Hmmm, not sure about that one.
The whole Western Guilt thing has given a great excuse for African leaders to avoid actually fixing their own problems. Zimbabwe's a classic example of a country where the problems are entirely internally-generated. Britain didn't give it an inflation rate of, let's repeat that 25,000% (and that's just the official rate ), they did it all to themselves. And I can't see the UK being able to change the situation in any way.
As for:
You are Dick Cheney AICMFP
In the case of Zimbabwe we have no responsibility at all to 'sort things out'. How far back do you want this western world guilt trip to go? 10 years, 20, 50, 100, 200... ? In the specific case of Zimbabwe we have discharged any duty to them many, many times over. Out of nothing the west created a prosperous and self sufficient nation, Zimbabwe used to be the bread basket of Africa exporting food to other African states, now it is the basket case. That prosperous state was handed to the Zimbabwean people on a plate, since then countless £1m's in aid and assistance has been poured in. The mess it is in now is entirely the fault of that country and the other African states that support it.
Of course I feel compassion for the starving of that country, but throwing a few quid in a tin and feeling self righteous about it solves nothing. In fact all that it would achieve is direct financial assistance to the regime that created the problem and it would strengthen their hold on power, thus ensuring that next week I need to put even more money in the tin because even more people are starving.
The underlying problems need to be solved, they can only be solved by the Zimbabwean people and the other states of the African Union. Chucking money and food aid at it just hides the problem and makes the eventual resolution that much more distant.
Last edited by stewart38; 22nd-January-2008 at 05:09 PM.
Oh, rubbish. Are you trying to wind me up or what?
To quote Wikipedia:
The army's got 4 brigades, they've got tanks, they've got APCs, they've got artillery.Currently the armed forces of Zimbabwe are completely integrated and are composed of an army (ZNA) and an air force (AFZ). The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000. The air force has about 5,000 men assigned. In July 1994 the combined Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters was created. The branches are Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police).
And Mugabe has to keep them sweet - armed force is keeping him in power after all.
Use of military force is almost inconceivable - at the very least, the we (the US, to be honest) would have to use a neighbouring country as a willing staging base. Flying troops over an unfriendly country, to land unsupported and uncoordinated, is basically killing them.
Well how does it read for Scotland, could say the same thing ?
£11 billion of English money heads for Edinburgh each year
The Union of England and Scotland is over - Telegraph
I am saying that we should stop subsidising Zanu PF by providing them with a means to stay in power. Zimbabwe has a monopoly grain supplier called the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), all grain produced in the country, imported or donated is distributed via the GMB. You think it's actually going to the people who need it? Think again...
allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: 'No Zanu PF Card, No Food' Scam Exposed (Page 1 of 1)
allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Maize Being Used to 'Bribe Voters', Causing Shortages (Page 1 of 1)
Just be aware of exactly what it is you are supporting when you say that we should be giving food aid. What is needed is regime change, the aid going into Zimbabwe is propping up that very regime
Last edited by stewart38; 22nd-January-2008 at 05:54 PM.
Google maps is sure.
By my reckoning, the closest border to the sea is 200 miles - and Harare's about 500 miles away from the closest ocean.
Yeah. that worked so well, too.
Somehow, I suspect that he may have taken precautions against that - he's not exactly well-beloved...
"Stewart's army is on their way..."
I don't know what should be done about Zimbabwe. I wish I did. I'm glad you guys are thinking about it though, it gives me hope.
With regard to whoever it was who piped up about the land belonging to black Zimbabweans, yes obviously you're kind of right. But why didn't the land reforms happen until all of a sudden, after about 20 years of independence? They messed up, big time.
Fault-wise, I blame Mugabe. I don't know if a military coup would be any better, I think a democratically elected opposition would but then what are the chances of that? If the opportunity ever arose, I would be seriously tempted to knock off Mugabe myself, and trust to fate. I used to hatch plans to sneak into his house and do the deed when I was younger.
Anyway, I desperately hope something good happens soon. It has been too long.
Dan
Its called an analogy
see here
Analogy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I saw in the news just now that the official inflation rate in Zimbabwe has reached 66,000%.
Is that some sort of record?
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