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  • Just cut of all aid. All trade. Let the government collapse.

  • it is unclear what Carter hoped to achieve in Zimbabwe in the first place. Mugabe has not been in the mood for talking sense the last decade.

    Amazing comments here:

    @LabeerehnGbanna: "Mugabe is the man", who ruined his country and reduced his people to poverty.

    @Bathopele: If you are black, white or yellow, and you buy a property in Europe, the law will protect your property rights (even if you are an african racist).

  • Mugabe is the man!

  • What rascist cave did BathoPlele crawl out of.Are you offended because your tribe is incompetent in providing food and care for its own. Enter the world, Neanderthal.

  • The fact that a former USA president is meddling into zimbabwe affairs clearly show how hugry of domination and colonization these europeans are. every informed African know europeans only meddle for racist reasons. Africa is for Africans and Europe for europeans. if they do not want to accept it let them go cry then.

  • MUGABE must be overthrown!!!!! The people of Zimbabwe must unite and stand togther against him! Only united will we be victorius.

  • Isn't it easier to look for a guinea pigs than to accept own failures? No one had more influence over Zimbabwean affairs than Zimbabweans, ZANU and Mugabe. There was no economic blockade, war or occupation. There were no plagues ro earthquakes. There was one disaster, though, that is worse than all above together. It is called socialism. This disaster devastated every country it occurred in: Russia, China, N Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Cuba. Zimbabwe is now added to the list.

  • The greed of African chiefs was the main reason for slave trade. They wanted cloth, knives and especially guns. One slave was worth 2 yards of cloth. One gun twenty slaves. Almost no one was enslaved by Europeans' force, all sold by Africans. First the chiefs sold their own slaves, then prisoners, then criminals, then poor and then they started to sell all and everyone they could enslave with no regard. They started to raid each other to get more slaves. Greed of Africans was the reason.

  • "Africa was robbed naked, millions of it people were abducted and forced into slavery by the pink "white" race..."

    Bullshit. Slavery existed in Africa since always. Africans, arabs and later Portugese were the main purchasers, but they rarely enslaved people themselves. African chiefs sold black slaves because they wanted imported goods but had little to offer. Read Livingstone to understand why slavery flourished. It was because of greed of African chiefs. They enslaved and sold Africans.

  • don't you understand that the powers that be want us to hate each other? It is called divide and conquer. Please discern. There is so much propaganda out there.

  • Should have remained a British colony. You would have had a nice stable government, tourism, and good international standing. It's the dumb blacks' fault! They deserve this. ALSO, CARTER IS AN IDIOT

  • Jimmy Carter and other lefties are like a bunch of restless beavers running around the world and trying to fix every hole in a dam by a piece of dirt, but only to discover on the next round that the hole has become bigger and their fix itself need to be fixed, so they fix it with yet a bigger piece of dirt. Until the next round.

    And even after the tenth round they still truly believe they do a useful work. Idiots.

  • Jimmy Carter and other lefties are like a bunch of restless beavers running around the world and trying to fix every hole in a dam by a piece of dirt, but only to discover on the next round that the hole has become bigger and their fix itself need to be fixed, so they fix it with yet a bigger piece of dirt. Until the next round.

    And even after the tenth round they still truly believe they do a useful work. Idiots.

  • White man is a virus? No, educated, professional and civilized man, white or black is a medicine against well known African virus of irresponsibility, mismanagement, embezzlement on the side of the corrupt government and inertia, negligence and acceptance on the side of the people. While educated and professional middle class was present in Rhodesia (and a few first years of Zimbabwe), the country was doing great. Once these people left, Zimbabwe collapsed gravely ill.

  • White man is a virus? No, educated, professional and civilized man, white or black is a medicine against well known African virus of irresponsibility, mismanagement, embezzlement on the side of the corrupt government and inertia, negligence and acceptance on the side of the people. While educated and professional middle class was present in Rhodesia (and a few first years of Zimbabwe), the country was doing great. Once these people left, Zimbabwe collapsed gravely ill.

  • Mugabe is a mass murderer. Gukhurahundi alone would be enough to 'honour' him with this title, but he also has on him murders of Rhodesian civilians, both black and white, killings and robberies of white farmers and mass deaths from starvation and now - from cholera. This month International Criminal Court in the Hague issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president for atrocities in Darfur. The precedent has been set. Mugabe will surely be a good next candidate. It is just a matter of time.

  • Mugabe is a mass murderer. Gukhurahundi alone would be enough to 'honour' him with this title, but he also has on him murders of Rhodesian civilians, both black and white, killings and robberies of white farmers and mass deaths from starvation and now - from cholera. This month International Criminal Court in the Hague issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president for atrocities in Darfur. The precedent has been set. Mugabe will surely be a good next candidate. It is just a matter of time.

  • obama is black and he is doing the right thing by bringing that bitch mugabe to his knees,

    african leaders are also responsible for changing the lives of the impoverished

    but instead they drive luxury cars and loot

    well done OBAMA for being truly democratic

    may you show these corrupt african leaders hell

  • "5) the EU remains committed to engaging the Government of Zimbabwe in a comprehensive dialogue on the present difficulties being experienced in the country with the aim of restoring political, social and economic stability."

  • "4) EU is deeply concerned with the economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. Consequently, the humanitarian assistance given to the people of Zimbabwe by the EU and its Member States has continued and has, in the last two years, amounted to Euro 300 million (equivalent to approximately USD 330 million). In addition, the EU and member states fund progammes in direct support of the people of Zimbabwe in poverty alleviation, education, health, infrastructures, human rights and democratisation"

  • "3) the suspension or re-orientation of certain financial and development cooperation programmes with the Government of Zimbabwe is mainly due to the fact that it has not complied with the provisions of the pertinent bilateral agreements and to the political and economic environment which is not conducive to development cooperation with government structures;"

  • "2) the measures adopted by the EU, as a result of the break down of the rule of law and human rights abuses, are the freezing of personal assets of senior members of government and other high-ranking officials, the prevention of the same to travel to EU Member States and the embargo on the sale of arms. None of these measures could affect or cause any hardship to the Zimbabwean population;"

  • From EU statement on sanctions:

    "1) The EU is not imposing economic or trade sanctions against Zimbabwe. The EU shares the opinion expressed by a number of international organisations whereby the main cause of the serious social and economic crisis which Zimbabwe is experiencing should be sought in inappropriate economic policies, the manner in which the land reform has been carried out, the drought and the HIV/AIDS pandemic;"

  • "The crisis constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions has not been resolved For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat."

    BARACK OBAMA

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

    March 3, 2009

  • "The crisis constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions has not been resolved For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat."

    BARACK OBAMA

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

    March 3, 2009

  • Mchigubu, you keep ranting about sanctions, yet you have failed to explain how targeted sanctions against corrupt ZANU leaders can possibly affect poor. You also failed to provide an example of independent Zimbabwe business that has been rejected an import or export deal because of sanctions. I gave you names, dates and facts - you keep repeating cheap slogans with no fact in their support. This is called propaganda. So, please find such an example and explain how poor are affected by sanctions.

  • ZANU leaders are corrupt because instead of serving their people, they brainwash them, exploit them and shamelessly steal from them. Then they live a lavish lifestyle while people around have nothing to eat, nowhere to live and are dying from diseases.

    "The story is always the same: violence and massacres, political opponents imprisoned, streams of refugees, rampant corruption and the establishment of external bank accounts by their leaders" from memoirs of Ian Smith, last PM of Rhodesia.

  • The Zim currency has reached record inflation because Zimbabwe was not living up to its means. Mugabe kept Zim spending more than Zim earned and covered the difference by printing money. that is the reason. Of course he would want to have this difference covered by someone else, Britain or IMF, but was refused. After all if your salary is $1000, but you consistently spend $1500, borrowing $500 every month from the bank, at some point the bank will refuse you - that's exactly what happened.

  • I am not trying to make a disconnection. Disconnection is an absence of connection and should not be proven; the onus is on you to prove that the connection exists. I have asked this question many times, but so far no one was able to answer it: to prove the connection, quote me the names of independent businesses that have been refused export or import deal due to "sanctions". I believe you will not find any. Trade with Zimbabwe as a country is not restricted; only ZANU officials are affected.

  • No, they are not after immediate financial profits. They are after political profits that [as they rightly believe] will eventually lead to financial profits. I don't think this influence corrupts. Look at the case of Russia. In the 90s, simultaneously with Zimbabwe, they used multi-billion IMF credits to reform the economy, however unlike of Zim, Russia succeeded and fully returned the loans with interest. Now Russia is independent both financially and politically. IMF gain is Russia's market.

  • Another claim that Mugabe's apologists often bring is the refusal of IMF and World Bank to credit Zimbabwe. However, strong economy does not require IMF credits, as there is a line up of commercial banks willing to credit it. Manu of Mugabe's loans in 80s came from commercial banks.

    IMF and WB can provide credits when commercial banks do not want to do it anymore due to high risks and/or low returns, but these bailouts are typically provided on conditions of economic and political reforms.

  • Give me an example of a failed capitalist state. I am not aware of any. I can give you a buch of examples of failed socialism.

  • Banks are not greedier than other businesses; not any differently than any company from a shoemaker to spacecraft manufacturer - they just have to make best possible profit for their shareholders or else they fail. As long as there are competitors, they can not be unreasonable because a customer can choose. But as soon as there is government control, like in a socialist state, they can do with you whatever the state wants them to do. And this is yet another reason why socialism never works.

  • Independent Zimbabwe lived beyond its means and kept borrowing. Servicing the bulging debt was taking more than 35% or export earnings. Zimbabwe rating plummeted, commercial banks refused further loans. Mugabe the Marxist was forced to go to IMF. Both IMF and World Bank stepped in lending $700m, but on conditions of structural reforms. Zim had to cut civil service, and move towards market economy. As Mugabe failed to comply and continued with HR violations, the credit line was frozen. The end.

  • I am far from saying that colonial system was perfect, however let's face it, in Zimbabwe the evils of independence by far exceeded the evils of colonisation. I think the best option for Rhodesia was not a socialist revolution, but gradual transition to the rule of middle class, regardless of race. It was perfectly possible and Rhodesia was well on the way (look at the growth of the number of blacks eligible to vote), but Mugabe, Nkomo and other black nationalists did not allow it to happen.

  • "You still haven't admitted the rule of Ian Smith was bias and didn't represent the majority of the country."

    I never said that Ian Smith's government represented majority, did I? It represented qualified people who, for historical reasons were in minority and were mostly white, although some 60,000 blacks also qualified. And it was right. There is nothing wrong with not allowing people to vote if they do not satisfy minimal educational requirements. Else why do children not allowed to vote?

  • Every regular person that has any investments or at least a few dollars in the bank account has some interest in good state of the world economy, including Zimbabwe. Believe it or not, this is how the economy works these days: you put money in the bank and get an interest; the better is the state of the global economy, the higher is your interest. Banks and funds reinvest people's money around the world prorate to expected returns and contra rata the risks.

  • Mugabe is clearly not in favour of independent businesses. He tried to implemented fixed prices and now he wants to nationalise mining industry. Look at what he is doing with much of the stolen land - like a true communist, he gives it to agricultural cooperatives, following Chinese model. They fail one by one, or do not even start and the land remains unused.

    If he was pro-business, he would have not kicked white farmers off the land because they ran most successful agricultural businesses.

  • I want to disillusion you my friend, most of people want to enrich themselves and this is a big driving factor for many, regardless of their race.

    What makes the difference though is the whether an enrichment of some leads to robbery of the others as in case of corrupt government, or to more jobs for people and increases in tax revenues for social services, as in case of honest businesses.

    In Zimbabwe we clearly see the first case; businesses are suppressed, ZANU is corrupt to the bone.

  • Zimbabwe offers minimal returns but poses highest risks and that is why Zimbabwe gets none of these money. It does not help either when Zimbabwes president says "we will nationalize them". At this statement the capital hiccups and strikes bold red line through the country name in their list of planned investments. So thank Mugabes economic policies for the state of Zimbabwes economy.

  • "governments eyeing their natural resourses" - It is much simplified view. What difference does it make if the company developing resources is local or foreign? Look at Botswana. They are sitting on diamonds. De Beers does all the work, Botswana gets royalties, everyone is happy. What is wrong with this model? If you think De Beers'es share is too much for what they are doing, impose higher royalties. They are free to go and Botswana is free to contract someone else from abroad or locally.

  • Are you saying that ZANU bosses and Mugabes well being is linked to the state of Zimbabwe economy as directly as of all other Zimbabweans? What did ZANU chefs give up since the economy started to decline in 80s and crashed in 2008? Did they move to modest houses? No, they built new palaces. Did they give up their luxury Mercedeses? No, in the middle of biggest food riot in 1998 they bought a bunch of new MB Saloons paying millions of dollars. So, no, their economy is detached from Zimbabwean.

  • Are you saying that ZANU bosses and Mugabes well being is linked to the state of Zimbabwe economy as directly as of all other Zimbabweans? What did ZANU chefs give up since the economy started to decline in 80s and crashed in 2008? Did they move to modest houses? No, they built new palaces. Did they give up their luxury Mercedeses? No, in the middle of biggest food riot in 1998 they bought a bunch of new MB Saloons paying millions of dollars. So, no, their economy is detached from Zimbabwean.

  • There are no sanctions against Zimbabwe. Sanctions are targeted against about 200 corrupt ZANU officials, like former minister of women's affairs, Joyce Mujuru, who fraudulently received Z$389,472 from War Victims Compensations Fund prior its collapse in 1997 and leaving hundreds of thousand disabled without any means for existence. Mujuru received the money on the basis of 'poor vision' and 'mental stress disorder'. And these targeted sanctions are by US and EU only. China and SA are opened.

  • There are no sanctions against Zimbabwe. Sanctions are targeted against about 200 corrupt ZANU officials, like former minister of women's affairs, Joyce Mujuru, who fraudulently received Z$389,472 from War Victims Compensations Fund prior its collapse in 1997 and leaving hundreds of thousand disabled without any means for existence. Mujuru received the money on the basis of 'poor vision' and 'mental stress disorder'. And these targeted sanctions are by US and EU only. China and SA are opened.

  • Natural resources indeed belong to all people and so they should benefit all Zimbabweans, however there are different ways of achieving it. The socialist way implies nationalisation of the resource industries resulting in a lack of business initiative and growth of corruption of the part of management, ultimately leading to either enforcement and tight control of each and everyone like in North Korea or economic failure like in Soviet Union. There is another way - impose high enough royalties.