This is an interesting article and reveals some of what most of us have always thought. Angola oil and economic engine may give it some power in SADC. But, one has to remind themselves that Angola is still backward in the development of it's own people. Basically less educated than most SADC countries. The Infrustructure of Angola is inferio compared to Zimbabwe..

South Africa is a supper power in the region. And it is true to say that some SADC countries, during the reign of President Mandela, considered South AFrica(SA) as a neocolonial country. President Mandela was elected President of SADC, at the same time Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe met privately to strip Mandela of Security issues in SADC and gave it to Mugabe. That was a strange move...

The truth still is that SADC members like Namibia, Angola and now joined by Mbeki do not like or want Tsvangirai to ever be President of Zimbabwe! Why? because they believe he is under a colonial mentality! But what about Zimbabweans making their free choice for Tsvangirai? Tsvangirai has work to do in convincing SADC that he is the right leader for the region. Tsvangirai need to pick and use his trade Union tactics very carefully, because SADC thinks he is a British/USA puppet. He need to sale himself to SADC leaders. They now are blocking him.

Phiri, old Chap, it has bugger all with what the SADC want in Zimbabwe , it is what the Zimbabwean people want ! When will that penetrate your skull ? The Zimbabwean people spoke, Mugabe ignored it and bullied another vote to force himself in. Why bother to have an election if it is what the SADC wants ? Wake up my brother , the Zimbabwean people have spoken , to hell with the SADC.

Makasa, I know you desparate in trying to contribute on this website. But, I find you to be more of a reactive person, as oppossed to making your own case.

It appears you real did not read my comments well! Everybody knows that what the votes are in Zimbabwe, namely that Tsvangirai has the support of the majority. I also raised that in my comments....reread my comment below

The truth still is that SADC members like Namibia, Angola and now joined by Mbeki do not like or want Tsvangirai to ever be President of Zimbabwe! Why? because they believe he is under a colonial mentality! But what about Zimbabweans making their free choice for Tsvangirai?

Please, next time take time to analyze and read the comments carefully. I would give you a D grade in my class!

Phiri if Mugabe's rule is an example of being being not "under colonial rule", then think again. Look at the mess Mugabe has done - even having his Chinese friends has not helped one bit. Ever since Mugabe stopped foreign aid, do you know how many people in the villages have lived on just wild fruits? Sad. Mr Tsavangirai will be a breath of fresh air in Zimbabwe and with international help, ALL the people will eat good food once more, and you Phiri will no longer be the special, fat, lavished Mugabe slobs any longer. Disgusting selfish lot.

Angola is still a de facto one-party state with a corrupt administration. It can hardly inspire meaningful change, the more so when feodal Mswati is now chair of the SADC defence commission.

SADC itself is toeing the Mbeki line, SA being the real superpower inside the regional grouping.

What will bring meaningful change in any SADC country is an alliance of civil society groups across frontiers that can exercise maximum pressure on their elected leaders who should play a transparent and accountable role.

So far, it's the world outcry against monster Mugabe and the bankdrupt economy in Zimbabwe that has rallied people for a leadership change. The selected sanctions is a tool in the MDC hand that Tsvangirai is expertly using.

The shift in the balance of influence in the region is more due to the collective common front put up by Zambia, Tanzania and Botswana than the role played by Angola.

Mugabe's days are numbered anyway. He should give up before it becomes too late. Otherwise, he may end up like dictator Mobutu who is lying in rest in Morocco - far away from his motherland!

No man Can take better care of his children then himself. we have to understand that some African leaders have been placed on the throne by the colonial powers of those countries when information to their origins were limited to the few.

Dos santos is not a leader, he is a Gangster! if we follow the sequence of events "COUPS" that took place in the last twenty years in the Southern African region for those of us who are interested in knowing, you will realise that he has engineered an ilegitimate Goeverning elite that will rape and pluder this African states into huge depts which will be demanded from the people long after this autoritarians disapear from the face of the earth.

As African i want to be incharge of my native country that is the reason why we fought the colonials.Today we have colonials who are of our skin color and have married our Sisters and Aunts to claim legitimacy. I have never seen a non white become member of parliament nor president of a european state!