I am an African and I AGREE with the article. In my view, Western governments right now are enabling non-democratic practices in Africa by doling out aid without democratic condionalities.

Please, help the people of Africa, not the corrupt Dictators.

Thenjiwe Sibanda, Harare, Zimbabwe

Keep in mind that you may have to be heartless in order for the cut-off of aid to work. It's true that if you cut off aid (including food aid) for Zimbabweans, Mugabe would probably eventually be forced out (and sooner than now), but do you want to see a million Zimbabweans starve, for example, to see Mugabe ousted?

Brett, Salt Lake City, USA

Personally id rather we had nothing to do with the entire continent. For years we have been pouring billions of tax-payers money into the Swiss bank-accounts of despots with nothing more than cries of "leave us alone you evil imperialists" as thanks!!

Not very politically correct i know but maybe they may be better off with some proper governance from us (waiting for a new government here first of course). Why? After years of civil war and the capital about to fall, 500 British troops took control of the entire country of Sierra Leone and stabilised the situation in a few days! Now the citizens themselves are asking for re-colonisation.

Ok, we only got involved because of diamonds, but Africas the only continent to have got poorer since the 60's. We should either intervene more directly and save lives and money in the long run...or wash our hands of the place entirely. I'd rather go for the latter!

barry, airstrip one,

It is not about Mugabe. It is about China and their current role in Africa. And nobody seems to have the balls to challenge or condemn China?

Maverick, Johannesburg, South Africa

Democracy is a wonderful invention, but don't forget that in the UK and much of the first world it was superimposed gradually on a society which had experienced centuries of the Rule of Law.

Although UK style justice and law systems were established in our colonies, they have often been subverted after independence. Without law democracy does not and cannot work effectively.

Tribal systems predominate in much of Africa, and the situation is much the same in Afghanistan and Iraq where the allied powers have attempted to impose democracy on lawless territories.

The only sanction left to the West is the granting or withholding of aid, but the effectiveness of this is substantially undermined by the Chinese need of raw materials.


Garry, Birmingham, UK

Garry Bean, Birmingham, UK

I think this article exemplifies the arrogance of the west and its continuing need to exert undue influence over African states by whatever means it has.
Aid is a gift given freely to the people of a country suffering hardship, it should not be used as a means to effect western policies and ideals. Simmilarly witholding aid to ruin an economy (as has happened in Zimbabwe) and effect regime change is no more morally justifiable than outright war to effect regime change.

Will Theves, London, England

Timely article and well said. Kenya at least is a functioning and relatively stable. In African reality that is a bonus -and at least the opposition are in Government, realistically what more can be achieved .?Zimbabwe is totally different The world could have used force to depose Mugabe years ago and can still. With the massive popular support that would follow a landing, can any doubt that a few Nato para battalions would be in charge of the country in a fortnight? Mugabe is hardly going back to the jungle -more likely the first plane out.. Pussy footing with a dictator who has destroyed his country and pocketed all the money while his people starve, has been a shameful disgrace. Mbeke's support for Mugabe makes him an accomplice in the tragedy of that country -he too should be under pressure to quit early and hand over to Zumo. It's time for hard ball with African dictators especially as they still expect hand outs from western taxpayers

david, uzes, france

Very well said.

Surely one partial solution is to link aid to externally monitored elections (UN or EEC without the former colonial power). Unsatisfactory elections, no aid.

This would probably make conditions in Zimbabwe in particular still worse - but maybe even more refugees into South Africa would have more effect on Mbeki than diplomacy has had.

Or live with the idea of undemocratic tribal leaders and cut deals with the Kleptocrats like the Chinese do.
Contemptible though these African governments may be by our standards, we have had dealings with worse.

A vastly complicated subject of which rigged elections is really no more than a chapter.

jeremy james, St Maurice, France

Bravo for your article.

The fight is for democracy and our governments should not be intimidated in playing a proper role in fighting for true democracy in Africa.

China has become a new problem, they'll cut deals with anybody to get the resources, and our record is anything but clean here, but has to change.

The message to not interfere by the recycled "morally superior" left should also be resisted, as Great Britain, the US and other countries such as Canada and the Netherlands should be doing everything in their power to back those without a voice and pressing hard against the Mugabes, but also such cynical cronyism as Mbeki is displaying.

Having played our own role in creating Africa's problems should not deter us from seeking solutions, everyone should work towards the restoration of this beautiful continent that has suffered so much.

David, Amstelveen, Netherlands

good article - the coverage of the kenya deal was remarkably upbeat

gwana, london,