Zimbabwe in less troubled times

Here's a remarkably evocative piece about Zimbabwe by WaPo writer Neely Tucker, who was one of the few Western reporters there from 1997 to 2000, leaving befvore he was expelled from the crime of talking to opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangarai. But he remembers the smell of millet beer, the grasses waving in the breeze, the sudden driving rainstorms, farms stretching for miles -- and people dying "suddenly" at 42.

Now he knows that life expectancy is 36, inflation runs at several million percent (and there's now a shortage of banknote paper), store shelves are empty, there are roadblocks everywhere manned by thugs who'll steal your money and your food if you have any -- and the miserable Mugabe is apparently going to be president for life and keep trying to kill the country until he dies. Very sad.

The indefatigable Steve Hanke at Cato,who seems to have a monetary scheme for every country in trouble, has some comments on how to cure Zimbabwe's hyperinflation -- get rid of the central bank, duh -- while Marian Tupy has some reflections as well.

Zimbabwe's misery

Here's a link to the Register's editorial on the decision of opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai to step down in the run-off presidential race in Zimbabwe. The reason, of course, is that the forces of the president, Robert Mugabe, who still controls the government, have been intimidating, beating up and killing (at least 80 dead) Tsvangirai supporters since the original election in May, which Tsvangirai probably won if there had been anything close to an honest ballot count.

Mugabe has become one of the world's most ruthless and destructive dictators. He has taken a country (formerly Rhodesia if you remember) that was one of the more prosperous African countries and turned it into a poverty-ridden hellhole. Yet his fondest desire is to hang onto power, probably until he dies. His reign of terror shows the essence of government -- force. Governments try to pretty up the pig with democratic processes and vows of love for the "people," but Mao knew: political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

Suffering Zimbabwe

Here is the Register's editorial on developments in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe, one of the worst rulers in the world, which is saying something rather remarkable, seems to have lost the election for president, although he and his minions may have rigged it enough that the opposition candidate, Morton Tsvangirai, will be held to less then 50%-plus-one, which could precipitate a run-off. The loss of a majority by his ZANU-PF in the parliament, however, seems to have been deisive enough that it couldn't be rigged. If he had any dignity or regard for the country he has misruled for so long he would simply concede (perhaps after negotiating a deal to avoid prosecution) and leave in a way that might make people remember some of his better aspects instead of his worst. But it doesn't look as if he will go quietly. Poor Africa. So much promise, so many lousy rulers.