International

Mugabe and friend

Will this dampen support for Hugo Chavez among the anti-imperialist Left?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praised Zimbabwe’s embattled President Robert Mugabe as a “freedom fighter,” bestowing the visiting African leader with a replica of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar’s sword.

“I give you a replica of liberator Simon Bolivar’s sword,” Chavez said Thursday after the two leaders signed an energy co-operation agreement.

“For you, who like Bolivar, took up arms to liberate your people. For you, who like Bolivar, are and will always be a true freedom fighter,” Chavez said. “He continues, alongside his people, to confront the pretensions of new imperialists.”

How about this?

Update: According to this BBC report, the Mugabe regime is engaged in world-class depravity. I hope someone informs President Chavez, so he can demand his sword back.

(Via SIAW.)