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Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

nytimes.com

31–40 of 84 posts

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#31
post #11

Shouldn't he have been removed quite some time ago for violating the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide?

Removed by whom?

I suppose that's one of the UNs weakness in that they lack the ability to enforce a lot of conventions.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#33
Pre-Mugabe Zimbabwe was known as "the breadbasket of Africa" for the productivity of its farms. Mugabe brought economic collapse and famine, while living a life of luxury and stashing billions overseas. Hopefully whoever comes next will be a better leader.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#34
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And initially he was a very good leader. But lately, if you listen to his speeches, he is downright senile. And he can hardly walk on his own. That's why the general convention of serving a maximum of 2 or 3 terms is so important.

As they say - Either you die (or step down in this case) a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. There are multiple cases in developing countries where the family/friends takes over in case of someone powerful going senile.

Which is why there must be good rules that people can't stay in power for too long. Power will corrupt eventually even the nicest of people.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#35
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And initially he was a very good leader. But lately, if you listen to his speeches, he is downright senile. And he can hardly walk on his own. That's why the general convention of serving a maximum of 2 or 3 terms is so important.

As they say - Either you die (or step down in this case) a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. There are multiple cases in developing countries where the family/friends takes over in case of someone powerful going senile.

When was Mugabe a hero? Like, what year and what heroic thing did he do?

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#36
post #28
post #21

background: President is old and have succession problems. In recent years his wife trying to grab more and more power to be the next president but not everyone in the ruling party like that. last week she (from the mouth of the president) fired "number 2" in the country. since then everyone who was "friend" with number 2 was fired too. when they tried to get rid of the army general (friend of number 2) he refused to…

>"when they tried to get rid of the army general (friend of number 2) he refused to leave his office" That was never confirmed

Its not the kind of things you can get confirmation. He was called a traitor in official letter yesterday.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#37
post #4

"While denying that the military had seized power, they said that Mr. Mugabe and his family “are safe and sound, and their security is guaranteed.” “We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice," This doesn't look good.

> This doesn't look good.

Who for?

The situation in Zimbabwe is bad enough that things could hardly get much worse. Worst case, one corrupt dictator gets replaced by a different successor than would otherwise have been the case. It's not like a military junta could be less democratic or more corrupt than the existing regime, after all.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#38
post #37
post #4

"While denying that the military had seized power, they said that Mr. Mugabe and his family “are safe and sound, and their security is guaranteed.” “We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice," This doesn't look good.

> This doesn't look good. Who for? The situation in Zimbabwe is bad enough that things could hardly get much worse. Worst case, one corrupt dictator gets replaced by a different successor than would otherwise have been the case. It's not like a military junta could be less democratic or more corrupt than the existing regime, after all.

I'd not be so sure. It can almost always get worse.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#39
post #17
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Long before he turned senile, he turned corrupt. He has ruined his country economically. This is the real reason for a maximum of 2 or 3 terms. Power corrupts.

It's recently been proven you only need 1 year for this.

In the case I think you're thinking of, the corruption was pre-existing.

Re: Zimbabwe's Military in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of President

#40
post #33

Pre-Mugabe Zimbabwe was known as "the breadbasket of Africa" for the productivity of its farms. Mugabe brought economic collapse and famine, while living a life of luxury and stashing billions overseas. Hopefully whoever comes next will be a better leader.

It was a different country. how well can ex-slaves and bushman run a country? democracy is not rooted in every culture, greed is :\

EDIT: just to be clear not every person in charge is ex-slave or something, but as a country even if they started financially strong it does not mean they had the culture to support it

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