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Zimbabwe - A Dying State?
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Author | Message |
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cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
Is it time to crush the Mugabe government? If we pump in charitable cash will it help the people or just be subverted to support the government and it's cronies. Is 'Gordon Brown' (UK Prime Minister) right to make a stand and refuse to go to any African sumit that Robert Mugabe joins in. The Mugabe government has (just) started to talk about power sharing. - Is this enough or a desperate cry from a dying state? Zimbabwe could be one of he wealthiest nations in Africa, a beacon and a stabilising force yet for a quarter of a centuary has been dying. Is Zimbabwe dead but just doesn't realise it yet? How can we as ordinary people from around the world help it die so that it's people can stop suffering and start to build something better without some war-lord like Mugabe. |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24879 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Yes, when it was Rhodesia, it was one of the strongest economies in Africa. Now look at it. With all the monies that the western countries have pumped into Africa in third world aid - Where has it all gone? Into Palaces, Limos, Jewelery & back pockets. |
Darth Dogbytes™ Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0 |
Been there, done that...this ID photo was taken just before independence in 1980. Needless to say, I was much younger then. Zambia (old Northern Rhodesia) had 250 white farmers who fed 80% of the country and were left alone to prosper so that all could do the same. When Zimbabwe got independence they had a ready made western infrastructure, with all the bells and whistles in good working order, even after years of UN sanctions. The Rhodesian dollar which they inherited was R$1.00 to US$1.46. All the shops were full of merchandise with a suprising selection. Anyone who wanted to work had a job. Basic health care was universal. The ride since throwing off the imperialist yoke has been downhill ever since. Account frozen... |
Scary Capitalist Send message Joined: 21 May 01 Posts: 7404 Credit: 97,085 RAC: 0 |
Wow, Dogbytes....fascinating. Your story is totally consistent with every testimonial I've heard from that country. The 'war veterans' who miraculosly are younger than the actual war they claim to have fought in took the farms...and now they starve because they don't have the werewithall to run them.... The RACIST HATE CRIMES against many white women there are horrible....horrid. And the U.N. doesn't care....
Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data! I did NOT authorize this belly writing! |
Darth Dogbytes™ Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0 |
As I've stated in my profile...I've traveled around a bit. Account frozen... |
cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
I hoped there was one underlying concept to my post that I thought was universally understood: My post is about Zimbabwe today and not about peoples memories of Rhodesia 25 years ago when white people had imperial control. My post already understood the many white people had suffered and it also understood the many more black people had also suffered. I don't care about colour or history. I only care about stability and fellowship here and now. Inflation in Zimbabwe is soaring: If you want to buy medicines today they might cost $10 but tommorow they will cost you $11 and $12 the day after.... etc .... 80% of the population has no formal work. Rhodesia no longer exists. Zimbabwe is now. Zimbabwe is not unique as a damaged society but in Africa it could if nurtured become a force that helps Africa. As a stable society it could even lessens the West's financial responsibility. (If nothing else that might be worth considering.) I know there are many around the Western world that want to keep Africa as a poor child that we give a few grains of bread to... but... why? I just wonder if as a world we don't care about 'Zimbabwe' or other African nations because we have invested our hopes (finances) in "South Africa" and no longer care! |
Darth Dogbytes™ Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0 |
Sorry cRunchy, I know your heart is in the right place, but the situation in Zimbabwe has gone so far out of control that there is probably no way to avoid violence in the end. The only question being...to what degree? The inter tribal hatred there is like a volcano ready to explode, let alone all the visable signs of extreme social breakdown. The proud Metabele have been victims of near slow genicide by Mugabe's Shona party group for far too long. Account frozen... |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24879 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
My apologies also cRunchy. I was entering my teenage years when Ian Smith declared "UDI". That man & his government struggled & worked hard to achieve something good. Mugabe took over a prosperous & healthly country & now look at it. Should the wealthly nations take a chance & try to get it back on track, what guarantee that another Mugabe won't destroy it again? To seek a better future, 1 cannot ignore the past, for if you do, the history of the past becomes the events of today. |
Jeffrey Send message Joined: 21 Nov 03 Posts: 4793 Credit: 26,029 RAC: 0 |
Is it time to crush the Mugabe government? Do they have oil? ;) It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . . |
Darth Dogbytes™ Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0 |
Is it time to crush the Mugabe government? No, but they have massive deposits of very high grade coal there... ...unfortunately Buicks don't run on it too well. Account frozen... |
Scary Capitalist Send message Joined: 21 May 01 Posts: 7404 Credit: 97,085 RAC: 0 |
Is it time to crush the Mugabe government? What difference would it make anyway?? Racism is rampant. White people are fair game for murder. Get it straight. I've spoken out against this murderous bits for almost 10 years. And the murderous rampage in Afghanistan against suffis and women too... Too bad those on these forums that describe themselves as 'human activists'...and 'feminists' don't contribute....seems the 'socialism ' takes a front seat to actual human life. Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data! I did NOT authorize this belly writing! |
cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
SNIP... I do not understand what 'feminists', 'socialists' or 'human activists' have to do with the issues in Zimbabwe. I believe this world belongs to me and you and that no one needs to be partisan to want it to be safe for all of us. If we value something it is up to us to nurture or protect it. There are no socialists, feminists or righteous people waiting around the corner to die for us first.. There is just us. Kind of scarey hey. Mugabe is filth and he should go away and let the people of Zimbabwe flourish.. |
Darth Dogbytes™ Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0 |
SNIP... Just keep in mind that it was the British government, with the backing of the United States government that made the current situation possible, throught their direct preasure on the South Africa government, to force the then Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Smith, to allow elections and a new constitution. They had the on site intelligence about Mugabe and his Zanla party...so of the blame needs to be placed directly into their collective laps. All the intelligence indicators were made available to them, but political expediancy dictated otherwise. The future and lives of the people effected were of no concern to these politicos, and the suffering peoples of Zimbabwe are now the burnt offerings on the altar of their political correctness. Account frozen... |
Daykay Send message Joined: 18 Dec 00 Posts: 647 Credit: 739,559 RAC: 0 |
Why would he? I''m pretty sure of all the people in Zimbabwe he sleeps most soundly. Kolch - Crunching for the BOINC@Australia team since July 2004. Search for your own intelligence... |
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