Two sides of the coin

From The Times (UK), 10 December: Robert Mugabe left isolated as European leaders attack his misrule in Zimbabwe

.... Mr Mugabe, 83, appeared to be isolated after only one African leader, President Wade of Senegal, 81, spoke out in his defence. A younger generation of African leaders simply referred to the Zimbabwe problem and insisted that African efforts to mediate led by Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa, would soon bear fruit. Mr Mugabe said that the "trumped-up charges" by "Gordon’s gang of four" showed the arrogance of the Europeans. He said: "They criticise Zimbabwe and human rights in contradiction to the positions of the SADC [Southern African Development Community of 14 nations] and the African Union. Does the German Chancellor believe she has better knowledge of Zimbabwe than SADC?" Mr Brown was not present but he had "megaphones who speak not from their own hearts but say what No 10 Downing Street will be pleased to hear," Mr Mugabe said. "Britain are the masters of Germany." By the time that Baroness Amos, the British representative, spoke towards the end of the summit and detailed the low life expectancy in Zimbabwe, Mr Mugabe had left the room. But he was there to hear Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy representative, rebuff the "gang of four" claim and insist that Europe was united in condemnation of Mr Mugabe’s policies. ....

From AFP, 10 December: Merkel's comment on Zimbabwe fascist: official

Harare - Zimbabwe branded German Chancellor Angela Merkel a "racist" and a "fascist", for her comment that the situation in Harare "damages the image of the new Africa", state-run media reported Monday. Minister of Information Sikhanyiso Ndlovu lashed out at Merkel for her comments at the recent European Union-Africa Summit in Lisbon, saying: "She should shut up on Zimbabwe or ship out. Zimbabwe is not a colony of Germany. This is racism of the first order by the German head of state," Ndlovu was quoted as saying by the state-run Herald. "President Robert Mugabe is no doubt an indisputable icon of African nationalism, pan-Africanism, a revolutionary and liberator of Zimbabwe together with late (vice-president) doctor Joshua Nkomo." He said Merkel had "dirty hands" and was not qualified to comment on Zimbabwe. Ndlovu said Merkel had demonstrated her "Nazi inclinations" when she banned the Scientology Church in Germany and stopped Hollywood star Tom Cruise from shooting a film on Klaus Schenk von Stauffenberg who tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. ...