Newsnight Zimbabwe Report

[twelveyeargap]

I'm distraught. I didn't realise that there was such a humanitarian crisis. It's so sad...

It's just staggering and heartbreaking.
FannyAnnie's dh is form Zimbabwe.
That place used to be one of the best places in Africa.
That evil bastard has brought it to its knees.
How could someone knowingly do that???
It's beyond belief.

We had one of our best holidays ever in Zim - stayed with friends who were farmers there.

What he has done is absolutely criminal.

It is so so heartbreaking. That country had a great future as the potential for tourism was huge.

I was shocked and dismayed at this report last night. I know it's a volatile situation in Zimbabwe, as any threat of action from outside is condemned by other African countries generally, but what needs to happen before help is sent in? The male life expectancy is 37, and female 34. I felt incredibly helpless watching - he is essentially killing off those who do not support him.

It is far worse than what was happening in Iraq under Saddam, but then I suppose there's no oil in Zimbabwe...

I have seen a similar situation unfolding at first hand and there are no easy solutions. Yes it would be great if they went in.

Bump

I am from Zim and have family and friends there.

Life there now is unbelievable - electricity just a few hours a day, no food and an inflation rate that led to 500,00 dollars to the pound last month. There was a time when there were 2 zim dollars to the pound.....

There is no food on the shelves. Men are queuing all day for a loaf of bread, but being sent home empty handed. There was the most horrific image of a little girl, probably about 4 or 5, whose body was ravaged with sores. She had huge patches of raw flesh without skin and most of her hair was missing and it was all due to a vitamin and mineral deficiency. When does it become a humaniatrian crisis and why can nothing at all be done? Why can the UN do nothing?

It has been getting worse for years.
Sth Africa has the power to force change but refuses to intervene
Mugabe used to be such a great leader at elast it seemed that way, after Smith and cronies...
He has totally lost the plot
Surely there must be a military uprising
Somebody must be arming them from abroad...

Thabo Mbeki is Robert Mugabe's best friend. He could do a lot to influence and improve matters but chooses not to. Still, this is a man who doesn't believe in AIDS. And of course, the rest of the world watches and waits and watches and waits. Not like in Iraq.

Meanwhile, yet more children are starving to death. It's horrific.

My DH is also from Zimbabwe. We send food parcels and money to support his parents who will hopefully be able to come to stay with us in the next couple of onths. I am currently collecting old mobile phones for a charity run orphanage in his hometown, I will be posting on the charities section in the very near future if you want to help.