With due respect to your love for your tyrant and disregard for the opposition, I can see how difficult to argue your point. You failed to mention that in Liberia, there were no brutality against the opposition as the we have seen against the opposition. It is no wonder that the opposition is fearful to participate in the run off. You are right, Zimbabwe is not Liberia but it can start by having free and fair election nad put an end to this madness that Mugagbe owns Zimbabwe. Follow Mandela's Example.

You are right that Zimbabwe is not Liberia. You are also right that sanctions do little to affect those they are designed to affect, but the masses; this is evident from North Korea to Cuba and from Iraq to Libya. You are definitely right again to exert that the Liberian elections in 2005 were not perfect, for indeed they were not. Where your arguement falls apart is its implication that somehow Robert Mugabe is the only "patriot" capable of leading Zimbabwe. After almost 30 years in power, what good can Mugabe do for Zimbabwe that hasn't already done? It is easy for us Africans to blame Western nations for all of our problems, but no one comes into your house without you opening the door for him and everytime you point a finger of blame at someone, four are pointing back you. What is the difference now between Ian Smith's rule and Mugabe's brutal monarchy? 30 years in power, 30 years!! Is Mugabe the best that Zimbabwe can offer in all those years? Finally, you are right again to say that problems in Zimbabwe faces can only be solved by Zimbabweans, but when and how?

Even Hitler had his supporters; Idi Amin too had his State Research goons ready to defend him to the last day. So this kind of support of Mugabe at this time of the game is not unprecedented. Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe, what else could it possibly be ? But unfortunately for you like Liberia it is a part of a world community of nations, which community is becoming closer and closer; atleast what happens next door has immediate and direct effect on what happens around the entire world community. The difference between the latter dictators and the previous dictators is that todays dictators like Mugabe don't have the luxury of hiding their henious criminal actions any more. It is a tough neighbourhood now; get used to it.

It is true that Liberia and Zimbabwe are and will not be the same. They are located in different parts of Africa, with different histories background. It is same that that Zimbabwean lady will make comments that Mr. Mugabe has been the saviour for his people, since they gain independence from Britain. I will like to ask this lady a question. What good is a leader who takes his country from being self sufficient agriculturally, to now depending on aid from the World Food Program, through the International Communities to feed his people? What good is a leader when his country has the highest inflation rate in the world and he says that his country is on the right track towards economic stabilities? What good is a leader to his people, when he punish his own people who didn't want him to be their leader anymore? Lady, before you stand up for your leader, please look at the same and disgrace that he has brought upon the people and country of Zimbabwe.And before you starts to conpare leader/s, please look at what good that they want to do for their people, than the disgraceful arts of Mr.Mugabe to his people.Pray that your leader will fear God and learn to serve his people.In fact, he needs to leave the office of the president. ONANA

She may well know what the leadership has wrought, but did she write that report of her own free will? Was she bribed with a package from the new food distribution program? Or was there a ZANU member stood behind her with a firearm?

This may sound like a cynical view to take, but I honestly can't see how someone on the ground in Zimbabwe could not know the reasons that the Mugabe regime is so reviled in an ever increasing number of nations from the international community.

Lady, you're right when you say Zimbabwe is not Liberia. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf understands exactly what the adversity is on hustiles and tyrannical governments. She understands what the impact is when comparing the situation of the Zimbabwean people to that of the post Liberian crisis.Though sanctions sometimes don't have direct impact on those individuals for which they're intended and seems not to work, but I do believe in the case of Zimbabwe, it will work; besides, Zimbabwe is a land locked country which don't have direct access to seaport which is known for breaking sanctions. In addition, Zimbabwe neighbors don't seems to like the oppression against the oppostion by the incumbent Robert Mugabe. Are you one of Mugabe's closest relatives or were you being blindfolded with knife or gun to your throat to say what you've said? It's a shame on your part. No matter what you people insist on, Mugabe's rule must come to a halt. It has since been 30 long years and there has to be a change and those sanctions are going to be the course of change.

No disrespect but I think this woman is getting something for writing this. Her counrty is two steps from hell. After 30 years what has he really done? He has used foreign aid as his personal checkbook. Those who work for him are getting there cut. Where are the schools, hospitals, running water and lights? There is a gas shortage or no gas at all depending on where you are. The children suffer who have lost there parents to aids and are left to fend for themselves. If you don't want a foreign opinion then stop taking foreign money and wasting it on frivlous things like cars, when your roads are in need of repair. The world can see what he tries to hide. The food your country was getting for Zambia was grown by the farmers that was kicked out of your country, the "snakes" as your President called them. He needs to step down for real. He has only lined his pockets and those who support him. He is a scared old man.

The Gatekeeper

correct me if i am wrong,west africa is very far away from zimbabwe,different cultures,backgrounds,and ellen sirleaf of liberia is not a mother[right]this was her first time to hear about zimbabwe[after the problems]well ,the reality ,mugabe and tsvangirayi are both power -hungry ,they both don't care about the poor people.why waste time when we have nelson chamisa and tendai biti,they are both promising leaders of tomorrow.why not give them a chance.yes the zimbabwean woman you have seen it all,right now things are very-very bad,poetry or not people need help now.your mugabe did his part he must now give power to someone else.tsvangirayi is not the option,he is not a leader but a chancer,bring us chamisa and biti,they are well organised and more educated.

Nomagugu or whatever your contrived name is...this is what you wrote in your self serving flight of fancy and I quote: President Johnson-Sirleaf as a woman, mother and grandmother, should know the serious consequences that sanctions have on the most vulnerable groups in society. Permit me to ask this one question if I may. Did you hold the same view that sanctions are evil when they were imposed on Smith during the Great Rhodesian days when food was aplenty despite PROPER sanctions and not the playground targetted ones against travel of mugabe and his thugs and access to the nations pilfered money in their personal foreign bank accounts!!!! I rather doubt it. So please shut your gob and come up with something more credible and intelligent than this recycled sewerage the sycophantic herald printed on your behalf!!

Britain, the USA and SouthAfrica opposed UN sanctions. There were NO sanctions. I should know because l was in charge of STORES AT caps in Salisbury, now Harare. We had everything we needed. Sanctions,what sanctions? By the way, Switzerland is land locked and its doing very well. God bless Great Zimbabwe.

it is all coming clearer now...i was wondering why the limited understanding of world events...you were employed to count how many pallets were broken and needed mending in a big factory. No wonder you are so bitter towards the superb of the Late Honorable Ian Douglas Smith! Get over it. Eithr that or rewrite history to prove there were no sanctions against good old Smithy and see if you can bear the ridicule!!!

ok, if there were no sanctions, then why was there, between 1966 (1 year after UDI) and 1975, an RAF/Royal navy task force named 'The Beira Patrol' ..... This patrol was a blockade on the port of Beira with the aim of preventing oil supplies reaching the Rhodesian borders through Mozambique. The blockade was only dismantled when Mozambique gained independence and could give assurances that they would take over the enforcement on the blockade of oil supplies.

Also, although Britain held back on a military action against Rhodesia, they were the ones that tabled the sanctions against them in the UN, supported by the US (although the US were later warned for breaking the UN sanctions). Check your history and you'll find all these facts quite readily available.

A little clarification here:

"This patrol was a blockade on the port of Beira with the aim of preventing oil supplies reaching the Rhodesian borders through Mozambique."

Badly phrased by me: The blockade was not on the actual port, it was monitoring shipping running through the port to intercept shipments bound for Rhodesia through Beira.

aka, it is telling that during the "evil" days of Ian smith's rule you had a job and as you put it were in charge of a store of some sort and despite the "rampant racism" of the evil white rhodies and colonialists you could not bring yourself to pack your bags and head north to a country ruled by fellow african brothers. Then your liberator took over and a few years later you pack up and run off..again, not to an african run country where you would not be racially abused..but but but..to a country run and owned by "evil racists"....it is often said people vote with their feet...you voted well there dude. Now please stop pretending you hate the whites..it is apparent you have deep love and admiration for these "evil" racists!!!

ZIMBABWE IS NOT LIBERIA: BUT WE ARE ALL AFRICANS

It is a pity and deep regret that Africa is still very far from salvation, decency and progress.

Last year, an American scientist in up-state New York vaguely argued that Black or Africans and Whites do not have the same intellectual reasoning abilities to manage things or an affairs. His logical basis was that how would the world body expects peace and triquility and progress in Africa when all of our leaders are people with low IQ. What this man meant was that Africans are just not capable of leading or sustaining themselves in ways that promote harmony in their societies - example, Mugabe Zimbabwe supported by Mbeki's stubborness and self-centered, blind and egotistic mediation.

I was one of those that lashed out at that man(scientist) for his absurd comments while pursuing my graduate studies at NYU, but with the sick narrative that came out of a Nomagugu M'ssimang (Mugabe), or whatever her name may be, I am now attempting to see reasons why that white scientist in up-state New York thought that way, even though I still fundamentally disagree with him.

Ms. Zimbabwe or Nomagugu (Mugabe) as you called yourself, I refuse to believe that you are what you claimed to be - a decent Zimbabwean woman. I even want to induce that you are probably one of Mugabe's paid thugs or several wives. How on earth will you even write what you wrote. If you truly exist, then you have been poorly schooled. Don't you see the wave of global change in our time today? Even the great United States is tasting this global change - Obama is heading for the White House. Hillary Clinton raised the bar for woman in U.S. public service, and now I am sure that my three years old daughter can dream of being anything she wants to be when she grows up and work hard in the U.S.

Sirleaf-Johnson proudly changed the notion held about African women worldwide, and certainly she is one of the most respected leaders in Africa today not because she is the first woman but because of her competence. That tells you where the world is at the moment.

There is only one assertion that is realistic and truthful in your illogical thesis, and that is : " Liberia and Zimbabwe are not the same" The rest of your trash is unfounded. Tolbert never sought asylum in Kenya. Tolbert was assissinated in 1980 in a military coup for actions similar to what that old foul Mugabe is pursuing - attempts to entrench himself to the presidency of Zimbabwe. In addition, Liberians love George Weah because of his talents and commitment to sports - something he used to elevate the country's image when all had seemed doom. Howver, Liberians, unlike your likes, knew and still know that as the first independent African republic, and the first country to produce the first female and African president of the United Nations General Assembly, that their president must be cognizant with global perspectives. Something that Sirleaf-Johnson fits. So she did not steal any elections as you suggest.

Weah is now in school and Liberians are proud of him; and he might one day be ready to become Liberia's president or some official. This tells you that in Liberia, president are not elected because they have too much money or can divide rice among voters, instead presidents are voted for based on their academic worth and experiences.

Sirleaf -Johnson is well schooled, internationally exposed, culturally decent, and has a global track record as a renowned public service professional not only in Liberia as president, but as an official of the World Bank, Citi Bank(USA) and Director of UNDP Africa program with the title of assistant United Nations secretary general. Those experiences and her Harvard education manifest to her that we are in a global village - something your likes and Mugabe do not know nor understand. Maybe if you knew this, you would appreciate Sirleaf -Johnson's statement.

As Africans, including Sirleaf -Johnson, we feel ashamed to see our fellow Africans(Zimbabweans dying of hunger because Mugabe wants to be president for life. If you want to solve your problems the Zimbabwean way, then why not stop your Zimbabwean brothers and sisters from jumping into South Africa to seek refuge and food. We all lashed out at South African unemployed youth for killing your brothers and sisters who they claimed took their jobs. And yet you have the guts to write that crap. If you have the Zimbabwean to solve your problems then have the same way to feed your people and tell them to stop fleeing to other countries because their presence has economics consequences. Something you and Mugabe do not know but that Ms. Sirleaf-Johnson knows very well when she guided United Nations's development and self sufficiency assistance to Africa in the 80s.

Sirleaf-Johnson understands global economics and political consequences. She understands that political mistakes are critical and can have advserse effects on progress and social stability not just to the communities affected but to its neighbors as well.

We expect Africans leaders to attend AU meetings and talk about regional economic cooperation, markets and self sufficiency. Instead because of you and people of your likes including Mugabe, African tax payers' money is wasted on their leaders' airfare only to talk about how and why Zimbabwean refugees are killed in South Africa.

After all, the South Africans' annoyance is legitimate. If Mugabe acts well his people will remain in their country and find jobs instead of taking South Africans from their jobs and living.

Your disposition suggests that you fall in the same realm with Mugabe who does not understand anything. Stop blaming the West. Those days are long gone and overdue. Everything happening must be blamed on Africans. if Mugabe gets civilized, your people will be happy and the White will not have the chance to penetrate. The Whites can only penetrate when people like you still act like fools in Africa.

Lastly, Liberians are brave people, they do not take nonsense from one man. If Mugabe was in Liberia, he would have been history. Liberians are not perfect, but they are proud people and a people who are learning from their experiences so that what happened will not be repeated not just in Liberia but in Africa as a whole. This is why Sirleaf-Johnson is duty bound to speak the truth even though Mugabe is a colleague as rogued African leaders would say.

May God bless Zimbabwe and Africa, but punish Mugabe and people like you for supporting evil on millions of your own people.

Your comments are too general and largely borders on styerotypes. Africa this... Africa that.....A bit of white supremacy views from Dr. Watson..and the likes

You speak as though Africa is one big country with one racial group ...one view point...one destiny..etc

You assume that Africa needs to follow the western world, if it doesn't, it is dump......

Somehow that what white racists have said should be the written word of GOD....

In summary your writing is allover and one does not get any anything from your writing. A lot has been said about black people and that in itself is not new!!!!

My Friend If you are an African, study your history as told by African scholars such as Cheikh Anta Diop, not the Dr Watsons of this world who are blinded by the doctrine of White Supremacy. When we want to learn about Chinese history and culture we learn it from the Chinese yet we are so quick to look to European scholars to teach us about Africa. Africans have an enviable history and are best placed to understand the issues relating to present day Africa and therefore develop solutions to those problems. When another people become your standard you will always be inferior for a student cannot be better than his master.

Every nation has had it's time under the Wests watch we have seen 2 world wars, The largest gap between the richest and the poorest, A devotion to the development of weapons capable of destroying the world ( More money spent on this than on helping the needy), Slavery on a greater scale than ever before. World pollution and global warming.

Thank you for the above comment. I wonder why those western sanctions supporters ignore the reality of truth of "I write as a Zimbabwe woman and mother of four...". My simple question from what I read in Zimbawe is not Liberia. Why do the Chivangarai supporters dont't answer margert Tathcher did not support sanctions on Apartheid regime? President of Liberia seems not having african values and of course the Liberia history is defferent from that of Zimbabwe. More than 200 years of independence they are still struggling how they adgust to african values. Dear Zimbabweans don't forget that the western emprerialism is still in active all over the world and particulary in Africa. Let us wake up and unite for the cause of our beloved africans. We will one day celebrate our victory over the evil that come to oppress us.

habona..you find one person that did not support the sanctions against SA and on that you base your argument for not imposing TARGETTED sanctions against mugabe andis thugs??? Shame on you. Again you also failed to answer my question...were the sanctions against Rhodesia correct or wrong???

I want to thank Nomagugu for releasing that Zambabwe is not Liberia.Indeed it's true that only unreasonable people like her will glorify someone like Robert Mugabe,who is killing his own people.I think you should be mobilsing your people to tell Mr. Mugabe to step down for the sake of his own people instead of him going public to tell his security forces to beat and kill those who stand against him. I want you to learn cowardance will only cause more suffering that you will blame on the international community. Remember what is not worth dying for is not worth living.The peoples' power is mightier then ever a war tank-it worked in The Philipines,then Yugoslavia, Ivoire Coast and even Liberia.Mugbabe is only reminding you of white rule to keep himself in power.If you don't do anything now you will remain destatudes just because you want to keep Mugabe in power.THE PEOPLES'POWER IS MIGHTIER THEN THE SWORD!

As a Liberian living in the US, I totaly agree with you that Zimbabwe is not Liberia and can never be Liberia. If Mugabe was the leader of Liberia, he would have been sitting in prison by now awaiting trial for crime against huminity. Do you know that the former leader of the transitional government in Libeira is now on trial on corruption charges along with members of his cabinet? I guest not. I look forward to the day when Mugabe, high ranking officers of his malitary and security forces as well as members of the most disgraceful Election Commision are all arested and tried in an international court of justice for crime against humanity in general and the Zimbabwean people in particular. I hope this happens sooner than later before he dies thereby robbing the Zimbabwean people of the justice they righly deserve.

Jgorba, Liberia has always been a neo-colonilist country. You real have never hard your own county. Your history is very controversial and always under somebody's rule. You never had a legal system and as a neo-colonialist country you do what your master want you to do. Most people do not send their leaders for trial outside their own country! Except if you are so fucked up!

Zimbabwe has a rich culture of supporting one another and we have our own system. True, Zimbabwe faces serious problem and is under a misguided leader called Mugabe. We have a language other than English (Shona, Ndebele, Nyanja, ...etc). Talk to a Liberia about what language they speak..They will tell you it is English, and you hear them speak english..woo..h this it not even english! I know your country President has been opening his wide mouth (full of colonial dollars and bribes from Britons) about Zimbabwe, as if Liberia has been a "real" country. What a joke! stay in the USA, and forget about your slave plantation in Liberia!

Zimbabwe is not about to give up the war against the Britons and Robert Mugabe.

What a mother without a human heart!, the author of this terrible lie against the naked truth!! I sincerely pray that she could wake up to the realities surrounding her. Unless, as inferred by a commentator earlier, she is being rewarded with blood money by blood-stained illegitimate regime of maverick Mugabe.

As a mother of Zimbabwe with 4 children, do u applaud when maverick Mugabe when you see his young brigades your own daughter? just because the latter does not share the views of the monster in political terms? You call my intervention "foreign" when, because of Mugabe's reckless rule, South Africa's economy is being undermined with millions of your brothers and sisters are seeking refuge there??

Denouncing crimes against humanity should not be restricted by frontiers. As someone said, Hitler also had admirors. Your admiration for hero-turned-monster Mugabe should encourage to seek shock psychiatric treatment!!

Just like you lot, you only wrote in your well researched argument things that suit your liking. Yebo Zim is not Liberia no wonder we have people like you. Were else in the World would you get a woman (or is it you are genderless) who ignores the truth about the beatings, sufferings borne by women and children, the murders, the lack of basic goods and torture all done to support a dictator? Woman support you Bob and leave Liberian leader alone. you should read her lecture in Soweto on the Nelson Mandela bithday commomeration. Is it you are livid that the old man wasn't invited. Shame he is past his time.

It is very bad to see Africans arguing or fighting one another just for westeners interests. What is the main reason of arguing? The Liberian president, Burkina-Faso, or Kenyan prime minister were very wrong for even agreeing on something that will take many lives of blacks. Why is it that the westerners back one another in any thing be it bad or good. Just see for the case in Iraq. All we need to do is to be our brothers keepers. There is nowhere an African man will highly be respected in Europe. I am just parying for the betterment of Africa, be it Zimbabwe or Liberia. Just to remind everyone who reads this message,, " Africa is not a public W.C(toilett) where anyone can just go and use it." Long live Africa and let God bless Only Africa. A concerned Liberian resident in Europe.

Please forgive me for this one but I am confused when Mugabe's niece writes something like this. Is she the only Zimbabwean who shares this view. I hailed Mugabe when he acted on the land issue but things have gone far beyond better and the world can see it. However I do strongly disagrees with Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf call for sanctions especially being a Liberian she should know that sanctions did not affect Charles Taylor at all but the suffering people of Liberi.

It has been written in the Holy Book that in the Last Days the love of many shall grow cold, and men shall be lovers of falsehood rather than truth. I really feel for the people of zimbabwe that are bearing the brunt of mugabe's wickedness. I liken Mugabe to the biblical King Saul who was initially God sent and anointed until he went mad. And this woman writing this bible of propaganda, may the Lord save her soul!

To the author of the piece, just like everything else the impostion of sanctions has advanced. Individuals can be targeted, their assets and accounts frozen, travel restrictions imposed so I don't see how such sanctions would affect ordinary Zimbabweans. I think the majority of Zimbabweans will be pleased not to see television pictures of Mugabe and his cadre swanning around the shops of Rue St Honore.

In response to your piece, I would like to know what you think Mugabe can do in the next 5 years that he couldn't do in the last 28. While you talk of his so called indigenisation programme, you fail to mention that the land was redistributed to his acolytes and cronies who knew diddly squat about commercial farming. The thousands of farm workers and their families who were previously employed and housed on these large scale farms found themselves jobless and homeless overnight - I fail to see how robbing the poor to give to the rich can be seen as a positive thing.

You seem to be asserting that the MDC's victory was not definitive in the March election. The world saw the evidence of the MDC's victory courtesy of the results that were posted outside each polling stations.

Good on President Sirleaf-Johnson for calling Mugabe out - Father Time will reign him in.

Aww, doesn't this piece just tug at your heartstrings?... I have a sneaking suspicion that the author is a complete fabrication – i.e – simply a Mugabe supporter posing as a distraught mother who is witnessing the victimization/terrorization of her country by Western forces. It’s just an emotional plea to somehow sway reader’s opinions in favor of Mugabe and his lackeys. Unfortunately, ‘her’ arguments are not based on actual facts but blind, stubborn opinion. Any rational person who reads this piece should feel offended because this is an insult to one’s intelligence. Its obvious that this writing is pure propaganda and nothing else.

you people can go on and on about the so called Dictator Mugabe. Call for all the sanctions you want and at the same time say that Mbeki is foolish but you shall shout till you fart your heart out. PRSIDENT ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!! You can go hang a thousand times on this issue. Tsangirayi is power hungry but lest we not forget that his masters are calling the shots.They want him to hold executive powers but that is far fetched.you can keep on dreaming.PAMBERI NA BOB PAMBERI NAVAMUGABE. the land is ours we shall keep and whether you like it or not it is not going back. Our third chimurenga/revolution was achieved.Long live BOB

sorry boyo...your zero mugarbage is negotiating with the paid puppet of the west right now as you hold out hope of a miracle...it must really make you upset that your zero is now eating humble pie and shaking hands with a man he was only last week castigating as being a puppet of brown and 10 downing street..so that essentially makes gabbygabby a puppet of the west too..ha ha ha

How do you condone and support someone that has just beaten, raped, murdered and tortured your brothers and sisters, your fellow zimbabweans to keep power?

awt...we will turn blue in the face soon trying to educate these blockheads on here..they are too thick to comprehend the most basic of facts...until this forum is compatible with picture drawings we have no hope!

have to agree. people are so blind to the fact that Mugabe unleased a wave of terror on his own people, murdering over 100 and torturing and displacing 1000's more. But they still support him!

Hear, hear, Greenbomber!

How do you condone and support someone that has just beaten, raped, murdered and tortured your brothers and sisters, your fellow zimbabweans to keep power?