African Democracy

[freakray]

This is the type of democracy you see in Africa, the president is 'elected' but the opposition leader goes to jail for 'treason'?
Could you imagine it, Al Gore going to jail for wanting to be president?

Tsvangirai case adjourned
Posted Wed, 11 Jun 2003

A court in Zimbabwe on Wednesday adjourned after the first day of hearings in which opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is trying to get bail while he answers treason charges.

Judge Susan Mavhangira adjourned the case until Thursday at 10am (08:00 GMT) after hearing Tsvangirai's defence lawyers request bail for their client. The state opposes bail.

On Tuesday Tsvangirai, who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was charged with treason and inciting public violence.

He was set to spend his sixth night in police custody on Wednesday.

The charges against Tsvangirai stem from his party's call for street marches and a job stayaway last week in protest at the government, which it blames for severe social and economic hardships gripping the country.

On Wednesday morning police brought the opposition leader to the Harare High Court dressed in khaki prison garb and wearing handcuffs and leg irons.

The bail hearing was briefly delayed to allow Tsvangirai change into a suit and tie.


AFP


Taken from: http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/244216.htm

This is not the first time Tsvangirai has been in jail on this charge, he actually replaced the previous leader who was killed for opposing Mugabe. Since the last elections he has been in and out of jail on various trumped up charges....

Zimbabwe has been in a state of unrest for years now, I have met many of the white farmers that fled the country for fear of their families lives.
The world is practically ignoring a country where persecution is taking place on such a public and blatant level, if G.W is so interested in halting oppression, why doesn't he have troops in Zimbabwe?

The UN won't get invovled, sanctions mean nothing because South Africa won't cut Zimbabwe off.
All Zimbabwe's electricity comes from South Africa, as does most everything else, but Thabo Mbeki(SA President) and Robert "Mad Bob" Mugabe are such buddies that it's futile calling for sanctions.

Isn't this the kind of situation the UN should be there to prevent?

[YogsVR4]

That Al Gore comment was a good one Not because it would happen but just the thought of his deadpan look behind bars.

Nice little article. The democracy described sounds just like it does in Iran with the clerics having final say over what the elected legislature can actually do.

[freakray]

Originally posted by YogsVR4
That Al Gore comment was a good one Not because it would happen but just the thought of his deadpan look behind bars.

Nice little article. The democracy described sounds just like it does in Iran with the clerics having final say over what the elected legislature can actually do.

Thanks for actually responding Yogs.

In the case of Zim, it's not the clerics that dictate, it is the president, according to him his country is a democracy complete with elections and everything, the only difference is, if you are an opposition political party, then it is considered treason by Mugabe.

Funny enough, Nelson Mandela himself had made comments to the effect that any South African that leaves South Africa because of the problems in the country(AIDS, violent crime....the list goes on) is unpatriotic. In addition, Mbeki made a comment that anyone critical of the goverment is being unpatriotic.
Unfortunately, SA seems to be going down the same road as many African countries.

[Toksin]

Originally posted by freakray


Thanks for actually responding Yogs.

In the case of Zim, it's not the clerics that dictate, it is the president, according to him his country is a democracy complete with elections and everything, the only difference is, if you are an opposition political party, then it is considered treason by Mugabe.

Funny enough, Nelson Mandela himself had made comments to the effect that any South African that leaves South Africa because of the problems in the country(AIDS, violent crime....the list goes on) is unpatriotic. In addition, Mbeki made a comment that anyone critical of the goverment is being unpatriotic.
Unfortunately, SA seems to be going down the same road as many African countries.

I guess we are the great unpatriots then, eh Ray?