Comments on: Zimbabwe President still clearly nostalgic about the Summer of Love

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:44:18 +0000

Rudo, as I just read this morning, Zimbabwe's inflation just hit another record high. As the world stands by and watches Zimbabwe's economy crumble, I am quite worried that we are doing nothing to prepare for the massive famine and unrest that will come at the end of the Mugabe regime. I know the U.N. is "working on it", but somehow I doubt their effectiveness, especially in the face of possible violence, or do you think this is a legitimate concern? Btw, the reason South Africa wont help is because they are too busy curing AIDS with olive oil.

By: Greyson

Greyson — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:58:32 +0000

First, I must say I resent your equation of “the America of Africa” to “crass commercialism.” You could’ve at least called it the California of Africa.

The idea of targeted sanctions is an interesting one, especially in today’s information-aged, globalizing economy. Generally, however, sanctions only hurt the least well off, which only cements the controlling regimes (see Cuba, or Iraq in the ’90s.)

During my stay in D.C. I had the opportunity to see Andrew Mwenda, an amazing speaker and leader from Uganda, currently in exile in the U.S. to avoid charges of sedition and “promoting sectarianism.” He was by far one of the most passionate and interesting speakers I got a chance to see, and his personality greatly increases my confidence in Africa’s future. At least as long as Africans can throw off the yoke of corruption that results in, and in turn springs from, leaders like Mugabe and Museveni. You can get the event in Real Video, Real Audio and Podcast formats here: http://cato.org/event.php?eventid=3263. (I figured this thread already had enough hotlinks.)

By the way… does Mugabe really have a Hitler-stache in that photo or is that just a shadow? Just when I thought I could bring it back to respectability here comes another stain…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:03:11 +0000

As someone who has been watching the Zimbabwe situation prior to their expulsion from the Commonwealth, I must say that I have been shocked and saddened by the incompetence of Mugabe. I come from the Booker T. Washington school of thought in that I believe if African nations want to rise up they must “cultivate the habits of economy, thrift and industry“. What I think that means for nations, is the longterm investment in infrastructure and education. I have not seen the Mugabe regime devoting their precious resources to this instead this is what I see (Brutal Repression)…