In the late 1990s, Robert Mugabe began confiscating private property of (white) farmers in a rather disgusting “land redistribution” plan. That was the beginning of Zimbabwe’s nightmare. Overnight the country was turned from the breadbasket of Africa to a food importer. The economy began to implode. Inflation jumped into absurd numbers. More people are unemployed than employed. Poverty is rampant. Security is collapsing. The country is a complete mess.
Yet Mugabe continues to receive inexplicable support from his neighbors.
At a recent southern African summit in Tanzania, he received warm support from his neighbors just weeks after his security forces arrest and beat opposition leaders, and the collapsing security services had to be reinforced by ninjas from Angola. The 83-yo leader then returned home and rallied the ruling party to endorse him for re-election next year. How much longer will the madness last? And why?
The answer seems to either (1) as long as Mugabe his supporters can cast the elder president as a symbol of the 20th century anti-colonial struggle, or (2) raw geopolitics. Yes, his neighbors are sick of him, but they limit their criticism to recommendations, and all of Zimbabwe’s neighbors reaffirmed their solidarity with Mugabe at the recent summit. But it may not just be that they want to shove it to the US and UK for their finger-wagging rebukes of Mugabe—pissing off one of their close neighbors will only make problems for themselves.
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Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog added these pithy words on May 17 07 at 2:34 pmThe Latino Mugabe…
ARTICLE: “Farms Are Latest Target In Venezuelan Upheaval: Co-ops of City Dwellers On Seized Acreage Are Mostly a Bust So Far,” by Jose De Cordoba, Wall Street Journal, 17 May 2007, p. A1. BLOG: What is the basis of…...
Patrick added these pithy words on 15 May 07 at 7:44 amI could have sworn that someone here at Cominganarch.com posted a link to a website that has all sorts of academic lectures that can be downloaded. It was from universities all around the world and even had a section for the “most popular” and featured schools (Amherst was featured last week). Am I losing my mind or does anyone out there know which site it is? I’d be much obliged. This website rules by the way and so does Robert Kaplan.
PS—there used to be a great video/or audio of one of Kaplan’s lectures (I think at Amherst) discussing America and An Empire Wilderness. I’ve never been able to find that again either. It was really good.
Michael added these pithy words on 15 May 07 at 11:05 amThe reason Mugabe can get away with it is because most Western nations have lost their sense of right and wrong
Is this website you maybe looking for
http://www.oculture.com/weblog/
Open Culture
Chief Wiggim added these pithy words on 15 May 07 at 4:03 pmIt is more accurate to say that the Zimbabwean economic model is a shining beacon for the rest of the underdeveloped world. Why else would they have been selected to chair the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development?.
Michael added these pithy words on 15 May 07 at 8:47 pmHuh?! Is that to imply that the African leaders who are turning a blind eye haven’t lost their sense of right and wrong? Or that they’re using the perception of our loss as a reason to ignore whatever we say on the subject?
Actually, from what I’ve heard, they’re stuck in a similar situation as North Korea’s neighbors. Regardless of how they feel about Mugabe’s regime, if they let it collapse, they’ll be flooded with refugees.
Michael added these pithy words on 15 May 07 at 8:49 pmI need to adopt a nickname or something; there’s too many Michaels in this corner of the blogosphere:P It sounds like the same person arguing with himself!
lirelou added these pithy words on 16 May 07 at 12:23 amIn the end, each nation-state gets the government it deserves.
ElamBend added these pithy words on 16 May 07 at 1:53 pmParochial Pride + entrenched elites
sakthi added these pithy words on 17 May 07 at 5:53 amJust Because of Mugabe’s ideology and his rule Zimbabwe loss everything from their economy to sports..Recently Australian cricket team denies to play in Zimbabwe..So its obvious some one to fight against Mugabe in a harder way…
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Daniel added these pithy words on 23 Jul 07 at 8:54 amWell, the latest news today that Mugabe has offered to step down after winning 2008 election, could this be true? Of course not after digging my dirt on Rhodesia -> Zimbabwe’s history over and over he has pulled the same ploy to win the previous elections.
He was a good president in the beginning, :S Although I must say Morgan Changirai deserves a spot in the spot light. Give him at least one term, and Im sure he will learn and take advise on how to run a country.
Salisbury/Harare was the leading City in the world (technology and modern) in the year 1972.
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