Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK, you are beyond a shadow of a doubt one of the most foolish posters I have ever seen online. Do you really believe the nonsense you are spouting?

I will once again repeat the question that you keep refusing to answer and that is: If you love Mugabe so much and hate the West as much as you profess, what are you doing in the UK? Go and live in Zimbabwe if you think it's so great because as it is you are just making yourself look like the worst kind of hypocrite.

You'll be back in the UK cap in hand before you know it!

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

For the attention of knight, aberdeen, uk for your information my parents were invited to the UK. Just to educate you, in the 60s after Nigerian independence, oil was discovered in the Country. Nigerians were invited to the UK as students and workers and offered British Citizenship (because of the Country's wealth). On the other hand Europeans were never invited to Africa at any time in history.

Firstly, Africa is a continent, aid is given to some countries and not all the countries in the continent. Even Nigeria has given aid to places like Sudan, Chad and Sirrea Leone but you wouldn't mention that because it is an African country.

Judging by the sheer arrogance and you owe us attitude coming from the EU and US, perhaps cutting off Aid to Africa might actually be a good thing. But remember their is oil in Chad, Sudan, Nigeria, Angola etc etc etc. So bear that in mind..

Funke, London, United Kingdom

dear Funke
if you want Europeans (i take you mean whites) out of your land africa. why are you in london.and not in africa

and if we were to leave africa to its own devices you would have no problems if we the EU and US cut off all aid to Africa?

knight, aberdeen, uk

Whiles admitting Mugabe is a fool, I did not hear the West and the EU make so much noice.

yaw yeboah, london,

the EU will be branded a coward if they dont castigate Mugabe,
and tell him what they truly think of him. jim ,ireland

jim, donegal, ireland

Mugabe is the worst kind of racist dictator who is ruining the lives of Zimbabweans.

He should not have his EU travel ban lifted to attend this summit as he has nothing positive to bring to it. The SADC leaders are demeaning themselves by endorsing this regime.

There is a mounting humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe and that should be seriously addressed instead of endorsing this grubby kleptocrat.

Adrian, London, UK

The big question is, reading machelo's opinion, do African's care a jot for their fellow man, or woman? Quite apart from the obvious logical horror of Mugabe's and other African leader's policies - doesn't he (machado) feel even a glimmer of revulsion, guilt, stupidity... Something, please.

Alistair , cape town,

For the attention of Teper, Johannesburg, South Africa, we do not want the Europeans in our land anymore, once was enough. Yes, leave Africa to it's device..

In regards to the comment about China stripping Africa bare of it's resources by Maggie Snook, wareham, dorset, please note that the Chinese are not as greedy as the Europeans at least they are here to trade. Europe came to exploit, the stripping bare has already been done by the Europeans. China is not hungry, they are a super power and first world country need I remind you and they worked hard to get to where they are..

If the Europeans are as great as they say they are, how did they get chased out of so many African Countries they claim to have colonized? Europeans need to get over their irritating superiority complex, the rest of the world see Europe as a joke (America, China, Japan etc etc).

Funke, London, United Kingdom

Having recently travelled through Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, it is clear to me that ALL African countries are far happier blaming their woes on past events then taking responsibility and positive action to resolve them. Africa now is much as Europe was 800 years ago - full of tribal factions and riddled with corruption - rule is by might, not moral ideals. Zimbabwe is just the tip of the iceberg...

Until Africa learns to accept responsibility and it's people learn to vote along moral and idealistic rather than tribal or factional lines, there is little that Europe can do as they will not garner the support of local African populations who view them with deep suspicion, which is further reinforced by their own politicians.

Africa, in my humble opinion, is Europe's prodigal child: it should be left to it's own devices until it returns of it's own accord.

Teper, Johannesburg, South Africa

Please, with due respect to mankind, let me remind the entire world that, His Excellency Honorable Mugabe is our true hero and highly valued son of Africa. we 100% approve of him.
Regarding the so called EU-Africa meeting, sincerely Africa does not need that meeting AT ALL, and our leaders know that as well. the meeting is for, and by , eu family
Regarding perrenial EU aid and begging bowls in our hands, please, for God's sake, have EU keep the aid and keep off Africa for ever and ever, and that way, i promise, Africa will never miss Europe a single second.
Note; if Kenya were to freeze all economic, social and political dealings with UK (uk is a sincere friend to kenya), the move will adversely affect uk economy, the kenyan economy will remain intact, unles uk chooses to sabotage it as it has done with Zimbabwe. it's high time eu subjects learned true ground facts.

machelo, Nairobi, Kenya

As someone who lived in Africa for 25 years, the comments by Gilbert Phiri are typical of a racially biased and closed mind. Ask the starving and bankrupt masses in Zimbabwe and the 3 million in South Africa who have been forced from their country who they would rather see as the leader of their country and the answer will be Ian Smith. For those who remember then, they all had full bellies, a job if they wanted one, education and a good health system all back in the days when the Rh$ was worth about a Pound Sterling, and average life expectancy then was a nice 70 to 80 years, now back to the 35 - 40 yrs.

Gilbert you are brainwashed. Attack the Arabs and your old chiefs for the slavery, not just the British who fought to end it. And pray that Mugabe dies soon and is replaced by a good leader but looking at Africa's recent history, do not bank on it that happening. Starvation is going to also occur in South Africa within a couple of years. Note in it your diary now.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Dave, the debate would have more expansive meaning if my replies to the real drivel were being posted as I send them. I get the feeling this paper wants to post slanted views to suit mainstream British views and hence my views especially aren't seeing the light of day which is such a pity!

Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK

Africa can act smugly, but for how long?
the chinese are there giving the africans expertise and chunks of cash while at the same time African resources are being mined and stripped bare by a very hungry China.
So who has the last laugh??
The begging bowl will do its rounds again, and at the same time transatlantic aircraft will be full of high spending overweight materialistic Africans from all over the continent , mocking us in the west as they usually do. The place is almost finished. Heaven help the innocent suffering bystander who has been the victim in this pigs at the trough act.

Maggie Snook, wareham, dorset

Mugabe is worse than any other dictator in Africa : Zimbabwe was once one of the richest country in Africa, most of its people were living decently. Look at the state of the country now! How can someone destroy so much in such a short period of time? How can any Africans not see that the man is not fit to govern a country? i think the African leaders are scared it would set a precedent if the boycotted him? They are scared that they would be next. They are more concerned about power, influence and money they earn than the lives of their citizens.
To the Africans who criticise Europe and the USA : do you think that your leaders can destroy anything they want? Don't you think that when they are not fit to govern they should be criticised? Or are you happy with some of the leaders you have, no one would do a better job for Zimbabwe? Is Mugabe the best for his citizens?

Pierre, Reading, UK

That Africans should grovel for some illusory European benevolence, in Shane and Brian's thinking, is utterly misplaced. Colonialism destroyed the socio-economic fabric of African life. Africa knew no starvation, hunger and corruption before the first white man hit its shores. The imposition of western values is what is at the root of African backwardness. Who needs skyscrapers and chocolates? if that is what is meant by progress. Now Africa has to unfortunately live up to these decadent western standards defined by the oppressors. But Mugabe is that shining light reminding us that we should not bow down to western expedience!

Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK

Shane, Guildford
just wondeimg on what do you base your history of Africa before colonisation?

orla, limerick,

Is everybody forgetting the Mugabe is systematically starving his people to death?? Millions have fled across the border to neighbouring countries while Mugabe takes over natural resources because the country is suffering from hyperinflation like the Weimar Republic as well as at the same time systematically destroying political opposition!

Mark, UK,

Will the self-appointed human rights lords in the EU explain to the Africans their complicity in the CIA "extraordinary rendition" kidnapping/torture racket and the disappearances and the secret prisons? Or will the state officials who perpetrate those crimes with impunity be the very persons lecturing the representatives of the countries which Europe has a proud history of invading, enslaving, occupying and exploiting?

Richard Cheeseman, Wellington, New Zealand

I think what Mugabe is doing is wrong.But then the political
correctness by Eu governments is not welcome at all.This could be due to the injustice suffered by Africa under the same governments which is vivid in the minds of people.Its simple if you are a puppet of Western governments then you can kill destroy and do whatever you want and the West will pay a blind eye just like many governments in the world are doing ie
Saudi Arabia,Pakistan, and many African states.All they are interested in is not democracy but access to oil, gas and other resources.Am not supporting Mugabe but then i will not trust Western governments since in the same way thats how they tricked Africa into slavery and has never apologised.

Raphel, Tidworth, Uk

Mr Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK has expressed everything I wanted to say as an African. "God Bless You".

Funke, London, United Kingdom

I say well done to African leaders.

There are worse disctators in Uganda, Ethiopia, Equtorial Guinea, Libya, Gabon, Egypt, Morocco, etc. but Britain and he USA choose to focus on Zimbabwe and Mugabe (I do not support him, by the way) simply because of a few thousand white farmers...

These same farmers whose grandparents stole land from Zimbabweans through rape, murder, torture, and genocide.

Now they want to punish the Zimbabweans for daring to take their land back when greedy Britain refused to pay for land distribution as is its obligation under the Lancaster Agreement.

This same Britain that is built on riches bloodily looted from countries like Zimbabwe...

The EU can cancel the summit if they refuse to play fair.

Samuel, Kyiv,

Africa is saying in effect, it's okay to commit genocide and to destroy your country so long as your skin is the same colour as the majority of people in your country.

Perhaps African leaders are blind to this now but their descendents in 100 years time will judge these current leaders very harshly.

Gerard, London, UK

Gilbert Phiri you really are full of drivel, your daily support of Mugabe is beyond comprehension... yet you choose not to live in Zim? (would that be because you like life luxuries... food, life, liberty?

Brown is a Hypocrite in more ways than we'll ever know, however politics require political solutions and political actions, they'll not always be to out taste or agreement, but that's life.

You and I both know Mugabe and his cronies are getting rich of the back of a countries suffering and starvation, how can that be commended?

Dave, Gib, Gib

time for the eu to pull out of africa;permanently.

james, doncaster, united kingdom

People who pretend that Mugabe is some kind of 'African Hero' are nay sayers with their eyes tight shut. Colonisation did the African continent more favours than it will ever know, and it was dragged kicking and screaming from a miasma of warring, cruel, fractious tribes people living in the stone age into a modern day set of nations.

That it chooses to squander the opportunities it has been presented, time and time again; in a mindless orgy of self pity, blame and greed is africa's problem, and no one elses.

Let us consider some African blessings: 1)The infrastructure gifted to it through colonisation (it is no accident Rhodesia and South Africa are/were the most advanced countries in africa), 2) countless aid packages and written off loans and lives, handed out like birthday cake 3) the truly awesome natural resources god gave it, from the cape to cairo: gold, wildlife, oil, diamonds, minerals, metals, rain forests, some of the most fertile land on the planet.

All wasted.

Shane, Guildford, England

Undoubtedly, double standards are the modus operandi.

Lord Lucid, Salisbury, England

The EU should cancel the talks if the Africans attempt to dictate what can or cannot be debated. Then the lads will have to go home taking their begging bowls with them.

Brian O Cinneide, eThekwini, South Africa

It is becoming quite obvious that the White Man laid down his burden far too soon!

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

The African leaders have taken a commendable stance. It is hypocritical for Gordon Brown to roll out the red carpet for the Saudi Arabian King (whose human rights record makes a saint of Mugabe!) in one week and then refuse to attend an African summit because of alleged trampling of human rights by Mugabe. The European countries cannot lecture Africa on human rights because their colonial and slavery track record is a sad testament of the immoral depths that a human being can descend to! It doesn't get any lower than that. Mugabe tried to stand up to this arrogance and plain greed and his country is paying the price!

Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK

Western hypocrisy atounds me. How is Mugabe worst that Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, who is starving, torturing, raping and destroying his own people (ogaden), creating mayhem in Somalia and causing the current biggest humanitarian dissaster in the world. He is getting ready to start a huge war with Eritrea by refusing to abide a UN border decision , yet he is the darling of Bush and Brown and receiving half a billion dollars from Bush and 130 million pounds from Brown.

The quote by president Roosevelt to the dictator Somoza, comes to mind "He may be a son of a bitch but he is OUR son of a bitch."
I guess Mugabe refuses to be one but Meles is .

Simon, Bucks.,

I think Africa should consider it's position very carefully. They need us a hell of a lot more than we need them.

Phill, The Wirral, England

EU, you and your civilised ideas are certainly not welcome in SADC. If that is the way SADC sees it then leave AFRICA to help itself. Robert Mugabe had already brought Zimbabwe from NET exporter to a NET importer of goods and services!

Robert Makoi, Gizo, Solomon Islands