Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe has used an address to the United Nations general assembly to accuse Britain and America of genocide. Strong words... are they true?
Once a regional breadbasket, an exporter of food, Zimbabwe's economy is in meltdown with the world's highest inflation rate and four out of five adults unemployed.
In case you are unaware, inflation results from a government's economic policy. It is a sophisticated and "legal" way to consume a nation and results, in Zimbabwe's case, from government printing more money as a means to conduct its business and repay debts.
The people of Zimbabwe have been plundered:
Zimbabwe's inflation rate has soared in the past three months and is now at 11.2 million percent, the highest in the world, according to the country's Central Statistical Office.Zimbabwe's inflation rate has soared to a world high.
Official figures dated Monday show inflation has surged from the rate of 2.2 million percent recorded in May, despite the government's price controls.
The country's finance minister confirmed the new figure in an interview but said the rising inflation rate was not confined to Zimbabwe alone.
"While our case has been aggravated by the illegal sanctions imposed by the Western powers, rising food prices are a world phenomenon because of the use of bio-fuel," said Samuel Mumbengegwi. "But we will continue to fight inflation by making sure that prices charged are realistic."
Mumbengegwi's explanation and plan for the future are probably the most deceptive and/or ignorant comments on the topic I have ever seen and underscore the purposeful nature of Zimbabwe's destruction. The government devalues the currency, forces merchants to keep prices constant and them blames shortages and business failures on sanctions.
Few countries have been as devastated as Zim by the policies put in place by one man. President Robert Mugabe has literally destroyed his country and is starving his people. Until the last few years, he denied there was even a problem and outlawed food imports.
There is much, much more - crimes against humanity, torture, political violence, election fraud, farm seizures, assassination, famine, etc.,
Mugabe is right in penning the word "genocide" into his United Nations speech. Unfortunately, the term he throws at others applies to himself.
Robert Mugabe will be remembered in African history as the man who 'ruined' Zimbabwe. He will also go down, with his associates, as "The Thieves who stole a country".
What should have been a jewel - and an example for the rest of Africa - is now a wasteland. There is, in point of fact, a civil war in progress. Zanu-pf against anyone who does not support the party!
Those of us who were forced to leave agonise daily about our friends still there. And it will not change when the old man dies - there will be a struggle for power - with the military taking full control.