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Britain must help us out of this crisis, says Mugabe
Anna Davis05.12.08
Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe has appealed for Britain's help in dealing with the cholera epidemic that has infected thousands of people.
The country declared a national emergency yesterday and appealed for other countries to come to its aid. It comes despite Mr Mugabe repeatedly blaming Britain, as a former colonial power, for Zimbabwe's problems.
Gordon Brown pledged an extra £10million to help the country. He said: "For once we agree with the government of Zimbabwe - this is a national emergency. Mugabe's failed state is no longer willing or capable of protecting its people. Thousands are stricken with cholera and must be helped urgently."
The charity Human Rights Watch warned the epidemic could spread to neighbouring South Africa as asylum seekers pour over the border to escape the outbreak. African states are stepping up the pressure on Mr Mugabe, heightening the sense that he is losing control of Zimbabwe.
Yesterday Kenya's prime minister Raila Odinga called on other African governments to work to topple him. He said: "Power sharing is dead in Zimbabwe and will not work with a dictator who does not really believe in power sharing. It's time for African governments to take decisive action to push him out of power."
Claire-Lise Chaignat, global cholera co-ordinator of the World Health Organisation, said: "We are in front of a disaster. It is escalating. We know there are pockets where the case fatality rate is up to 50 per cent."
Official figures show 570 people have died from the cholera outbreak and 13,000 people are infected, but health workers warned the real toll could be much higher. Hospitals in the two main cities have been closed as doctors and nurses demand better pay and conditions. They have also run out of medicines and equipment.
The epidemic has been caused by the collapse of Zimbabwe's water and sewage systems. The ruling Zanu-PF party took control of the systems three years ago, passing them to the inept Zimbabwe National Water Authority instead.
This week Harare lost its entire water supply for 48 hours. Many urban areas go months without water.
Reader views (26)
Mugabe's idea of "help" is for him and his cronies to help themselves to whatever the British government offers. The people of Zimbabwe won't see so much as a bean until Mugabe is removed from power.
- Nigel, London
- Maria, London
Zimbabwe is and has been an independent country for years. We have no obligation to that corrupt African country or any other. All the African leaders backed Mugabe, especially SADC and South Africa, and kept him in power. Let them sort out their own problems.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Any aid we send will go straight into Mugabe's pockets. As long as he and his team are there we need to keep well away. The cholera is a tragedy, but one which need not have happened if Mugabe had been a half decent leader and taken care of his people and country.
- Deborah, London
My heart goes out to the people of Zimbabwe. While we have dreamed up a rediculous committment to the EU, we have neglected our obligation to our ex-colony.
- Maria, London
Simple answer is Mugabe must go.
THis isnt a problem made by the UK it is a problem made by his in ability to stop syphoning cash out of the country for his own gain.
If the money that belongs to Zimbabwe was used by the people for the people it would still be a fantastically rich farming nation with food and clean water to spare.
The blame lies with Mugabe plain and simple.
- Liberal Thinker, UK
The UK's biggest mistake was in staying connected to Africa once we had been overtaken by the events of post colonial Africa. Once the newly independent countries were established we should have quietly removed all traces of our ever being there, not easy I grant you but possible. That way we could have shed out post colonial baggage in a positive way. We are now a magnet for all things wrong in Africa even countries that we have never had any dealings with whatsoever now use us an excuse for dumping their refugee's notably those ex-French/Belgian colonies in Africa. We are now the home to every disaffected asylum seeking individual that leaves the shores of Africa and this will inevitably cause grief even between the different African people living here. We now harbour people who inflicted genocide on their own kith and kin and our judiciary tell us it is unsafe to remove them from our midst !!
- Dutchy Holland, glasgow
With all the people in the world who accidentally garot themselves on their morning walk (Hess), inadvertantly throw themselves under Tube Trains (Marcone scientists), carelessly crash their cars in Paris (Diana), slash their wrists in dispair without splashing the surrounding area with blood (Kelly) or who absent-mindedly drink Polonium 2-10 in their tea: how come Bob Mugabe has had such a brilliant run of Luck . . . ?!
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Tell him you'll help but get rid of him as Head of the Country - hey let's hope he catches Cholera...... he is an evil evil man.
- Barbara, sydney, Australia,
Change has to come from within, all we will get is resentment if we do attempt to solve their probles.
It's an African problem, let them solve it, there is enough other sovereign African states that could lean on him! Trouble is, most of them are as bad as Mugabe, so they will make sure that the status quo continues!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX
I well remember the Gordon Brown generation of Labour politicians enthusing about Mugabe as the second messiah way back. Funnily enough, Brown's recent ruthless suppression of opposition and Mugabe's have a lot in common.
- Nick, Hong Kong
Yuk, yuk, yuk Nick, I like it, I like it!
many a true word spoken in jest Nick, unfortunately, it's no joke!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX
Interesting that he was telling Britain to not meddle in Zimbabwe's affairs not long ago and he's changed his mind now he's run his country into the ground.
Also if they had actually admitted there was a problem a few weeks ago when it was obvious what was happening, any help would have prevented many more deaths and the exodus into South Africa that is also stretching their resources.
- Waldopepper, London
The highpoint in Zimbabwean/Rhodesian history was the colonial era, when Britons achieved real material progress for the entire country.
- Michael Mark, london uk
No third world dictator every likes a modern western country until they put their hand out...
- Trunk, US
Go take a walk until your kicked out of power Mugabe NO WAY!
- Helen, gloucestershire
I thought we were supposed to have caused their problems. Sheer hypochracy.
- Roger Slade, Winchester, Hampshire, England
I well remember the Gordon Brown generation of Labour politicians enthusing about Mugabe as the second messiah way back. Funnily enough, Brown's recent ruthless suppression of opposition and Mugabe's have a lot in common.
- Nick, Hong Kong
Hain is looking for a job. Let's send him over there to administer the aid and tell him not to come back 'til he has cured the problem.Two problems sorted.
- Michael, London
Oh great, yet again our money is wasted!!! what about looking after the people in the UK Gordon before giving our money away...let that idiot who's made his people suffer spend his money on sorting his mess out for once.
- Sarah, London
Please we must make sure that politics and human life are separate issue and give helping hand people in that counrty. I beg to Mr Brown that he shouldnt utilising this opportunity to use this case against his enemy Mr R.Mugabe.Britain had different politic approach on african zone as we all know but old days have gone .We have to be so vigilant and helpful to humanking regardless of eagerness and power desires of the states.May God help all of us... ilyas
- Ilyas Orhanli, England
The help should be conditional on him stepping down from power
- Ag, The Village of London
Rather ronic isn't it. Britain - bad...oooh we're in trouble..help us Britain!
Sorry but I think Zero aid unless Mugabe (and cronies) out of power.
Mind you he'll happily fond a home in Zanu-Labour. Chancellor of the Exchequer perhaps?
- Rusty Shackleford, UK
So this megalomaniac invites us to take up the white man's burden once again. And if we do not ? He will inflict on his country a fate worse than that inflicted on Cambodia by Pol Pot - millions of dead, in a perverted black Gotterdammerung.
- Peter Haldane, London
Mugabe hands out bags of maize seed to HIS queuing supporters.
£10 million for Mugabe and his cronies to piss our money up against a wall. Nice.
SADC should get them out of this mess. They insist on keeping him in power.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
And would any aid get to the people of Zimbabwe, or would it all be channelled to this odious scumbag's supporters?
- Sam, Basingstoke, England
THIS IS NOT OUR PROBLEM, Mugabe has enough stashed away, the UK left Zimbabwe in a fantastic state, and the government has trashed it all.
Why should we give them £10 million?
Think what we could do for our own people with this, the old, the young, the handicapped etc.
- P I Staker, London
Why us? Are there no other countries on the planet that can help, or is the UK the only nation that always helps everybody else, but no-one ever helps us? Of course I feel sorry for all the people in Zimbabwe but you can't tell me that no-one's been able to kill Mugabe since he's been in power. Ah, they've got no oil, that's it !
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
