from the ‘currency’ in August last year and you are talking about an economy that struggles to sustain life.

I find it interesting that the man who came third in the Presidential race - a ZANU PF maverick - who faces no punishment for his desertion from the ZANU PF ranks, Simba Makoni - should be one of the leaders in a call for a GNU, with the insistence that he be included in that resolution.

To me, unacceptable. On two grounds. Firstly, Makoni, by virtue of the fact that he is Zimbabwean’s third choice to lead, deserves no part in government, and secondly, ZANU PF in general and Mugabe in particular, because of their history littered with violence and corruption, should hold no office in a government that leads a new Zimbabwe.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man