Mugabe a cash cow!

But like most non-governmental organisations, the survival of the coalition will depend on who owns the organisation.

Most of the civic organisations in Zimbabwe are donor-funded which means that once donors have achieved their objective and stop the funding, the organisation goes under.

Most donors are pouring money into Zimbabwe because they want to see Mugabe go.

It is not clear whether they will stay in the country when he is gone.

Another group that is likely to face a hard time if Mugabe goes are journalists.

Some journalists have thrown ethics out of the window as they try to cash in on the crisis.

Instead of reporting on events as they happen or analyse the issues involved, some journalists have taken clear positions.

Mugabe has to go. There is no room for compromise.

They do not even entertain a government of national unity.

A transitional government is only good enough if Mugabe is out.

Observers say this group of journalists, including some who work for organisations like the British Broadcasting Corporation, which are regarded locally as the flagships of objective reporting, lost thousands of dollars after betting that Mugabe would lose the presidential elections of 2002.

They have never forgiven themselves for losing the bet.

All they see is turmoil in ZANU-PF and constant battles about Mugabe's succession.

These journalists talk about 23 years of misrule by Mugabe yet, one respected African commentator, also a critic of Mugabe, clearly admits that: "There is very little doubt that, had (Mugabe) served just two terms as head of government between 1980 and 1988,he would have gone down as one of Africa's most effective politicians: the guerilla leader and intellectual who led his country's fight for independence and, having achieved it, implemented one of the most radical expansions of educational and health provision that any developing country has ever seen."

For these journalists, the only solution to the country's present crisis is for Mugabe to go.

There is no way he can negotiate with the MDC.

Continued next page

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