No To Lifting Sanctions, And You Can't Borrow Any Money Either!

Zuma's not having a good time of it, is he? First of all he asked the English Prime Minister to lift targeted sanctions on Mugabe and his goons and was refused. Now he has asked the IMF to help Zimbabwe's faltering economy and he has found no joy there either...

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"The embattled South African president Jacob Zuma has failed to persuade Gordon Brown to lighten sanctions on Zimbabwe on his state visit to Britain.

South African president Jacob Zuma has failed to persuade Gordon Brown to lighten sanctions on Zimbabwe on his state visit to Britain.

Mr Zuma hit back by refusing to withdraw previous comments about Britain's "colonial" attitude to his polygamous lifestyle.

The pair addressed journalists in Downing Street after meeting for breakfast talks, as Mr Zuma's three-day state visit as a guest of the Queen drew to a close.

After reaching agreement on climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and the importance of the World Cup in reducing poverty in South Africa, the two leaders struggled to find consensus on the EU's sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Mr Zuma, along with other regional leaders, wants to persuade the EU to reduce the sanctions.

"We are agreed we should all put our heads together to put a solution to Zimbabwe," he said.

But the British government remains steadfastly behind the sanctions, which it argues are targeted at individuals who are responsible for violence and businesses linked to them.

"We applaud the efforts of President Zuma to bring stability and change to Zimbabwe," the prime minister said.

"We, however, must be absolutely sure that progress is being made... We must be moving from what is a unity and transitional government to free and fair elections. There can be no excuses for delay."

Mr Zuma responded: "We are very positive that as we work harder we will certainly be able to make the position clear.

"There has been a greater understanding of what we are trying to do in Zimbabwe and we are moving closer."

The South African president has received criticism from some sections of the British press for his polygamy. His third and newest wife accompanied him on his trip.

"Who gave authority to others to judge others?" he asked, before adding: "We're not trying to condemn the British, or whatever.

"I'm sure you know that the colonial life by Africans has been viewed by Africans in a very particular way. I'm sure we're making a comment in that particular way."

Having had to grin and bear it, Zuma returned to South Africa empty-handed - and now we are told that the IMF may have given Zimbabwe its voting rights back, but it can’t borrow any more money… even if it did pay the IMF what it owes in arrears.

Mugabe will not be very happy about this - and will probably brand the IMF a ‘racist’ institution…

"The International Monetary Fund chief has told South Africa's president, who has been urging the international community to help Zimbabwe, that it is too soon to extend loans to the troubled country.

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, speaking to reporters Wednesday, said he and President Jacob Zuma discussed Zimbabwe extensively a day earlier. Zuma has led efforts to get rival Zimbabwe politicians to reconcile, and says the international community should support that with aid and loans.

Strauss-Kahn says Zimbabwe's political problems must be resolved first."

Mugabe would have the free world believe that the very act of entering into a coalition government with the election winning MDC is cause enough to have sanctions lifted and the money flowing in.

In reality, Mugabe has not relinquished very much power at all, and reforms in Zimbabwe are very slow moving and not numerous either.

"Last month, the IMF restored Zimbabwe's voting rights. While that was a step forward, Strauss-Kahn says: "We're not now at the point where resuming lending will be possible."

Mugabe wants to borrow as much money as is possible, and will use the money for political ends instead of spending it wisely and assisting in the betterment of life standards in Zimbabwe.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man