Believe me – I hope I am wrong and you are right. Fervently!

But nothing in the history of the entire continent of Africa supports that optimism.

Tragic.

And @True Grit – abundant resources do not make for ‘civilisation’. Pioneering and entrepreneurship do. Countries are only as civilised as their social system. Neighbours, schools, hospitals, clubs. To have those things everybody who left must return, because largely those that left did so to seek those things.

That’s a tall order!

But, correct, with faith and God’s hand, who knows? I would joyously be wrong, if you get my drift!

And it is more complex even than that. For example many farms were built over one or more lifetimes, only to have been razed to the ground in the past 8 yrs or so. Most, if not all, infrasturcture gone. Simply gone.

To rebuild a country some fundamentals must exist:-

1. Good governance
2. Rule of law
3. Property rights
4. Financial restitution, to pay for rebuilding of trashed infrastructure.
5. Belief in the future.

Read those carefully, and honestly tell me how many you really believe can be upheld in Africa? The days of ‘pioneering’ are over, therefore point (5.) is critically important.

MT is a good man, and he is clearly couragious. He believes in his country, and he has surrounded himself with skilled and good people, by-&-large. Looks grand on paper. I, myself, would follow him into battle.

But Africa does not really respond to that sort of leadership – not in the big picture. There will come a time where the ‘have-nots’ simply take from the ‘haves’ AGAIN – not unique in isolation, but the tendancy to popularist governance will bow to such pressure, and end up supporting, blatantly or surrepticiously this behaviour – AGAIN.

The pattern of Zim’s land grab & SA’s inability to deal with crime, and so on ad-infinitum. Neither scenarios are accidental.

I hate to spread gloom amoung those who have hope, and are in fact still managing in Zim., and yes there will of course be those who ‘prove’ me wrong, and I congratulate them.

But never will Zim return to ‘civilisation’, with decent affordable schooling, working medical facilities, a thriving agricultural sector, and so on. Never. It’ll simply remain another poor country with a few successful mercenary business people.

That ain’t attractive to people who have started again elsewhere.

Aren’t these the exact skills that Zimbabwe needs to rebuild quickly?

But Mugabe hates us and labelled us “the real enemy”. He said his party “must continue to strike fear in [our] hearts” and he sent his militia to drive us out of the country.

Oh, yes, by the way, we are all white Zimbabweans.

Until we hear Mugabe and ZANU-PF apologise for their racism and hate towards us, or until they are completely out of power and a non-racist regime is installed, I doubt whether many of us will be coming back soon. We don’t trust that crocodile and his cronies.

“Power will be shared, no one will get more power than the other party, even (in) the hiring and firing of cabinet members,” the source explained.

“All decisions are made by the council, but the council will have to report back to Mugabe.”

South African newspapers also said on Friday the pact provided for a 50-50 unity government.

Is there anybody who thinks this has even the slightest chance of success? The agreement will be seen as Mbeki’s ‘get out of jail card’. He is already basking in the euphoria; but he’ll be eating humble pie before you can say Jack Robinson.

“The historic power-sharing deal agreed in Zimbabwe gives the Movement for Democratic Change control over the cabinet and the police force that has terrorised its supporters and activists for years, opposition officials said today.

But the president, Robert Mugabe, is to retain control of the military under the deal, which is due to be signed on Monday when full details will be revealed, according to the officials.”

according to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/12/zimbabwe5