Smelting

Day by day, we count the cost of this kleptocracy that rules our nation: we count it in terms of the bodies of those who die silently week by week of Aids, malnutrition and poverty; in terms of the disruption of family life, and the misery of the millions of economic refugees; in terms of the desecration of the environment; and, as here, in terms of the cost to the economy brought about by the plunder of national assets. What will be left once this evil is at an end, and the culprits are finally brought to book?

With no real democratic institutions in existence, and no law enforcement, there is no culture of accountability, which leaves the ruling elite free to loot and plunder as they please. When their heinous crimes do come to light, instead of heads rolling, and the government falling into disgrace - as would happen in a working democracy - the rulers treat those over whom they rule with utter contempt, of which the refusal to answer to parliament is a symptom. Without accountability, those in power simply decide amongst themselves what path to take in the latest and largest incidence of national fraud - some are even using it to further their own political agendas!

Mugabe's mansion

The ultimate, overarching corrupt act by the individuals who govern this country is to use their political power to deprive Zimbabweans of their right to access food. It is a calculated evil, cynically done in full knowledge of the consequences for those who will suffer and die. But within this over-arching corruption of policy there exist many petty, private acts of corruption intended to benefit not ZANU PF, but the individuals who perform them.

Wherever there is an inadequate supply of any essential product, there will always be those prepared to take advantage of other people's needs. This now occurs in Zimbabwe with such sickening frequency, at every stage of the process of securing the food supply, that one wonders if there is any morality remaining in the country.

The funeral of Joshua Nkomo, Heroes' acre.

When Solomon Tavengwa died recently, he was immediately declared a National Hero, and buried at the National Heroes Acre at Warren Hills. Many raised eyebrows and queried the rush to honour this man, remembered primarily for the unprecedented corruption which took hold of the administration of Harare during his tenure as mayor. He allowed the city infrastructure and services to deteriorate to an alarming level while millions of dollars of public funds ended up in private pockets. In spite of being a ZANU PF nominee, he had to be removed and replaced by a hand-picked Commission. Is this the calibre of our so-called heroes today? What has happened?