Mbeki has shown the world that he is indeed a weak and vacillating man prone more to bullying than bravery. He is Mandela's opposite in leadership style and character. Mandela introduced one of the world's most enlightened constitutions - giving human rights the respect it deserves.

Mbeki treats Mugabe with kid gloves because Mugabe is widely seen by liberation veterans in the ANC, ZANU and by other African political elites as a legend, credited with overthrowing a despised racist government and bringing about black empowerment under colonial laws that have no regards for freedom or justice.

African elites are prepared to overlook the often stated failures attributed to his land seizures and the consequent disaster that has unfolded in the Zimbabwian economy. His spin is that it's really all a Western conspiracy. The true believers and Chinese trade officials will vouch for that.

Mbeki fails any leadership test because he will not face up to the reality that Mugabe is a reviled despot in most of Zimbabwe. Elites are deaf to the misery of the public.

Mugabe has impoverished his own people and largely quelled dissent through the brutal use of all the instruments of the state. Thousands have fled to South Africa but many more get turned back at the border.

Sadly so many national leaders toaday are weak in science and strong in religion. They are characters who rely on strong arm military tactics to retain power.

Unfortunately most Asian leaders show similar vacillation to Mbeki in relation to the outrages of the military junta in Burma and the escalating pandamic of aids/hiv in their own countries. Public health policy is ineffective as a consequence of religious influence and quackery perpetrated on the ignorant.

The world desperately needs national leaders who promote secular, ethical, science driven public policy. Do we have such leaders anywhere? On that score, Australia could do much better than the prayer group ministers lead by Health Minister Abbott.

The opening post was to do with Mbeki's attitude to HIV and the "rumor" surrounding the reasons for that that attitude. That issue hasn't been addressed in any post. I'm wondering if Gerrymander just wanted to start an anti-Mbeki thread or to talk about the issue he raised initially?

Over to you Gerry.

I have missed the fact that the opener in this thread was by Bruce Haigh and not Gerrymander. My mistake.

The HIV/AIDS disaster unfolding in South Africa is a prime example of why I detest conspiracy theorists. The widespread belief on the African continent that HIV/AIDS is an imperialist plot by the West to make Africa dependent on Western medications is perpetuated by nutbags such as Dave Groll of the Foo Fighters. I often wish Curt could have taken Groll with him...

Ditch,

I'd give it up. None of the subsequent posters have paid any attention to the rumour. There's no need. Mbeki's leadership has been appalling, and we all would have got stuck into him anyway.