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.

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.”

You’re such a genius.

-A white S. African expat

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.