Food shortages are about to get even worse as a direct result of government actions
Mugabe continues to display a mastery of the illogical.
In his latest move, brought about by the effect of having his “patience stretched to the limit”, he has ordered companies to produce invoices that reflect the fact that they have bought their product at the official rate. Mugabe has turned the whole country in criminals by running down the economy to the point where the vast majority of businesses and individuals source their foreign currency requirements on the black market, more politely known as the parallel market.
His latest decision will force more company closures and stocks will disappear off the shelves again.
Mugabe’s policy is not aimed at shielding the populace from a profit hungry capitalist economy.
On the contrary, Mugabe’s latest salvo is aimed at punishing those who dare to even hint, through their actions, that they are working against him. In his mind and ever since Christopher Dell predicted the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy, price increments are a deliberate attempt to effect regime change. Such is his siege mentality. He will, as a result, go to any lengths to punish those who he see as working actively against him.
A few examples come to mind: the personal humiliation of Nbabiningi Sithole, and Pius Ncube, the incarcerations of Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout Masuku, the collective punishment of the people of Matabeleland and Midlands, the destructive orgy of Operation Murambatsvina and the punishment of the white farmers who he blames for his referendum defeat.
You see, Mugabe can be a perfect gentleman when you leave him alone and do not threaten his interests. Ask any white farmer before 2000; they made him the patron of everything from cricket to horse racing. Ask any resident of Mashonaland; he did not punish them for anything until they started voting MDC.
As for Edison Zvobgo, may he rest in peace; he did not ostracise and break him until he proved himself unwilling to toe the line.
So Zimbabweans must brace themselves for a new round of shortages. Hunger and starvation is about to get even worse.
Mugabe’s limited agenda now consists of two things: to die in office and to be remembered as the “terrifier of the white man, at home and abroad”.
In order to die in office, he will destroy anything that remotely looks like a threat despite the consequences to the country. He has seen what his price blitz did to the people and he is about to serve us another round of misery. What does he care, when he will be safely dead and buried? The country can sort itself out long after he is gone.
This man must face justice, not compromise. His headaches and stomach ulcers must remain with him until his last breath and they must be caused by the knowledge that those who believe in justice will pursue him and are pursuing him until he is held accountable. We cannot allow him to laugh all the way to his grave. He must know the same fear that his victims have known through all the years of independence.
October 31st, 2007 21:00
First, there is no such thing as “hate speech” The Western European concept of freedom of thought, belief, and expression are at odds with primitive/Stalinist notions of speech restrictions based upon the content of said speech being objectionable to the hearer/reader.
Having said all of that, you chaps voted for Mugabe. You wanted a black African government, and that is precisely what you have got. Inefficient, unproductive, politically repressive, poverty stricken due to corruption, waste, bad management, and violence. There are no counterexamples.
Why should you lot be surprised by the results? Old Smith warned the populace of Rhodesia and the world what would happen, and wonder of wonders, those exact things happened! South Africa is following along the selfsame path, and within 20 years will be in exactly the same state. I will bet you one tonne of solid gold that I will be proved right, and you wouldn’t put up a 16 oz. Coca Cola against it, because deep down, you know it too.
My question is this; Why should anyone feel sorry for you? You rejected a white government, and selected the one you have. Why shouldn’t you live and die by your own choices. Under Smith, your life expectancy was first-world; almost 70 years. Under the government you chose, you get 34. Tough luck for you, but you’ve no one to blame but you’re own poltical choices.
November 2nd, 2007 12:48
Nicely put, The Elector of Saxony. I second everything you said.
-A white S. African expat
November 4th, 2007 14:45
Yeah, it doesn’t matter that white colonialism destroyed African society that was better off without government for hundreds of thousands of years. It has nothing to do with imposing formal systems of government anyway, absolutely nothing to do with white colonials installing the hierarchy which will be later used to destroy themselves later on. No, rather it’s because they’re black, it’s because they’re stupid, and it’s because they didn’t want whites having total control over them.
You’re such a genius.
November 9th, 2007 18:43
Well, Royce, at the current pace, in another few years Zimbabwe will have effectively moved backwards in time to those pre-white-colonial days. No electric, no antibiotics, no treated water, no division of labor in farming….
Which will be rough on a lot of people as the population drops down to the new carrying capacity. That sounds callous, but if I let myself really think about the amount of misery in question, I’ll have to explain to my co-workers why I’m crying.
I’m not sure where “whites having total control” fits in with the expulsion of the white farmers who were, apparently, the main source of food for everyone else. No matter how they may have tried to manipulate the market for food, it can’t be anywhere close to the shortfalls now.
I find myself in an odd way agreeing with you about “formal systems of government” – apparently the new UN surveys on health and education for Somolia show that having a total lack of national government was better for them than the prior one. Both expected lifespan and literacy have gone up since the place collapse.
It’s very ironic to compare that with the Mugabe Regime, where increased government has led to a decrease in both. Part of me would love to be able to present that UN report to Mr. Mugabe, perhaps as a slideshow or PowerPoint.
There would be a certain pleasure to saying, “And in this slide, Mr. President, we have independant verification that not only are you worse than your predesseor, you’re actually worse than just having a vacancy in the office.”
October 30th, 2008 02:51
how can you people be so cruel & heartless.
people are suffering because of this evil man and all you can say is its our fault we chose him. If you remember we chose him because at the time he was a good man, but people change and times move on. Who ever though this would be happening to Zimbabwe.
Britian may soon be going through a recession, what if your situation were to get as bad as Zimbabwes then wat would you say. So then are you to blame for britinas situation because you did vote for Brown. Soo noo clearly a white man cant do that much of a better job racist [...]!!
Dont be soo stupid and wake up and realise that innocent are suffering due to a evil man and instead of claiming a “white man ” could have done better job. [edit]
October 30th, 2008 14:57
Wow – hard words on this page! And mostly because of the underlying truth.
That’s what a great many of us feel deep down, but don’t say it because it feels counter-productive & offers no future. Which probably is exactly what Africa has in store for us – no future! Not a civilised one anyway. Where there are schools, and safety, and health services, and reliable water and power, and free trade and GOOD GOVERNANCE. These trapping of civilisation are things Africa has been blatantly unable to demonstrate anywhere, anyhow, ever. Any vestiges are simply remnants of colonisation.
So the real question is not whether Africa will become like the civilised world. It is rather, can those who chose to make Africa their home live within and despite these criteria. Can they make a plan so that it feels civilised behind high walls with kids at private schools and using private hospitals, doctors & security agencies? Can they earn hard currencies? Can they afford satelite TV and overseas holidays?
That is the measure of Africa, no more and no less. It is simply a personal choice for each individual.
January 6th, 2009 20:14
Well, my personal philosophy has always been MEOW. And just fight for your BARK.