Comments for Foundinchina.com http://foundinchina.com Observations from the Middle Kingdom: living, loving, and learning in China Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:09:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by stuart http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-490 stuart Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:16:51 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-490 <i>Before you do something to help people, make sure that they actually want your help.</i> In which case, again, Beijing should butt out. The vast majority of people in Zimbabwe certainly don't want Mugabe supplied with Chinese guns. This was made clear to Beijing, who then made a false promise and delivered the cargo anyway. Before you do something to help people, make sure that they actually want your help.

In which case, again, Beijing should butt out. The vast majority of people in Zimbabwe certainly don’t want Mugabe supplied with Chinese guns. This was made clear to Beijing, who then made a false promise and delivered the cargo anyway.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by justrecently http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-487 justrecently Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:19:51 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-487 When I'm having discussions with Africans overseas, they usually blame everything on colonial history, just as African government people do. My point is that Mr Tsvangirai may welcome any help he can get right now, and the people of Zimbabwe may welcome that, too. But once the worst is over, they will call any intervention opression again. Before you do something to help people, make sure that they actually want your help. When I’m having discussions with Africans overseas, they usually blame everything on colonial history, just as African government people do. My point is that Mr Tsvangirai may welcome any help he can get right now, and the people of Zimbabwe may welcome that, too. But once the worst is over, they will call any intervention opression again. Before you do something to help people, make sure that they actually want your help.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by justrecently http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-486 justrecently Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:55:27 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-486 If nations outside can find ways of action that make things better than worse: congratulations. But I think we should get used to the idea that the really critical weight in this lies matter with Zimbabwe's neighbours - and with the people of Zimbabwe itself. If nations outside can find ways of action that make things better than worse: congratulations. But I think we should get used to the idea that the really critical weight in this lies matter with Zimbabwe’s neighbours - and with the people of Zimbabwe itself.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by stuart http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-485 stuart Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:02:56 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-485 <i>Leaving everything to other African governments means that Zimbabwe is doomed.</i> That is why we need responsible action from nations outside the continent. The Chinese government are in a strong position, but don't have the moral capacity to act appropriately. Leaving everything to other African governments means that Zimbabwe is doomed.

That is why we need responsible action from nations outside the continent. The Chinese government are in a strong position, but don’t have the moral capacity to act appropriately.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by flotsam http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-484 flotsam Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:58:49 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-484 This would be a start but again needs the agreement of all leaders in S. Africa. At the end of the AU summit there was no agreement on anything, only a compromise statement which suggested that Mugabe should form a national/coalition government of unity. In whose dreams? Leaving everything to other African governments means that Zimbabwe is doomed. This would be a start but again needs the agreement of all leaders in S. Africa. At the end of the AU summit there was no agreement on anything, only a compromise statement which suggested that Mugabe should form a national/coalition government of unity. In whose dreams?
Leaving everything to other African governments means that Zimbabwe is doomed.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by stuart http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-483 stuart Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:04:55 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-483 <i>But abandonment of contact with Z by non-African nations or invasion from a white nation both have potentially disastrous percussions.</i> Agreed, Flotsam. But I think a good place to start would be to respect Africans' wishes not to let any more arms in. But abandonment of contact with Z by non-African nations or invasion from a white nation both have potentially disastrous percussions.

Agreed, Flotsam. But I think a good place to start would be to respect Africans’ wishes not to let any more arms in.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by flotsam http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-482 flotsam Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:09:59 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-482 If this morning's report in The Guardian is correct not one major African country is prepared to stand and condemn Mugabe, so it will take a long time if we are to wait for African action of any kind. Too many of the leaders have, themselves, been 'elected' in one-party states and other dubious circumstances. But abandonment of contact with Z by non-African nations or invasion from a white nation both have potentially disastrous percussions. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/30/zimbabwe.unitednations I'm unsure if there is an answer - there certainly isn't a simple one. If this morning’s report in The Guardian is correct not one major African country is prepared to stand and condemn Mugabe, so it will take a long time if we are to wait for African action of any kind. Too many of the leaders have, themselves, been ‘elected’ in one-party states and other dubious circumstances. But abandonment of contact with Z by non-African nations or invasion from a white nation both have potentially disastrous percussions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/30/zimbabwe.unitednations

I’m unsure if there is an answer - there certainly isn’t a simple one.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by justrecently http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-481 justrecently Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:46:42 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-481 Hehe. How many of the AU's 50-something leaders can say of themselves that they were elected in free and fair elections? That said, probably none of them has brought his country as far down as Mugabe. I'm betting on SADC, rather than on the AU. Always hopeful. But yes, it will probably take time. Hehe. How many of the AU’s 50-something leaders can say of themselves that they were elected in free and fair elections?
That said, probably none of them has brought his country as far down as Mugabe.
I’m betting on SADC, rather than on the AU. Always hopeful. But yes, it will probably take time.

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by alex http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-480 alex Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:10:57 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-480 yep stu ur right Zimbabwe’s president is shit,and what shame on PRC! yep
stu ur right
Zimbabwe’s president is shit,and what shame on PRC!

]]> Comment on Zimbabwe and China: partners in crime by stuart http://foundinchina.com/2008/06/29/zimbabwe-and-china-partners-in-crime/#comment-479 stuart Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:17:28 +0000 http://foundinchina.com/?p=107#comment-479 The inaction and complacency at the <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4242895.ece" rel="nofollow">AU summit yesterday</a> leaves me speechless. So yes, it could take a while. The inaction and complacency at the AU summit yesterday leaves me speechless.

So yes, it could take a while.

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