THE leader of one of the formations of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Professor Arthur Mutambara has criticised Western countries for interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe. He said the West was racist in imposing sanctions against Zimbabwe whilst negotiations were taking place to resolve the crisis in the country.
In an interview with Geraldine Doogue of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) Radio National programme on Saturday, Mutambara responded to the UK Guardian newspaper’s charges that he is a shameless opportunist who was currying favour with former Zanu PF enemies and was driven by ambition to negotiate with the Zanu PF government.
In reponse Mutambara said the West "can go to hell if they don't like the Agreement" on Zimbabwe that will be brokered by the three leaders; President Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF, MDC main formation leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and himself. He was referring to a possible agreement that many people expect will be signed by the three main parties in the country which will set the parameters for sharing power in the country.
Responding to a question that he and Tsvangirai "could be walking into a trap as Joshua Nkomo did in the '80s" when Zanu PF and PF merged, Mutambara said MDC leaders were "smarter than Australians ... smarter than the Americans".
Zanu PF and PF Zapu in 1987 signed a Unity Accord which many people criticised as effectively "swallowing" PF Zapu into Zanu PF.
"Do you think I am stupid? When you ask that question you think we are foolish and we are very offended that you think we are that stupid. We are smarter than the Australians, we are smarter than the Americans, we went to better schools than most of these leaders in America, in Britain and in Australia," added Mutambara.
He continued: "I am coming out of Oxford. None of your prime ministers can challenge me intellectually. So how do you patronise me and tell me that I'm going to be hoodwinked by Mugabe. You are doubting my intelligence. Shame on you."
Mutambara said the negotiations, currently being brokered by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, are driven by 'national interest' and the West should not interfere.
Calling the West "collectively foolish", Mutambara said the parties to the Zimbabwe unity talks are "discussing as Zimbabweans, and will brook no interference from patronising Westerners".
"Who are you to tell Africans how to run their affairs? If the three leaders agree on a particular position, it's not for Britain, it's not for Australia, it's not for America to say that we are wrong," said Mutambara.
"Who are you? How dare you undermine our intelligence, how dare you are so racist to the extent that you can't guarantee us and give us the respect, the vote of confidence that we can make our own decisions."
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Asked whether President Mugabe will emerge as victorious as he did after the 1987 Unity Accord, Mutambara said the MDC knew what it was doing and would not be cohersed into any agreement. He responded: "we know what we are doing. We are capable Africans, we are capable Zimbabweans. We are very clever people."
Mutambara also spelt out an acceptable outcome of the talks on the part of the MDC. Describing any agreement that will come out of the current talks as "temporary", Mutambara said: "The long-term solution for our country is to get a new people-driven democratic constitution, create a national vision, 20-, 30-year vision to make Zimbabwe a globally competitive economy, and hence economically transforming ourselves so that in terms of the capital income GDP, business growth, entrepreneurship, financial literacy we are one of the top 20 countries in the world. We are on a long journey to the Promised Land."
Mutambara also criticised the West for judging the electoral process in Zimbabwe, highlighting that Zimbabwe has never interfered in electoral processes in those countries.
"It (the West) can go to hell. Who are you? Do we judge your elections in Australia? Do we judge your elections and your agreements in America and Europe? Nonsense. If Tsvangirai agrees. Who are you in Australia to judge and say Tsvangirai is wrong?"
Full transcript and audio
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Leo • lt07@msn.com
Subject: Mutambara is naive
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:01:24 • Kuzodada neWestern education kani kunge ndiye aitofundisa paOxford. You would think he got a scholarship from Bob. Regai vakuru vachiti ukarera imbwa nomukaka mangwana inofuma yokuruma. Mutambara needs to scale down his noice. We have all seen where he is headed. The Zimbabwean problem is deeper than what the world has heard. EGO is one of the biggest issue to our emancipation; everybody who thinks is educated better than some few folks starts acting intellectual with issue that do not require any of it. It is as simple as just answering questions from journalist.
Zimbabwe massive • zimbabwelive@aol.com
Subject: Mutambara Please!
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:21:20 • Which hymn book are you singing from, MDC, ZANU PF, the west`s or east. For an educated man who has not been forced into any submission, you seem to be the most confused person in town.
Draw your lines and make your mind up! Actually you are becoming very irritating these negotiations will end when Jongwe and Morgan say so!
Outside intervention might yield more results than the pace at which we are working at and of course that will be undesirable but what else?
Saira • sairira@aim.com
Subject: Mutambara
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:29:58 • Mugabe, Mutambara and Tsvangirai they lost their beingness in time immemorial. What we are witnessing in Zimbabwe today its nothing more than egomania!
These guys intend to make us believe that they care more for Zimbabweans than themselves ....???? What silly excuses we get from these folks whom our nation bestow trust! What are we getting from them - EGO.
Its not late before Tsvangirai starting fearing that he mighty not be accommodated in the filthy stinking cave . So who is it that they want to crucify in this cave!
Zimbabwe, we deserve better than this, let us look to the East whence the hand of Almighty awaits for our salvation. These men, born out of a woman have few years to live on earth, they are mortals. So Zimbabwe dont need them, but you and me can change our nation for the betterment of our tomorrow. God is capable, let us put our trust and faith in him - not these hungry vultures flying high in the sky waiting for the weak to stop breathing!
It stinks, Prof. Mutambara!
Saira
samas • n/a
Subject: n/a
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:29:13 • Mutambara was rejected by the people of Zimbabwe. He may scold the British, Americans etc aka the west but these people were not there when we voted. What it is showing is that Professors AGO, Welshman, JMoyo etc have no business in politics. They should remain in the background. Siding with the devil will render him irrelvant to the future of this country.
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com
Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots!
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:36:33 • Makoni
You are taking a naive and servile position, which no doubt has been brainwashed by the duplicitous and evil Europeans.
Wise and practical people DO NOT make themselves 'accountable' to others who are not simultaneously 'accountable' to them!
The European-dominated UN, for instance, is 'accountable' mostly to European people and to European interests.
See the case of the massive slaughter of INNOCENT Iraqis by evil European powers.
Have those vile European powers been 'accountable' to the world?
Africans have no business allowing themselves to be accountable to the UN.
And if policies of SADC or AU run contrary to the best interest of Africans and of Zimbabweans, then Zim Patriots are RIGHTLY not going to allow themselves to be 'accountable' to policies that are not in the best interest of Zimbabweans.
Your kind wants to surrender to racist and destructive foreigners. In this way, your lineage will always be slaves and servants to its own racist enemies.
Maybe Mutambara is finally seeing the light of European evil and the need for Africans to chart their OWN course towards Self-determination, Self-development, Self-sufficiency and Self-reliance.
The evil Europeans are only interested in plundering Africa and dominating Africans.
For too long, Mutambara and the others have been Mentally Deluded by Colonialists (MDC)
Robert S Makoni • simbagroupusa@gmail.com
Subject: Lest we forget
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:04:08 • I know we all talk about sovereignity and the need for external forces to stay out of Zimbabwe's affairs. I do however want to remind you that as long as we are part of an international community, be it United Nations, SADC or AU, we are accountable politically and morally.
We should never condone the behaviour that emanated during the recent elections and fool ourselves that we had a good electoral process. It was far from good and capped with gross human rights abuses. Educated as we may seem to call ourselves, it loses meaning to have a couple of degrees and still be as naive and ignorant as the one you so call uneducated.
We need to be real and strategic as we progress through trying to revive Zimbabwe. It is people who refuse to acknowledge that they have failed and seek advice, whose attitude and behaviour becomes detrimental to the process of rebuilding Zimbabwe.
As long as we live among others, we must know that we are accountable to the law that we created together with the international community. Laws that were broken severely recently.
Let's be accountable and build a better Zimbabwe.
It's all good
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com
Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots!
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:57:03 • IT is obvious that those self-hating and self-destructive Africans of the MDC (Mentally Deluded by Colonialists) ARE NOT true leaders.
The MDC is a criminal organization, whose sole aim is to act on behalf of the racist and evil Europeans, for the purpose of African domination and African plunder.
The criminal and lost leaders of MDC should be EXILED or CONFINED! And the MDC should be OUTLAWED; because it is not acting in the best interest of Zimbabweans and Africans.
Gershom Bekezela • gershza@hotmail.com
Subject: AGO
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:26:06 • Tell them brother! Its about time we charted our own path and destiny. The West is only concerned with creating puppets in Africa! Africa's solutions require cohesion first. We are Zimbabweans first before we are MDC or ZANU!
The fact that someone lost an election or ceded their candidacy for another does not mean that they do not have a vision for the country. It simply means that they are selfless and are prepared to do what it takes to correct what is wrong in Zimbabwe. And what is wrong in Zimbabwe is that we, Zimbabweans have lost confidence in our country and in ourselves. Those few who have been living in the west have come to realise that our future lies not in donations from the west but from formulating long term strategies and partnerships with those who share the same values and vision.
Way to go Arthur. You have dispelled the fallacy that everyone who is against Mugabe supports the West and wants to sell Zimbabwe to them.
n/a • n/a
Subject: n/a
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:01:59 • Can someone tell Omuhle that just because he believes in the superiority of the white race this does not mean all black people are as stupid and as ignorant as him. He/and his clan can continue to lick their white master's a**e and he should not expect all Zimbos to do that. Some of us take pride in our blackness and our ability to manage our own affairs without the whiteman. Without his masters sanctions Zim was the epicentre of Southern African peace and prosperity. Sellouts like this odious Mtakati are the ones that paved the way for the evil whiteman to cause misery and discord amongst us, but they will not win! Maybe Omuhle like all rogue sellouts would find it very proper to go and live in poofter Sarah Maria Khama's Botswana where all sellouts live. Remember Omuhle, selling out is not noble, look at your brother Mwanawafa whose fear of facing the truth in Egypt resulted in a stroke that has (at a very appropriate time too) sent him to Hades where he is a new member of the Moise Tshombe, Matsangaise, Idi Amin coterie of white serving black sell outs. May his rotten soul continue to fry in Hell and may the good lord hasten the demise of the two other sellouts Khama and Tsvangison! Tirikuitonga chete kusvikira zvanaka!
murozvi mutunga • mmurozvi@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Highly educated but will never learn
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:38:04 • I am shocked by the way the professor of robotics engages himself in political issues. Let me just give him a little bit of advice. Mr professor leadership is not all about intelligence, its all about wisdom and wisdom comes from God. You are now behaving like Mugabe bacause you are so desperate to be in power so you think by appeasing Mugabe you will gain political millage. You said that you are intelligent because you came from Oxford why didnt you mention UZ. Remember Oxford is a western institution of reputable aplomb. I personally see you as a disgrace to the zimbabwean society and your highest ambition is to be like Mugabe in his image you were shaped. You are very aducated but you will never learn. Please think.
taka • tk@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: mutambara
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:13:40 • If the West is collectively foolish why do you pride yourself in being educated at oxford?
OMUHLE • n/a
Subject: n/a
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:06:48 • AGO can speak for himself to say he is not stupid but we have ministers who have been recycled by Mugabe, who got into helicopters and told us we had a good harvest because they saw nothing excpet green lush vegetation from up in the skies. Ministers who told us there is no fertilizer in the country because a monkey died in a transformer.
Besides which why should he use the fact he is educated at Oxford (which I doubt, myself) to show he is an intelligent man? Why can't he say he is educated at UZ? There are alot more people educated at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard etc in the UK and US than those in Zimbabwe. It's not about education man, it's about greed and susception to corruption. Mugabe has really offered him a lifeline because this is a man who couldn't even register to run in the presidential election, who couldn't even win a parliamentary seat in Chitungwiza, who vacillated from Tsvangirayi to Makoni and now onto Mugabe. Anyone who is willing to guarantee him a political future and income as a minister or senator.
As for telling the west to go hang, politics for these guys means which donor or foreign country is willing to send them money. MDC- T has mopped up all donations from the west so Mutambara has a bone to grind withthem over the lack of money in his party.
The people spoke and none of them said Mutambara in the elections. He is nothing in the grand scheme of things. The best he can hope to be is Mugabe's stooge, one of his wives liek all the other ZANU PF members from time immemorial.
peter moyo • ed@zimgreats.com
Subject: Mutambara is right
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:04:12 • This is the calibre of leadership that we need in Zimbabwe. With this kind if leadership, we will be self sustaining in a few years time. We are tired of politicians who think that the West is key to our development when all they do is give us handouts and make us more dependent on them more. The future investor of Zimbabwe is me and you in the Diaspora who will marshall funds and still get the 51% share thanks to the indegenisation Act
Nyamuzihwa • gmazingaizo@gmail.com
Subject: thankx
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:17:12 • Tell them brother. i like this. why are they so concerned. They are doubting our ability.We are not that stupid. Let them leave us to decide our destiny.
Chief Negomo (aka Oliver Mtyambizi) • chiefnegomo@yahoo.com
Subject: ???
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:45:12 • People should understand that we are a sovereign state and not a rogue nation.We have seen so many dodge elections and no westerner dare talk about them.Zimbabweans need not to be cry babies and know that the mayopic and greedy states are up to pillage and ransack the wealthy of zimbabwe.Yes some may be quick to say the present govt of Mugabe has equaly done that,please note such actions by the west are mortal and fallible.Lets deal with Mugabe and his govt on nationalist basis.Lets deal with rogue individuals on our own than to invite the hand that give and take.
The trajectory of democracy in Africa should be determined by Africans and not westerners.The sickening hypocrisy of the west should be resisted by all fair minded people.The phenotypic appearance of the westerners is so flamboyant than their genotypic that is bloated with vanity and egotism.Zimbabwe like any other African country needs leaders who are driven by nationalistic and not self absorption and narcissism ideas as depicted by most of the African governemnts.Calling Arthur a non challant fela and an opportunist politician is significantly deviating from reality.Politics is a game of opportunities.Mugabe,Morgan,Thambo,Arthur,Khama to name it even Bush,Kevin Rudley all exploited the opportunities within their peripherals.Yes Mugabe maybe a charlatan,but to suggest that the MDC leaders in signing up to the agreement to end the economical and political dillema that has been characterising our society are foolish is non other than subverting the ability of Africans.In as much as i agree with you all that Morgan has never been consistent in his political career so far,its all to do with them the west who are fostering ideas that He himself may even fail to understand.Lets not we forget that the west use regime change to plunder resources world wide.The teritorial intergrity of nations should be respected as well as their autonomous.
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