Of course we are slow to stop this man, theres no oil in Zimbabwe

marcella, Malaga, Spain

"He was applauded politely but reproved by the chairman for running over the allotted five minutes." - This is what keeps him in power!!! If I was there I would have stood and turned my back before I lifted a hand for that man.

Bill, Harare, Zimbabwe

Eric Spielman, Loughton... Yes, they WERE better under British rule and then under Smith. The black population doubled between 1967 and 1984 and Mugabe inherited good education and health systems and an excellent infrastructure.

He simply screwed it up.

Rod Baker, Cape Town, South Africa

Mugabe should have been taken into custardy at the UN conference in Rome and charged with genocide against his own people including the killing and tortures against his political opponents in Zimbabwe.

The world and especially South Afirca should be ashamed at their inaction to arrest Mugabe.

John, Isle of Wight, UK

chenzira, London: what are you doing hiding away in that meddlesome UK? Come home dear to the regime you seem to support. At the same time you can queue for no food, experience having no water for weeks and witness what happens to people trying to "determine their own future". Leave yr comfort zone

Nr, Bulawayo,

The vast majority of black farmers are subsistance farmers, growing crops only for themselves. They do not have the skills to produce very large crops. They usually use the 'slash and burn' approach, and they overgraze their land. The result is barren, poor soil. And food shortages.

Rod Baker, Cape Town, South Africa

If d west says there is a nightmare in Zimbabwe, who is to be blame? I would say it is Britain. If Britain had not colonized the country, the destiny would have been different. Look at Iraq now. If the US had not invaded, Iraq would at least be peaceful and its destiny would be different too.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Amazed some people think 30 years after independence, which for the first 20 there wasn't a Zim food problem, the UK is to blame 1st for not being involved in training and 2nd for being "involved" politically.

Naivety of the western lefties is shocking.

Mugabe 100% to blame, not the west.

Guy, London, UK

Zimbabwe like most of Africa has proved itself to be unable to govern itself without corruption, violence and despots.

This problem is of Africa's making and until it realises that and stops trying to blame the west it will never improve.

Western left wing fools don't help pandering to Africa

Guy, London, UK

How was this disgusting dictator who has brought his country to starvation and ruin allowed to speak at a world forum? It brings little credit to the UN.

leila , manchester, uk

If Mugabe and his lot are dictators it is our fault because we did not prepare Zimbabwe for independence. We tried to prove to them that they were better off under british rule. Three quartes of their best farming land has been turned into scrub land because we failed to carry out the landreform.

Eric Spielman, Loughton, ESSEX

Can Peter Tatchell arrrange another citizen's arrrest and this time receive some support from from law and politics authorities?

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, England UK

Peter, Manchester--Hear ! Hear! ---someone prepared to state the obvious.

chenzira, London,

David,Scotland - Do you know Zimbabwe at all? Violence is never confined to any one party. Get real!

chenzira, London,

Peter, Manchester. I want regime change in this country, and I am able to call for it without let or hindrance. The opposition in Zimbabwe is starved, assaulted and murdered. The difference is that I live in a democracy, Zimbabweans don't.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Mugabe is right. Britain has been meddling for too long in his country's affairs. We have made it no secret that we want regime change in Zimbabwe. This is blatant interference and totally against the spirit of democracy. It should be up to the people of Zimbabwe to determine their own future.

Peter, Manchester, UK

Prior to 2002,70% of maize (the staple food of Zimbawe) was produced by black small scale farmers (Fact). Commercial farmers were more concerned with producing cash crops such as tobacco, cotton etc. (Fact).Have droughts,sanctions, lack of inputs affected productivity?Black farmers have the skills!!

chenzira, London,

Any person who has a brain knows who is to blame for the trouble in Zimbabwe its not Britain/US its Mugabe!
Even when fixing the vote he still lost.People are starving and its down to Mugabe's goons.
If you Live in South Africa be very afraid with Mbeki in charge it could be you next !!!!

Simon, Bristol, UK

E. Akomi, Lagos, Nigeria
Every reply has addressed his allegations. Sanctions are not killing Zimbabwe, Mugabe is! He has given fertile farms to his cronies to turn into dust bowls killing both white and black ZIMBABWEANS! The blame is 100% with him and his greed! Nigeria should condemn him why not

Norman Pitkin, London, UK

Zimbabweans like me are part of the problem - highly educated for free in Zim, I now ply my trade in the city of London and I give ZERO back to Zim. Blaming Mugabe is disingenous o my part - Rhodeasians all worked hard to make Rhodesia great.Mugabe has empowered us and we should take up the challeng

Roger Ndaba, St Albans, UK

I can remember African protests about the Eurpoean CAP that excess European foodstaff was being dumped in their markets. The Africans now have the chance to feed themselves with reduced food imports. Surely the issue here is corrupt despots running these countries?

Ian Jones, Reading, UK

It is tinpot dictators such as Mugabe who let their country's infrastructure decline that caused food shortages in the world. While Mugabe puts the blame on Britain, the fact remains that the 4000 white farmers produced enough food to feed a great deal of southern Africa.

Les Mitchell, Crewkerne, England

My grandparents had a farm in Rhodesia. They were White Russians fleeing first communism then fascists. They created a wonderful farm out in the wilds through integrity and hard work. The staff were well housed and properly fed. I last heard that it has all gone back to bush and waste due to neglect

Boris, Belgravia, UK

There were 4000 highly productive farms geared to the market and creating wealth that 500 000 farm workers, amongst others, had a share of in Zimbabwe. The farms formed the basis for a competitive economy. Now there are 300 000 tiny subsistance plots being worked for their occupiers barest survival

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

The "West" is a number of independent countries trying to improve the lot of their own people. It's what they are meant to do. They are not perfect, but neither are Malaysia or Zimbabwe.

The "victim" cultures tend to proclaim the "West" as the one to blame. Why won't those countries admit fault?

Andrew, Japan,

surely south africa, being the regional superpower has a moral imperotive to force mugabe to at the very least hold free and fair elections. they should send in their own electoral observers. Or does the ANC think that kicking white farmers off their land is ok- a nice bit of revenge?

will, grimsby, uk

part 2. Having lived in Zimbabwe, i have witnessed first hand the inequality that lies in not only Zimbabwe but Africa. Land re-distribution was necessary and i'm sure even the white zimbabwean farmers would agree with me, so the idea was there its just how it was undertaken

B, London,

Andrew, Zurich, Switzerland
U said:"he doesn't know economics." It is never easy to find a world leader who is master in all fields. Can you tell me who?
So r u blaming the whole govt? Anway are sanctions effective?
No. Is interference effective? No. Perhaps the West will go for regime change.

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

send Jason Bourne to sort him out

oliver, chichester, uk

Dear Lim - Malaysia.
you ask if we trained the Zimbabweans how to farm. You don't know how many times I've heard "training" around the world but you know, I learned most things I know myself. How do you think we figured it out in the first place. Always the "victim" culture.

Mark Duffin, Stratford Upon Avon, GB

"I am not THE one!!" How often have we heard that? Amazing that 300 000 "farmers" cannot replicate what 4000 did. Rhodesia was under sanctions AND a civil war and still managed to feed itself and even show industrial and agricultural growth. Funny that!!!

Susan, Texas, USA

Uncle Bob and his generals know full well what will happen if they lose... thats why he has to keep printing money to keep his military and the police onside. Which is why its worthless, not because of the West interfering. He should wake up to himself, and retire gracefully while he can.

Jeff, Sydney, Australia

Mugabe gifts 300,000 Zimbabweans (and many of his cronies )farmland with which they have no clue how, or no intention, to farm. It is as damning on the UN to give him recognition as on Mugabe for his evil greed. What a pointless, impotent organisation of pocket liners. Get rid of Mugabe and the UN.

Edward , London,

It is easier for weak leaders to blame external forces than their own mismanagement for the state of a country. The oldest cliche in the dictators handbook is blame it on the colonialists. It's easy to ignore the fact that the farms ( the engine of the economy )are now empty wasteland.

Edward , London,

Funny there are people who still support Mugabe, a man who has illegalised gatherings in groups of three or more, a man who gets people beaten up for thinking. These apologists will soon disappear back into the woodwork once he is gone and the full impact of what he has done is exposed to the world.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

I can't believe some of you are actually intimating that he is right! There must have been black Zimbabweans who knew how to farm....did Mugabe pick the right people. Why are all his friends in control of the farms instead of the people?

ph, london, uk

Dear Akomi from Lagos, Nigeria: Mugabe uses this as an excuse for illegal rule in the form of violent oppression of opposition. This is NOT a man who is trying to provide for his country in the face of international sanctions. The economy has been crippled because he doesn't know economics.

Andrew, Zurich, Switzerland

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia, while I fully accept your right to an opinion, please get your facts right before you make comments about Zimbabwe. The Rhodesian blacks were taught about farming. There were schools there for that, and blacks even fought against Mugabe alongside the whites.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Here we go again blah blah blah. The crux of the matter is loss of power. Neither Mugabe nor his generals want to lose power as they know what will happen to them. He started losing his grip in 1997 and he is now holding on to a very oily rope. Have fun whilst you can Robert, the end is nigh!

Graham, Maidenhead, UK

None of the comments above seem to have addressed Mugabe's allegations that the Zimbabwean economy was crippled by sanctions as a result of his seizing the land of white (british) farmers. The reason is clear, his allegations are based in fact.

E. Akomi, Lagos, Nigeria

What this story illustrates is that poverty in the developing world can no longer be blamed on American or British imperialism or on Zionism, as some at the BBC or Oxford would claim. It is rapacious homegrown thugs who should be blamed. Colonialism ended decades ago.

Richard England, Durham, USA

I was in Zimbabwee as a visitor 6 months ago. Mugabe is delusioned when he speaks of their investment in agriculture. I never saw any such thing when we drove through the country. The stories of the empty shelves are true also. No bread, milk, cheese, vegetables, etc. all products they DID produce

Julie, London, UK

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. What do you know about Zimbabwe? Both your comments have riled. I was born and raised there; Zimbabwe decolonised with a strong and established infrastructure in place. Why would the West interfere for anything but good? Mugabe is to blame for the country's current state.

Bharat, Salisbury, England

So if a Hitler or Pol Pot decided to grace such a venue with their presence, no one would be able to stop them??? I understood that some time ago Mugabe was banned from entering any EU country - or was I just dreaming? Clearly, those responsible for such policies are very powerful indeed!

ruth, Bellevue, USA

Why hasn't Mugabe been arrested for crimes against humanity, as he is responsible for the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of Ndebele in Matabeleland.

Matt, Leeds, UK

The sad thing is that he is allowed to speak and the African leaders put up with his antics.

Hamad Lone, London, England

...and all from the mouth of the worlds most incompetent ruler.
He need say no more.

brian smith, milton, canada

When this circus can go on at taxpayer expense while Mugabe's subjects are starving, is it any wonder that many people see the UN as the problem, not the solution? These guys fly in from all over the world and expect to be praised for eating a less lavish lunch?

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

When is Bush going to invade Zimbabwe and remove Mugabe's regime in order to bring "freedom" & "democracy" ?

jayil, london,

Mugabe is a joke in a time warp. Blaming the former colonial power for today's failures of government is so 1960s. Singapore gained independence in the mid 60s, but instead of mismanaging its economy and blaming in on the British, steamed ahead and became a powerhouse of the global economy.

Bob, London,

Food Aid demeans the receipient and makes him/her dependent. Self-help should be the new mantra. You empower people when you make them responsible for their own lives.

chenzira, London,

Chris D, Edinburgh, Scotland
When Zimbabwe was your colony before did you train the locals to run farms? Can you blame them now for not being able to manage farms well. You know of this saying:
"It is better to teach how to fish than to give a fish". So can the Zimbabweans be blamed 4 everything

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The Zimbabweans may be the proud owners of all that land but they do not have a clue how to farm it. Subsistence squatting is about the best they have managed while all that fertile farmland turns back into scrup and jungle. Africa is a disaster of its corrupt making.

Colin, Carmarthen, UK

The sheer hypocrisy. Maybe I'm being naive, but surely there is enough grounds to have this man arrested and charged for crimes against humanity? Or, is it the case that world leaders talk the talk, but when it comes to the crunch, not one of them has the backbone to walk the walk. It makes me sick.

Stuart, Southampton, UK

And the sad thing is that some naive people will actually believe him.

Stuart, Manchester,

Nutter .... shame on those Zimbabweans who support him... shame on South Africa and the other African countries for not stopping when they had a chance. I would favour giving aid to Zimbabwe when Mugabe goes but that money should come from what we give to other african countries. They need to learn.

abharrisson, london, uk

Mugabe is not a legitimate leader because he did not win the democratic vote and although Britain may not have always acted altruistically in the past, we're not demolishing the homes of our rivals or using torture upon people simply for expressing political dissent - any excuse will serve a tyrant.

Paul, Norwich, UK

I am not at all surprised of Mr.Mugabe's allegation of the West interference in Zimbabwe.
The desire for world dominance sure drive some countries to do all sorts of things.

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Those horrible colonialists - bequeathing a country that was the breadbasket of Africa! What a relief that there is now a man in charge who knows how to treat his fellow Zimbabweans well - unless they want to vote against him or eat of course.

Chris Jay, Shropshire, UK

Mugabe has turned his own country into a basket case. Blair and Bush have turned Iraq into a basket case. Which is the greater criminal?

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Unfortunately the UN legitimises the actions of Mugabe and makes it ever more difficult for the opposition to take over in Zimbabwe.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

As he has nothing sensible to say, why did they invite him? He will never admit that handing over fertile farms to his friends and cronies who had no idea how to run them is the main reason for the crop failure and food shortages in Zim, not global warming.

Chris D, Edinburgh, Scotland

Having flown in, Mugabe must now fly home. Is there any reason his aircraft should not fail, disastrously, mid-flight?

David, Alyth, Perthshire