[Condoleeza Rice, for once, said something sensible when she said that Zimbabwe was one of 6 tyrannical nations on Earth and the USA would do something about it. Of course… one must not actually expect much… since the USA has shown little will in the case of a Black African dictator. But then again… anything… is better than nothing. Though… I dbout things in Zimbabwe will change one iota. But… hope is better than no hope…

Iran is loving Zimbabwe… and holding it up as an example for the rest of Africa. The Iranian leader is of course lying through his teeth when he talks rubbish of how Zimbabwe has “progressed”… He need not worry… The South African Government can’t wait for the day when it can do the same… Trust me… Zimbabwe WILL be an example that other African countries will follow… to their detriment of course… Jan]

Harare – Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday said Zimbabwe could play a “pivotal” role in uplifting Africa.

Khatami, who held talks with President Robert Mugabe and visited tourist resorts and met with local businessmen, said post-colonial Zimbabwe – which is in “control” of its land – could be a torchbearer.

He said Africa had to exploit its “huge resources” if it was “to emerge as a power on the international stage” and transform “from an under-developed and underprivileged continent into a developed continent.

“In this regard Zimbabwe can play a pivotal role and present a very good example,” he said.

“Today Zimbabwe belongs to the people of Zimbabwe, they have and control their own resources of land, they enjoy their sovereignty and independence and they have everything for further… advancement in a lot of fields,” Khatami said.

Government ministers, and the governors of the two countries’ central banks and private sector officials signed 10 trade agreements before Khatami ended his visit to leave for Uganda.

Mugabe for his part thanked the Iranian leader, saying his visit had been fruitful.

“The visit has not just done justice in regard to our policy of looking east, but it has done justice in the field of co-operation” between the two nations, he said.

Iran is one of the countries Mugabe has been warming up to as part of the “Look East” policy, partly forced by Zimbabwe’s isolation from the West over controversial land reforms and allegedly fraud-marred elections in 2000 and 2002.

Khatami visited Zimbabwe on the penultimate leg of his seven-nation tour of Africa. His last stop is Uganda.

Edited by Elmarie Jack

Source: News24.Com
URL: http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/…/p>