Its been quite a week

The situation in Zimbabwe has received a great deal of media attention in the last week. Various news reports on TV from ITN and BBC, plus writing press, even a statement from the Archbishop of York.

Let's examine some of the suggestions and proposals:

Gordon Brown has suggested that sanctions against Zimbabwe, and has declined to go to the African Summit if Mugabe is there. I am not persauded that sanctions against an already desperately poor country are the optimal policy, though the international community may well be left with nothing else. Clearly any such moves must be led by other African nations. Refusal to participate in meetings involving Mugabe and to widen the circle of prescribed persons is a good move. It is necessary to get that message communicated into the interior of the country since most Zimbabweans have no idea that other countries are doing this. Support of other African nations is critical.

Possibly South Africa are using Zimbabwe as cover for their own growing crisis. And SA are gaining from the brain drain from Zim into SA. In truth of course the UK are also gaining in the same way (see todays Mail on Sunday). For these reasons, plus solidarity with old ANC and Zanu campaigners there will be little heard from ANC leaders in SA.

It may also be that western money is behind Zimbabwe supporting him covertly while other interests are gaining, possibly in the mining sector or other mineral producers either in Zim or nearby nations. It would be interesting to know more about the situation in DRC and Mozambique to see whether there are any operations hosted out of those countries that are based in Zim.

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu has gone on record about Zimbabwe. I welcome the fact that he has spoken. The fact that he criticised PM Brown for being too moderate seems a little strange. ++John's view seems to be that military intervention may be required. In the end, he may well be right...in order to feed the populace as part of a humanitarian intervention.

But again it would be necessary to obtain the support of other African governments and preferably the UN before tasking the armed forces. The idea of the UK mounting any military operation is fantastic - we do not have the resources (all over committed in Afghanistan and Iraq already) and there is certainly no political will to entertain such action in the UK polity.

Perhaps the worst of all possibilities remains - the situation in Zimbabwe has a long way to run down before it recovers. A colleague this week told me that Mugabe has now claimed the right to name his succcessor. As Brett put it - normally one speaks of "where there is death there is hope" but with this move that doctrine is in question. A successor chosen by Mugabe - incompetent, corrupt, venial, grasping and evil - are words that come easily to mind.

The question is:- what do we do to help and support people in Zimbabwe?