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Zimbabwe And The Battle of Ideas

Netfa Freeman | 02.10.2008 03:05 | Social Struggles | World

To hear the American and European corporate media tell it, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is the worst villain since Hitler. These same corporate organs - and their governments and ruling classes - love the opposition Movement for Democratic Change more than they ever did the liberation movements that fought colonialism and imperialism on the continent. The author methodically confronts the torrent of propaganda that demonizes Mugabe while hailing Africans that are funded by and do service to rich European and American corporations.


Zimbabwe And The Battle of Ideas
Thursday, 25 September 2008
by Netfa Freeman

To hear the American and European corporate media tell it, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is the worst villain since Hitler. These same corporate organs - and their governments and ruling classes - love the opposition Movement for Democratic Change more than they ever did the liberation movements that fought colonialism and imperialism on the continent. The author methodically confronts the torrent of propaganda that demonizes Mugabe while hailing Africans that are funded by and do service to rich European and American corporations.

Zimbabwe and the Battle of Ideas
by Netfa Freeman


"The U.S. admits to actively engaging in efforts to\\for regime change."

Cuban revolutionaries often point out the significance of what they call the “battle of ideas” and they explain how “ideas are worth more than weapons.” It stands to reason then that the goal in such battles is to win the hearts and minds of people. Because the so-called Western World dominates the most sophisticated and pervasive methods of information today, people should carefully scrutinize ideas pushed and popularized by these sources. This means we should never take for granted anything we read or hear and only half of what we see.

This year on September 11th Zimbabwe’s two rival parties, Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T, representing a faction lead by presidential hopeful Morgan Tsvangiria) signed a power sharing agreement that details several critical points. Just a few of these points important to note are:

-Reaffirm the principle of the United Nations Charter on non-interference in the internal affairs of member (states/nations);

-Agree that no outsiders have a right to call or campaign for regime change in Zimbabwe;

-Call upon the governments that are hosting and/or funding external radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe to cease such hosting and funding; (this is illegal under international law but something the US sponsors and has sponsored in several places)

-Accept the irreversibility of the land acquisitions and redistribution;

-Agree to call upon the United Kingdom government to accept the primary responsibility to pay compensation for land acquired from former landowners for resettlement;

-Recognize that the consequent contribution of Western financial and economic isolation to the further decline of the economy; and

-Agree that all forms of measures and sanctions against Zimbabwe be lifted?

Those who do not read this agreement and only understand it through the web of corrupt ideas spun around it by Western World sources and sources supported by the West are sure to misunderstand Zimbabwe. They are sure to misunderstand the contending elements in this particular battle of ideas and what motivates them. Malcolm X called this being “bamboozled.”

“US and British diplomats have confirmed to Business Day that their advice to Tsvangirai has been to not sign the draft agreement."

Currently it is common to hear positions of reluctance and doubt cast upon the unity agreement at a time when an eager confidence would be a more constructive and conscientious position. This reluctance is mostly attributed to the alleged inability to trust a “repressive ZANU-PF” which is said to hold on to power pretty much for power’s sake. These notions have not been asserted without a corresponding but no less dubious backdrop.

Furthermore the historic agreement for national unity was not birthed without the typical attempts of foreign interference. “US and British diplomats have confirmed to Business Day that their advice to Tsvangirai has been to not sign the draft agreement from the early hours of yesterday and to negotiate for more power. Their governments — which are preparing to provide aid to a new dispensation — would not bankroll any deal in which Mugabe retained control, they said.” This explains why, after signing 13 agreements with Zanu-PF and the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC formation, Tsvangirai abruptly pulled out of the South African-facilitated talks. He only returned after realizing his stubborn could lead to his forfeiting any role in the new government.

The Backdrop

The idea that an authoritarian Mugabe assumed the Zimbabwe presidency in an uncontested 2008 election dominates the thinking from conservatives to liberals. “Uncontested” is to imply an undemocratic process where the electorate had only one choice, Robert Gabriel Mugabe. We are also bombarded with the idea that state sponsored violence, tantamount to that following Kenya’s December ‘07 elections, preceded Zimbabwe’s run-off date to so intimidate Zimbabweans that even the secrecy of the ballot was not enough for people to express their will. These stories are parroted by “leftist” policy analyst and activists respected for their “progressive” and “democratic” ideals. The apparent aim of these ideas is to popularize an acceptance of regime change in Zimbabwe.

When it comes to Zimbabwe, Imperialists governments, corporate and liberal media, and so-called Africa advocacy organizations all reinforce this same simple message. These narratives however, neglect the intricate nature of events in Zimbabwe and the real backdrop in which they take place. This article will deconstruct the essence and methods of imperialist propaganda against Zimbabwe by dissecting misinformation in two articles deemed as progressive sources/views: African Dictatorships and Double Standards by Stephen Zunes and Ballots vs. Bullets in Kenya and Zimbabwe by Briggs Bomba.

etc

 http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=805&Itemid=1

Netfa Freeman

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

Hmmm....

02.10.2008 13:34


Three million people are reliant on food and medical aid in Zimbabwe, with that number expected to rise to cover half the country's population. That was the warning from the UN today.

The Zanu-PF had put a ban on the distribution of food aid to rural areas, which it only lifted shortly before the power-sharing agreement.

Of course, it must all be the fault of the UK and the Western media...

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7648028.stm

The kinds of rants above may appeal to those who want to blame everything on the West. But the way the Zanu-PF and Mugabe have treated trade unions means the left should have little sympathy.

Norville B


Hmmmm ........

02.10.2008 14:01

Excellent work Norville B - use the imperialist press to confirm the imperialist agenda. Why do you bother coming to Indymedia (which was set up to counteract the lies of the media) when you have the magnificent state propaganda organ Auntie Beeb to sort you out?

The unions wweren't by any chance being funded by the imperialists as well, were they?

If the BBc says they're bad, they're bad. It says Brown is ok, so he must be, right?

Boreville N


Take the red pill

02.10.2008 15:18


Sir Robert Mugabe: Brought to you by Henry Kissinger and Lord Carrington. Never mind the corporate media. Its just a movie. Mugabe pretends to be hated by Brown and Bush. He is not. Mugabe talks about his disdain for imperialism, yet he does not have a problem with British Royalty, hmmmmm. He talked about the 'demons' at no.10. No it was not a criticism, it was a complement to no.10 with a nudge and a wink. MDC and ZANU-PF - two sides of the same coin. Truth is stranger than fiction. They all belong to the 'new world Order'....

Jason


Solidarity with those who want to speak freely

02.10.2008 15:38

I agree entirely that Indymedia should be providing truth where the mainstream media is failing.

I merely pointed out that the UN's expert on humanitarian affairs warned today that half of Zimbabwe could soon be dependent on food and medical aid (after praising how access had improved since the power-sharing agreement).

If you want to insist that an election that the MDC pulled out of was not uncontested, or any other Alice-in-Wonderland claims, that's fine.

The criticism of Zimbabwe's treatment of trade unions is not coming from Imperialist spies or a UK/US conspiracy. It is coming from fellow trade union members.

 http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-15257-f0.cfm

Of course, you'll now accuse them of being part of the imperialist conspiracy too. But the left should have no sympathy for those who lock up and threaten trade unionists who try to speak freely.

Public disagreement is allowed on Indymedia. Just not in Zimbabwe...

Norville B


The bigger picture

02.10.2008 19:52


Explain to me why Mugabe does not have a problem with British Royalty. British royalty came out of conquest! It doesn't sound like Mugabe is so anti-western to me. Afterall, it was Mugabe who was not allowed at the Beijing Olmpic opening ceremony. It is black Zimbabwans living in Britain who are being sent back to Zimbabwe to be tortured by their good friend Mugabe. Britain supposedly opposes Mugabe's regime, yet Britain sends them back. Curious, very curious?????????

When Mugabe made his speech condemiing the west, he probably went to meet his good friends Brown, Tvangari, Bush, Blair and had a good laugh at our expense. Do you not see, the new world order elites are trying to divide us 'the people' so we get into petty arguements about whose side we are on? That makes their job easier. Whose side are you on, 'the people' or the New World Order'? This is no joke, the elites are deliberately keeping ordinary people in poverty. That's what the latest bailout ($700 billion) swindle is about. Or perhaps you believe the bailout of banks is to help us?

Jason


BC state media

03.10.2008 15:12

Just to remind you Norville, BC is the state media, most of its repoortage for years has been pro-MDC., as witness kits refusal to report on MDC-T violcnce against both MDC members and ZANFU members.

brian


yes, jason: take the red pill

03.10.2008 15:17

But youve swallowed the blue one!

Mugabe had hoped to work with and in the Commonwealth, and did until his land reforms ruffled feathers in Whitehall. Dont blame Mugabe, but the imperialists who prefer black africa to serve white european interests.
I suggest you reread the article or any by Stephen Gowans.

brian


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