Gordon Brown remains steadfast in his refusal to attend any Europe-Africa summit in which Robert Mugabe is allowed to participate. At least a few African leaders are rallying around Mugabe, who is on his way to New York where he will attend the meeting of the General Assembly. Prepare for rhetorical brickbats to come from Zim's wily tyrant. Already his sycophants in the press have gone after Brown, with political columnist Nathaniel Manheru writing in Harare's government mouthpiece The Herald: “Mugabe stands very tall and black. Brown stands white and colonial.”
But keep in mind as the verbs and adjectives fly that not only is Brown on the right side in this debate, but that his view reflects that of masses in Zimbabwe who have been victims of Mugabe's betrayal of his people for the sake of his own power and aggrandizement. Mugabe will use his bully pulpit. We know this to be true. But the words he speaks will be bitter but empty, sound and fury signifying nothing except his scorn for human rights, democratic processes, and his own people.
