I don't know if any of you even know what's going on there at the moment: they have an inflation rate that's a punchline (something like 500,000 % - yes, that's 500 thousand), and they had elections the 29th of March, but the results STILL aren't in. The speculation goes that ol' Bob (Mugabe, the president for the past 26 years) is working on rigging the results again, that's why it's taking so long... I seriously think that this man is now senile. I mean, if we look at what he did in the past to free his country from colonialization, to what he's become and doing to his people now, it just CAN"T be the same mind! Another thing is that recently, a couple of Zimbabweans rocked up at my work (being in South Africa means that every second person you meet is a Zimbabwean refugee, it seems) to see my boss. The secretary made the arrangements, and was interested when she heard that they were from Zim. One of them then declared that he was ol' Bob's nephew, and she (without thinking) said "How unfortunate!". Immediately this (huge!) guy is like "Why?" and she recovered magnificently, saying "he's been getting such bad press, why do you think that is?" He then explained that ol' Bob is the victim of a media conspiracy, and that all kinds of things are mis-reported. Like, he said, the story with the white farmers. their farms were never reposessed, he says, they just *heard rumours* that something like that might happen, and they all decided to abandon their farms and livelihoods on the basis of these rumours. What's disturbing to me in this argument is how deeply entrenched the propoganda goes... but anyway, once again, you friendly neighbourhood geography and political studies teacher! :lol: Please feel free to comment, if you're interested, as it is quite a taboo topic here in SA, and I'd like to throw around some ideas.
well i read through your post and im really lost at what is happening... heh, maybe it's cuz i don't have any background knowledge of what you're talking about Don't spam. Cash docked. -Phee
Sorry, I know this post is pretty old but the problem is still in the news and I didn't want to make a new post. I just read an excellent editorial concerning the US' failure to act. The main gist of it paralleled South Africa (Apartheid) and the current Zimbabwe situation, as in black govn't versus white govn't and how the US treats the two differently. It was in the national post, apparently Mugabe is organizing beatings and other political oppression of the opposing parties. Also, it's likely he'll remain in power even after two unclear elections. http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/sto ... ?id=608677
The problem with Zimbabwe is that they don't have any oil If they did then USA would have 'given' them democracy ages ago and had Mugabe shot. Where the hell is the UN anyway? Not that they could change the situation that much but at least they could show they try..
Obviously the elections were rigged. Some people were discussing this on another forum that I frequent, someone mentioned that the UN will probably take action soon, leading to war, and if that happens we will likely see the hiring of PMC's which is when things would get really scary. :/
I have friends that were born in South Africa and everyday they tell me about the on going situation in Zimbabwe. From what I've heard things are getting outrageous such and high prices for a loaf of bread etc.. It's getting pretty bad. =\