In 1980, after a campaign marked by intimidation and reports of full ballot boxes found on the road, the Shona Tribe majority was decisive in electing Robert Mugabe prime minister where he has remained in power ever since. His repressive regime has restricted all freedom of the press and suppressed all political opposition by torturing and killing opposition members and has given this once beautiful, stable, prosperous country run-away inflation and massive food shortages.
The Zimbabwe currency tumbled to a record low of 25 million for a single U.S. dollar Wednesday. With Zimbabwe dollars mostly available in bundles of 100,000 and 200,000 notes, one US $100 note bought nearly 40 pounds of local notes at the new market rate Wednesday.
Analysts trace Zimbabwe’s economic collapse to Mugabe’s racist decision in 2000 to “transfer” land from whites to blacks, which resulted in the murder of white farmers, violent seizures of white-owned farms, and a mass exodus of the remaining white farmers which crippled the agricultural-based economy.
The former regional breadbasket used to be self sufficient in canned and processed foods, household goods, soap, toothpaste, toiletries and other items. However, with their industry and production collapsing, Zimbabweans have now become heavily dependent on imports of basic goods and even their corn meal staple.
Sad, isn’t it.
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