People ‘like Mugabe’ must be given immunity – Zuma

Published: June 18, 2009

(Analysis)SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma’s proposal for immunity viewed to be clearly referring to President Mugabe brings forward a new deal for Africa which ’will’ allow autocratic leaders immunity from prosecution in exchange for their retirement.

“The world has changed and we need to do things differently and not emphasise punishment,” Mr Zuma said during a televised debate in Cape Town, adding that there was an urgent need to confront the legacy of “Cold War” leaders “frankly and boldly”.

Mr Zuma, whose country is playing the key role in Zimbabwe’s crisis, warned that the alternative to offering immunity to autocratic leaders was to see them stay in office. Mr Zuma never mentioned Mugabe by name, although analysts said the speech highlighted the Zimbabwean President’s tenacious determination to cling to office because he feared prosecution for human rights outrages if he were to step down

As the South African President was speaking, the need for Mugabe’s removal from power in Zimbabwe was again underlined when Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, after meeting President Barack Obama in Washington, found that the US had promised the country $US73million ($90m) only in humanitarian aid “and no development aid”.

Defending himself against criticism that he had become an apologist for Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai said he saw his role as similar to that of Nelson Mandela. He was left in no doubt that substantial aid from the US would be forthcoming only after Mugabe was removed from office.

South Africa remains pivotal to all attempts to convince Mugabe that the time has come for him to retire. Mr Zuma’s suggestion of “immunity for autocratic leaders” is undoubtedly designed as a major initiative aimed at persuading the Zimbabwean dictator to go

Zuma is regarded as being less “friendly” than his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, towards Mugabe. Last year, one of Mr Zuma’s daughters, Gugulethu Zuma, married Wesley Ncube, eldest son of Welshman Ncube, a leading member of a faction of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Mr Tsvangirai.

Mr Zuma said Africa’s leaders needed to get together and establish a pan-African deal that would remove the threat of prosecution from ageing, autocratic leaders and facilitate their departure from office.

The legacy of such Cold War leaders had to be addressed, he said. “One of the issues will be that that period caused a lot of havoc on the continent and some people might be thinking, ‘If I move out, what will happen to me?’ I think it is an issue we need to talk about: what do we do in order to remove that fear?

“The world has changed, therefore let us do things differently and not emphasise punishment. If you are saying: ‘OK move out, but tomorrow we will deal with you’, then you are causing a problem with somebody saying ‘why should I leave when I still have power? I had better remain here’.”

Studiously avoiding mentioning Mugabe by name, Mr Zuma was asked why he was not naming names. “We mustn’t,” he replied.

Speaking in Washington, Mr Tsvangirai told London’s The Times he saw his role as similar to that of Nelson Mandela in South Africa when he shared power with the country’s former white apartheid rulers.

“Nelson Mandela went for two years with the former apartheid leaders in order to create that transition (in South Africa),” he said. “So we are not in a unique position. Transitions of this nature are important because you soft-land a crisis in order to create a better basis for democratic development.”

ZimEye/ The Australian

23 Comments on "People ‘like Mugabe’ must be given immunity – Zuma"

Thabani Ngwenya on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 1:13 am

Last year, one of Mr Zuma’s daughters, Gugulethu Zuma, married Wesley Ncube, eldest son of Welshman Ncube, a leading member of a faction of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Mr Tsvangirai…..Haaaaa?? Is this correct?

zj mugadzaweta on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 7:17 am

no jz.this is pure politicking. if we take that route then we are saying leaders should kill, loot with impunity.this man has looted and killed for a long time. he needs to meet his karma now. NO ZUMA, RWAVHI TO HANG!!!

Richie Cool on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 7:48 am

Right. Richie Coool has arrived!

Welshman Ncube is an official in a rebel faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara, NOT Tsvangirai. Yes it is true though, his son married Zuma’s daughters. This is Zuma’s strategy, one could say, A RESTORATION OF THE OLD ZULU EMPIRE. Tshaka Zulu failed to control Mzilikazi who maanged to run away across the Limpopo. This time, the Zulu empire is going to be spread across the two plateaus, South Africa to Zimbabwe. With Zuma in power, you can be rest assured that Mugabe era has ended. That I can clearly see with my two eyes happening.

Argument closed on this one. If you dispute this fact, you will need more evidence

Bruce Derere Ph.D on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 8:00 am

Richie. You say nonsense within what looks like sense. Your facts are skewed and your predictions myopic

The Ndebele’s will never rule Zimbabwe. that even a child knows

Mduduzi on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 8:05 am

Mr Derere. You are a blind tribalist who can only see as far as his nose.

You are one of those who killed innocent children during your uncle Mugabe’s reign days.

Justice will soon knowck on your doors one of these days boy, you shall see

martin lawrance bapaya on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 8:20 am

thats very true. no ndebele will ever rule this country. they wants sold the country at one point so why on earth should they be allowed to have a second chance. zimbabwe is for zimbabweans not for sale outs. the difference still remain the same. if your father is a thief by nature definately the son or the daughter will turn to be one. thats like daughter like mother or vice-versa. we once tried the ndebele tribe to rule this country but to no avil they faild us. how can you sell a country for sugar. thats unthoughtfull at all. we are not against the tribe but lets call a spade a spade. even MDC or which ever party knows that if they want to win the presidency of this country, their leader has to be someone not from the Mathebeleland otherwise there wont be any reason to contest. thats a kwon fact.

CHIDHORORO on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 10:24 am

VAKOMANA NYIKA NGAIVAKWE,WE MUST BE FAIR,AND EVERYONE MUST TREATED FAIRLY. MUGABE HAS KILLED FOR A LONG TIME AND MUST DANCE THE MUSIC. OR ELSE HE HAS TO APOLOGIZE TO THE WHOLE NATION OF ZIMBABWE AND AFRICA………….THEN MAY BE ,WE THE AFRICANS CAN FORGIVE HIM FOR THE SINS HE COMMITTED,BUT KANA AKADA HAKE KUITA ZVE***** NDINOPIKA O,ANOMAMA.

svosve on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 11:20 am

Chidhororo. You are a Chidhororo chaicho!

Your ideas are base and ill-informed.

People like you need to know that Mugabe is Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is Mugabe. Prove me otherwise

Mugabe on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 1:13 pm

Ndebeles sold the country for sugar and they will never rule Zimbabwe one stupid ***** has said. My brother Mugabe has done more harm than what the Ndebeles did in 1000 years yet Mugabe achieved it in 29 years and even killing his own people. remember he has not stopped his aids are still on the rampange. Mugabe is hated by all Ndebeles and most Shonas now whats your take on that. Go on and dream its not about Ndebeles ruling Zimbabwe its about Zimbabweans chosing the right poeple to rule them they can choose either a Shona or any other nation for that matter as long as the right things for the masses is done. God bless Zimbabwe. Leave racists shouting from the corridors times have changed. People are educated they know what is right for them.

Conrade Manyika on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 2:22 pm

Hey you (above) You are a liar! The Ndebele’s ruled Zimbabwe for only 33 years NOT 1000 as you allege and polute this forum with your lies.

Study your history boy. Is this what they taught you in Mthwakazi?

Brownsugar, Chigwell on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 4:52 pm

Zim eye. on this picture you have on zuma, the part that is black should have a shower in the background… bless

Thomas Kangai on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 5:57 pm

Ha ha hah

Nice one Brownsugar!

Anonymous on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 8:51 pm

anga achangobva kubaya chimwe chisikana. Razor wire………..Zuma

Anonymous on Thu, 18th Jun 2009 8:52 pm

Thomas uriwekwa Kangai mbavha iye here?

zj mugadzaweta on Fri, 19th Jun 2009 7:11 am

if we are still mired in tribalism like this, then we are in for a long jump.the fact that ndebele, venda or so will never rule the country was MYTH perpetrated by rwavhi. a minority as u may want to call will definitely rule this country in our lifetime… watch my words. whats so special about being a shona to warrant ruliing forever when our prototype rwaavhi has failed dismally? maybe its true that a ndebele will never rule coz we no longer want to be ruled but led.

Anonymous on Fri, 19th Jun 2009 7:15 am

Chigororo chemunhu Zuma!

Anonymous on Fri, 19th Jun 2009 7:35 am

Over my deadbody for a Ndebele sellout to rule Zimbabwe. They dance to Mugabe`s tune.

Anonymous on Fri, 19th Jun 2009 7:37 am

Mugabe is Ndebele, Matibili will be the last Ndebele monkey to rule us, he is trying to pass on the button to his Brother John Nkomo,

temu moyo on Fri, 19th Jun 2009 2:36 pm

shame on tribalists who disgarce this site some of them give themselves academic titles. who in his right mind would want to rule the pit latrine called zimbabwe with feaces spewing out causing cholera. the answer is simple it is these big-egoed rat eaters shouting their hoarse voices sayiing that ndebeles will not rule this sh.i.t. you have created the mess clean it up nobody will do that for you dirty rat eaters. Zuma is just another *****; mugabe should be set free by the Hague not by dirty polygamists like him.

zj mugadzaweta on Fri, 19th Jun 2009 3:12 pm

pple lack vision and wisdom thats why rwavhi wants to rule forever.probably he tells pple in mashonaland that if u vote mdc the ndebeles will take the country. shame on all tribalists. remember it was because of the scourge that rwavhi butchered pple during entumbane. it was not about dissidents but just tribal hatred. i wish the mdc criminalises tribalism when they take over.

mhofu on Sat, 20th Jun 2009 7:33 pm

NDEBELES ARE NUMBER ONE TRIBALISTS. IF YOU GROUP THEY WILL FORM THEIR OWN GROUP FROM OTHERS TALKING IN THEIR TOUNGUES. GET OFF MUDHARA MUGABE. HE IS RIGHT FOR THE SAFEKEEPING OF OUR LAND. YOU NDEBELES WANT SUGAR AGAIN LIKE ZUMA.

chamakuwende ngomainorira on Tue, 23rd Jun 2009 5:13 pm

iwe Mhofu uri Mhofu yemukosho chaiyo , why open up old wounds when others are carrying messages of peace, reconcialiation and cohesion ,it is people like you who let Zim down.Stop waffling.

Utete on Tue, 23rd Jun 2009 5:19 pm

I am with Mhofu. Camakuwende, you make sense while you ignore the truth. Embrace the truth man. Ndebele’s naturally are men of war. Even without the wounds which you mention my mate, these people will be having a grudge against you.

When they came up north having been chased by Tshaka, where they massacred by the Shona’s? But they still were agreesive and hateful for nothing, until the White man humbled them,. But they are still proud. I was told by one Ndebele recently, She said to me: ‘You maShonas are proud because you don’t know Sindebele.’ I told her, ‘you also are proud because you do not know Tonga.’

Thye make me sick man. I don’t know why you support them!

People ‘like Mugabe’ must be given immunity – Zuma

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