[DEBATE] : (Fwd) RW Johnson's Zim spin

[Azwell Banda]

This is so, oh, so sweet:

"It was clear that, with a new democratic government, there would be
immediate British and American help, quickly followed by the EU, the World
Bank and IMF, with the emphasis on food aid and the restabilisation of the
currency. One consequence would be that Zimbabwe would cease to be a client
state of South Africa and instead become more generally dependent on
developed country donors and investors. Doubtless, Mbeki and Mugabe would
see this as a victory for neocolonialism, though one is bound to say that
even if the prospect was described in those terms, ordinary Zimbabweans
would happily vote for it. And, in no time at all, as the Zimbabwean economy
revived, South African companies of every kind would move in."

I have never stopped wondering how, in the same breathe, pieces such as this
one describe Mbeki and Mugabe as "paranoid" about "imperialism" but go on to
perfectly describe what exactly is going to happen - a happier nestling of
"imperialism" in post Mugabe Zimbabwe!

Hugs,

Azwell. 

-----Original Message-----
From: debate-bounces at debate.kabissa.org
[mailto:debate-bounces at debate.kabissa.org] On Behalf Of Patrick Bond
Sent: 07 May 2008 09:50 AM
To: debate: SA discussion list;
zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn at googlegroups.com
Subject: [DEBATE] : (Fwd) RW Johnson's Zim spin

(How much of the riff below is plausible? For example, in arguing that
Makoni was Mbeki's preferred man for a run-off with Mugabe, does Johnson not
recall that Makoni - so tellingly silent these days - had a pre-election
run-off alliance deal with Morgan? Anything else strange
hereunder?)

May 8 2008

Where do we go from here?
R.W. Johnson in Zimbabwe