Mugabe props up Gadaffis regime

Although The Zimbabwean cannot independently verify the information, it was reported that Zimbabwean state intelligence sources provided information about the troops being flown to the North African country. The soldiers were a combination of men from the commando regiment and the notorious Fifth Brigade, and they joined

other African mercenaries from the Ivory Coast, Chad and Mauritania who are fighting on behalf of Gadaffi in Tripoli against a popular uprising that has seized the east of the country.

According to ***The Sunday Times, the Zimbabwean force was sent in a secret arrangement made between Gadaffi, Mugabe and General Constantine Chiwenga, the chief of the armed forces and a staunch Mugabe loyalist.

British government officials said yesterday they were aware of the deal, which has been the subject of an internal intelligence report.

Several major cities in Libya, including Benghazi, have been taken over by anti-government protesters. The capital, Tripoli, remains under his control for now.

The global reaction to the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in the African nation has been one of unanimous condemnation. The UN has moved to impose travel and asset sanctions on the country, and the Security Council is for once was in agreement in recommending that Gaddafi be referred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for war crimes.

“All of this sends a clear message to this regime,” said US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. “It is time for Colonel Gaddafi to go and to go now. There is no future for Libya that includes him.”

Gadaffis Zimbabwean refuge

The officials also revealed their suspicions that Gadaffi might seek refuge in Zimbabwe if he decides he cannot survive in power.

There is an intense closeness between him and Mugabe. Zimbabwe is one country Gadaffi might choose to go to, a Whitehall insider said.

Due to the secrecy of the deal to lend Gadaffi some troops, not even Emmerson Mnangagwa, the powerful minister of defence and a contender to succeed Mugabe, was involved. When questioned about the governments decision to send troops to Libya, Mnangagwa would neither confirm nor deny the report, saying he had no mandate in his duties as defence minister to investigate happenings in another African country.

This is not the first time that Mugabe has intervened in African disputes. In 1997, without consultation, he sent his troops into the war-torn Congo to fight against rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda, a war in which several million people died. The Zimbabwean military intervention was rewarded with choice pickings from Congos mineral resources, particularly diamonds and gold, which enriched many of the top military officers around Mugabe.

Gadaffi is one of Mugabes staunchest political allies on the African continent. Several years ago, he contributed millions of dollars of oil supplies that saved the Zimbabwean economy from complete collapse and he has invested in property. Recently his son, Saadi, was granted a concession to mine for diamonds in the Marange diamond field, one of the richest in the world.

Right at home

After Gadaffi, in power since his 1969 military coup, Mugabe is Africas longest-surviving leader. The popular uprisings that have swept away dictators in Tunisia and Egypt and now threaten Gadaffi, are being avidly followed in Zimbabwe. Commentators are asking whether it is possible to have a revolution against Mugabe.

At least the Libyan would feel at home in Zimbabwe which harbours several other belligerent African former leaders.

Former Ethiopian leader Mengistu Mariam lives just outside the capital of Harare, whilst Protais Mpiranya, a Rwandan army officer accused of ordering the murder of then Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, is rumoured to be hiding in the country. Both are wanted for crimes against humanity.