Alton Hadiza, I'm not an ex-Rhodie-I wasn't even born when the British withdrew but I also want to know why Chenzira isn't living in Ziimbabwe if everything really is so rosy there? I think it is absolutely right and proper that we did leave Zimbabwe, but we left it as a prosperous,well farmed country, able to sustain it's population. I'm not even going to bother decribing the poor broken country that it has become under this power crazed, evil quasi-dictator. However, the West can't possibly intervene here, especially not the UK-any Government we helped to install,however legitimate would be scorned as a puppet. But no African country will do anything-perhaps making a point that they are all well and truly independant of the West(although they'll take our emergency food and aid handouts eagerly enough) This leaves the door wide open for the Chinese who will waste no time in plundering the country of it's natural resources. At a handsome price to fund Mugabe's Swiss account,no doubt

Cat, London,

Quite amusing that all those calling for Chenzira to leave UK and go back to Zimbabwe are based in South Africa.I am probably right in suspecting such peopel are ex-Rhodies who are so bitter after being dislodged from their positions of unfair advantage in Zimbabwe and finding themselves having to start life from scratch in another foreign land.They have no clue that in globalised world any person with marketable qualities is free to work and live anywhere on earth where their services are required while simultaneously supporting and sustaining their family back home through regular remittances.And they should be free to express their opinions on any matter without being nuisanced with statements like 'go back home' from the likes of Rod and Jurg.

Alton Hadzisa, London, UK

Chenzira,

Why don't you leave the lekker life in London and go back and live in the glorious republic of uncle Bob and enjoy the fruits of 28 years of peace and stability , low inflation rates and plenty of food for the like's of you a uncle Bob's supporters.

Jurg, Cape Town,

chenzira, I agree with a lot of what you say but you are pushing it to say that Zimbabwe doesn't interfere in other people's countries - Mozambique, DRC?

And Zimbabwe has invited other people into the country. Not just diplomats and mediators. But the Chinese Army. They are even in Chinese uniform carrying sidearms.

There is container ship off Durban now with weapons waiting for SA to decide whether they can offload and transit SA sovereign soil. "An Yue Jiang" is the name of the vessel.

If the situation is peaceful, what does Zimbabwe need the Chinese army for?

Can Tyo, Singapore, Singapore

The rape and pillage of african resources by the evil empires, that, friends was the catch cry of western liberals demanding europe out of africa.
The same liberals never gave credence to the public infrastructures, medical facilities, roads, running water, public transport, reliable and broadened food supplies and a legal system that guaranteed a realitive peaceful environment.
Yes the europeans opened up mining sites, set up farms, took steps to maintain constant water supplies and made money from their efforts.
In the process of pillage schools where opened , electricity and the vast majority of europeans where now calling africa home.
The fall out of all this was africa started to establish a strong middle class african society, crucial to a stable democracy.
All this stopped with the exit of european government and the establishment of african governance.
Know this, democracy cannot be given, it must be taught.
cheers

peter faux, burrum heads , australia , queensland

re chenzira comment
if life as you say is so good and there is no problems in zimbabwe why aint you there living the life of luxury why are you in london.have zimbabweans enjoyed 28 yrs of peace or just to scared tosay or do anything against a thug and murderer of his own people because he is a power freak. mugabe cant even make a decision on his own without his cronies.mugabe does not rule zimbabwe his cronies do.does mugabe starvestruggle as do all the other people .how much wealthhas he got does he and his cronies share itall with the common people. get a reality grip.

rod, peterborough, united kingdom

Like Iraq- it is time the west intervened by force- to get Zimbabwe back on track and rid the country of Mugabe. Maybe other African countries, in particular South Africa and it's president Mbeki- will realise what could happen when they do not govern a country properly and protect ALL it's citizens- regardless of colour. Mbeki has kept quiet- because he 100% agrees with and supports Mugabes actions. Mbeki plans the same for South Africa. Unfortunately- Mbeki has dug his own grave and with Zimbabwe as an example- the West will not allow it to happen in South Africa- the ANC and Mbeki have already done enough to destroy South Africa and refused to protect its' citizens- in particular the white population. No African nation can cope without Western intervention or rule. Maybe the world now realises this.

Michael, Sydney, Australia

Without help Zimbabweans cannot get rid of the murdering, theiving regime that has hijacked their country. That help has to come from South Africa. The world needs to put pressure on Mbeki to act now before Zimbabwe dies.

James, Atlanta, USA

This crisis has shown up Mbeki's weakness, if South Africa wants to be a regional leader she must prove that she is able to tackles crises on her borders.

Gerald, Birmingham, UK

It seems the world has pinned so much hope and burden on one man on the crisis across his border yet that man is totally oblivious to it all.Mbeki has failed the Zim crisis for years,so what can he do now esp after being forced out of ANC leadership and having wanted to temper with the constitution himself! We are expecting too much from a failure,what has he even done for SA other than watching over it going down the drain the Zim way. Tsvangirai needs just needs to mobilise all people within the country and other opposition leaders without giving them a cold shoulder or luke warm receiption as he can not do anything with his party only.Its time he realises the world has just abandoned Zim and he needs everyone in Zim on his side. As of Mbeki, forget he was another Mugabe in the making,see how he reacted on losing ANC presidency.The man is pathetic,a loner living in a world of his own,let the days roll fast for him to go and rest.

kaMalunga, HAFIELD, UK

President Mbeki will go down in history as the politician who fiddled while Africa burned. He was appointed to resolved the Zimbabwe impasse, and failed magnificently. He was charged by the African Union with organizing today's Security Council meeting to address UN-African mutual concerns, as part of the AU desire to achieve a permanent seat on the Security Council. His obduracy over Mugabe guarantees that hope fails in the immediacy, and maybe for sometime in the future. Meanwhile back in Pretoria, his own house is up in arms, calling for his resignation. On your bus, Mr Mbeki?

William Bemister, Oxford, England, UK

Zimbabweans do not interfere in other countries affairs. Why does the world want to interfere in Zimbabwe's affairs. Let Zimbabweans be the master of their own destiny. The stayaway advocated by the opposition MDC was a resounding flop. A clear message to the world that Zimbabweans have better things to do than being used as pawns in some political posturing. The protrayal of Zimbabweans as helpless victims who need to be helped is at best false or misguided. If there is tension in Zimbabwe as is falsely reported, then by now there should have been an explosion. Zimbabweans have enjoyed 28 years of peace and stability and would like that to continue. It is also a big fallacy that under Smith the natives were not starving. Employment rate was less than 5% and most of the Africans were self employed as is the case now. All of this talk about more than 80% unemployed now is just plain mischief making

chenzira, London,

Leave Thabo Mbeki alone. I am sure he knows what is at stake and is responding likewise.

chenzira, London,

Even the ANC are no longer backing Mbeki over Mugabe. Mbeki is related to Mugabe by marriage and political conviction. He is a disgrace to South Africa, even Whinnie Mandela would be more honest than him.

roy race, bratislava,

I am a happy Zimbabwe journalist. Happy that the rest of the world including the US does respect our Zanu-PF government and beloved leader, Robert G Mugabe. I’ve been staying stateside for some months now and am not perplexed at the attitude of my American brothers. If they only knew the truth they respect Robert G Mugabe and the Zimbabwe way of life. Jut as to be American is apple pie, baseball and any given Sunday, to be Zimbabwean is Robert G Mugabe and Zanu-PF government. I hope some day we will all join hands and live as one. Africans will solve their own problems, in their own way and in their own time. President Mbeki understands this and we the people of African will appreciate his generosity now and forever. Keep your hands off our beloved Zimbabwe!

Winston Nkomo-Mason, Johannesburg, South Africa

The writing's on the wall in Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town. And it's written in black. Mbeki is simply showing his true colours: no more rainbow. Nelson, you must be deeply distressed in your quietude?

Viktorovich, Moscow, RF

Steve Wood, under Ian Duncan Smith Zimbabwe was a prosperous country. The farmers provided sufficiently for the people, like South African farmers do in their country. It's a pity that we have tribes and that they all hate one another, but that's life and a fact. Zimbabwe is suffering as a result of there not being oil Had their been, the West would have intervened. And, these barbarians cannot think further than the moment. They reclaim the land from farmers, destroy it and then go hungry. The same is happening in South Africa. As for Mbeki (and Mandela), they are more than happy to take farmland and do nothing about the farmers being tortured, rape and murdered. Let these people be. Don't intervene and let them murder each other. Even Mugabe will eventually die, most certainly of old age! There isn't one properous country in Africa - why not?

Vanessa, Herts.,

Duncan, England enter a country, rape and pillage its resources and leaves it to self distruct by a mad man and you say we can do nothing about it, its tribal? Can someone please remove such disgusting comments from this page as this guy clearly is confused.

Steve Wood, london, uk

Africa is regressing and there is little that the former colonial powers can or should do. The veneer of development and social progress is very thin. The Chinese have realised this and have stepped in to exploit resources amid the growing anarchy. Eventually, the European colonial period may come to be seen as a high water mark

michael , cambridge , uk

Stop calling Mugabe "President"! He isn't! Until the results are announced, Zimbabwe has no president!

Richard Flynn, Huntingdon, UK

Mbeki is an embarrassment to humanity let alone South Africa.

This is the creature that advocates garlic and beetroot to combat HIV/AIDS.

We mustn't forget that through the rhetoric the weak leaders of southern Africa have a stake in keeping their people poor and weak, particularly if they come from the wrong tribe.

Madiba/Mandela save us from these lunatics! - recognise that while the West may eventually act, it is hamstrung by the colonial past. An African solution is best, but the World can't wait forever.

Peter, London,

Glad to see some people in the Western world are aware of the reality in Africa when it comes to race relations. I get the impression to many Europeans and North Americans keep falling over themselves to 'care' and 'help' Africa and Africans in general (The stereotype that only white people can be racist - never ever the other way round), without being aware of how things really are on this continent.

Perhaps it is best to leave Africa (incl. all its immigrants, education, healthcare and food issues) to themselves for a few decades and see what the African Renaissance can really do? Either they will step up to the plate, or they will beg for outsiders to come in and sort everything out - bet the Chinese will be first in queue then.

Hans, Johannesburg,

The primary obstruction to democracy in Zimbabwe is not Mugabe, it is Mbeki. Mbeki could have stopped this mad man in five minutes anytime he wanted. He made the choice to aid Mugabe, and someday he will pay the price for his actions.

Jerry Wampole, Sacramento, California/USA

How can Mbeki, who cannot even govern his own country in an appropriate manner, head such an important UN summit? He is a laughable politician at best.

The West should intervene by force if Zimbabwe is to be saved...

Johann Herbst, Pretoria, South Africa

Thabo Mbeki, and South Africa for that matter, do not have an additional responsibility for the situation in Zimbabwe above that of any other nation, especially the USA, United Kingdom and other major European nations. I believe the G7 should be more proactive towards the situation than it is being. If there was a natural resource offering wealth and returns like in Kuwait, the USA for one would be acting very differently.
Leave South Africa to sort out their own backyard, as they have a history that needs rectifying for their people in the first instance.

AG, Auckland,

In 1978 I saw the victims of Mugabe's "liberation struggle" in the eastern highlands of Rhodesia. White British missionaries and their young families raped, beaten and bayoneted to death in front of the entire tea plantation labor force.

Back then, the UN, Parliament and President Jimmy Carter supported Mugabe. Why would any stern words from current administrations change anything now?

They created Mugabe, and Mbeki reveres him - and he will not leave on someone else's terms.

Andrew, Sarasota, FL

Lesley, I understand your anger at these actions, and it's not that I don't share your repulsion either. But the UK is powerless to effect any change in Zimbabwe because of our collonial past.

If the UK were to come in using force and remove Mugabe any government that was subsequently installed would just be accused of being a puppet government and accusations of colonnialism would be thrown about.

Ultimately it is up to the people of Africa to resolve these issues. After all, if these problems existed before (tribalism etc) colonnialism and they still exist now, nothing the UK could do would change that.

Duncan, Wokingham, Berkshire

The Government of the UK is and has been almost as much of a disgrace as that of South Africa and Mbeki himself. He is a mere apologist for the Hitler-like Mugabe. South Africa's acquiescence in what has occurred in Zimbabwe should be recognized by having the Football World Cup taken from them.
Would that the pitiful UK be able to be punished in such a way - removal of the Olympics from London perhaps?

Jo Albertina, Brisbane,

Africa does not count at the Security Council. If it did, there would have been heavy UN interference in Rwanda, in the Darfur, in Ethiopia, in Eritrea, in Kenya, in Sierra Leone, in Nigeria during the Biafran crisis, in Angola, and finally, in poor, poor Zimbabwe. The last time the UN got heavily involved in the continent was in the Congo almost 50 years ago and that was largely to protect Belgian interests. No oil production nor Americans nor many Europeans are at risk in Zim.

Britain should be ashamed of itself. After almost single-handedly creating all these pseudo nation states in Africa, it sits at the high table, absolved of all guilt, pontificating to hapless and corrupt African leaders about the error of their ways. Meanwhile, its puny and ineffectual army is dragged around the oil rich Middle East by the equally debased American administration.

We live in an immoral and gutless world.

Ian, Perth, Australia

It would help if Mbeke and company were to say WHAT they plan to do about this situation. All I've read in the Western press so far is that they want to take care of it themselves.

Michael, Pueblo, Colorado, US

Thabo Mbeki must take full responsibility for the situation in Zimbabwe. Even his own ANC do not agree with what he is doing (or, in this case, not doing....) Vorster ended an intractible situation in Rhodesia, and he was the only one who could have done it. Mbeki is in the same position and has shown he is not up to the job. South Africa, get rid of Mbeki, for the good of Zimbabwe, of South Africa and Africa as a whole.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

In 1982 I saw victims of Mugabe's treatment of the Matabele when he killed thousands of people between Beit Bridge and Plumtree boarder. A man with his lips cut off, or ears cut off is a sorry sight.
The teeth splay our and the gums become diseased.Hundreds were thrown down old mine shafts. When brought up years later police said this terrible thing had been down by Ian Smith's men. The people had not forgotten. No they said. One of the skeletons had ragged clothes on and in a pocket was a Zimbabwean cent. Proof of Mugabe's rule. Britain would not believe it.

Lesley Mary Little, Knowle, West Midlands, United Kingdom