Mandela's words on Zimbabwe resonate widely (CSMonitor)

[pinto]

Mandela's words on Zimbabwe resonate widely
The South African statesman spoke critically in London about Robert Mugabe's crackdown.

Reuters
from the June 27, 2008 edition

LONDON - Nelson Mandela uttered just four words criticizing Zimbabwe's leadership, but they were enough to resonate around the world.

The South African statesman is in London to celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday, including meetings with the prime minister and the queen and a concert for 50,000 fans on Friday.

That event now is being overshadowed by events in troubled Zimbabwe, where widely condemned elections are due to be held on the same day.

Mr. Mandela, seen as a moral authority, has been under increasing pressure during his stay in Britain to condemn Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

In a speech Wednesday, Mandela highlighted several global crises including poverty, the Middle East, Iraq, and Darfur before referring to a "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0627/p05s01-woaf.html

[rpannier]

1. Seldom have truer words been spoken

Mugabe is a failed leader

M'beki of South African and the government of Angola have been his enablers.

M'beki now finds himself even more isolated, as does Mugabe and under more pressure within South Africa from ordinary South Africans.

The Unions provide only cusory support, many South Africans worry over the constant stream of displaced Zimbabweans flooding into South Africa and he (M'beki) seems indifferent to what his own people think -- kind of sounds like a certain US President we all know.

Constructive Engagement has failed as badly in the beginning of the 21st century as it did during the 1980's.