Zimbabwe’s inflation to reach 1.5 million percent by year end

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United States Ambassador Christopher Dell says President Robert Mugabe plunged Zimbabwe into the current socio-economic and political mess because he never realized his expiry date after independence amid indications that the country will hit a record inflation rate of 1 500 000 percent by the end of this year.

Speaking to journalists on Monday this week in the second capital Bulawayo where he paid his last visit before departing to his new diplomatic post in Afghanistan, Dell said Mugabe should have gracefully left his presidential post long back and handed power to his successor.

He said: “Here is a man who has plunged his unquestionably huge historical role of the liberation struggle, a legacy that everybody should be proud of.

“Sadly, his (Mugabe’s) problem is that he did not realise his expiry date. He has stayed in power for too long and squandered his legacy resulting in the current economic disaster and oppression of his people.”

He said Mugabe was a great man who was supposed to leave a great legacy but decided to ruin his life by clinging onto power.

“The further you (Mugabe) run the more you get nowhere and … in turn get too exhausted,” said the controversial ambassador who has over the years declined to be bullied by Mugabe who has constantly blamed the US and Britain for causing the current chaos in Zimbabwe through imposing crippling sanctions.

Dell said in the 1980s, Zimbabwe was a symbol of African hope but today it had serious social, economic and political problems which it would fail to solve single-handedly.

He said: “Many economists, businesspeople and key stakeholders agree that Zimbabwe’s problems cannot be solved by this country alone. The country needs a lot of help but we are saying there should be major reforms such as the return of the rule of law and free and fair elections if we are to assist Zimbabwe.

“There is a strong belief that the country will hit a record inflation figure of 1 500 000 percent by the end of the year leading to the possible collapse of the economy. No country has ever sustained an inflation figure with four digits.”

Turning to next year’s parliamentary and presidential polls, he said the whole world was eager to see the outcome of South Africa’s current mediation process.

Dell said: “If the South African mediation process results in free and fair elections, we will recognize the outcome of the elections as representing the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

“If the election results are fraudulent and the current regime steals the vote, then Zimbabwe will not possibly recover from the current mess. Everything depends on Thabo Mbeki (SA president).”

Sokwanele Note:

The Guardian Newspaper (UK) carry an article today that features an interview with Christopher Dell. Read it here.

[This article is being mailed to our subscribers today. Click here to subscribe to the Sokwanele mailing list.]

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