Ranting Before Coffee: Morning Zim Update

The Chinese “ship of shame” was recalled to China after being denied port by every country in southern Africa. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu claims that the consignment was part of a contract "signed last year and has nothing to do with the latest developments inside Zimbabwe." Excuse me, don’t you think that Mugabe saw this coming? These elections weren’t planned in a week. If anything, ordering such a massive supply of weapons could indicate advance planning for who-knows-what. Jiang continued, "Some people in the US are always critical, positioning themselves as the world's policeman, but they are not popular in the world.” First of all, the strongest protests on this matter are NOT coming from the US (unfortunately). Secondly—I’ve got news for you honey—China isn’t all that popular in the world, either.

Even better, Jiang commented, "I'd like to stress that the Chinese Government always adopts a prudent and responsible attitude towards arms export and one of the important principles it adheres to is non-interference in the internal affairs of recipient countries." Who are you kidding? Responsible attitude? Sending 77 tons of weapons to a country renowned for its human rights abuses is neither prudent nor responsible—not to mention Chinese arms trading with Sudan, Burma, Sri Lanka, etc. Nor can you engage in such activities and claim “non-interference in the internal affairs” of the countries.

Case in point: “Jiang was asked on Tuesday about Chinese soldiers seen on the streets of Zimbabwe. She said that ‘several Chinese professors are teaching at Zimbabwean military schools. What you mentioned might be some teaching activities conducted by the schools.’” Is it just me, or is that explanation a tad difficult to swallow?

…………

Moving on.

If you’re interested in Mugabe and ZANU-PF’s propaganda efforts, check out this editorial from the state-run newspaper The Herald. Here’s a preview: “Western media have been titillated, maybe even physically aroused, by the idea of Zimbabwe going the Kenya way in both the violence and "national unity" phenomena and the MDC-T waltzing into Munhumutapa Building on the back of negotiations rather than votes.” The author does make a valid point about the philosophies and practices of ZANU-PF and MDC being diametrically opposed, though not in the manner described in the article.

More reports of violence, including photos, in the Washington Post.

Good God, y’all.