Dire conditions on Zimbabwe's railways - 20 Apr 2008

[stefansmith]

This seems awful of course, but it's wrong to put it down to Mugabe or sanctions - I've travelled on Egyptian 3rd class trains, and they are NO better (in fact they're worse - there's no lighting or toilets whatsoever), and Egypt gets millions of dollars in USAID. Let's hope that at least improves in the post-Mubarak era.

[penitent2401]

at least they hides the gaping hole and have a real toilet. i've been on a train where you have a gaping hole for a toilet. that's not cos it's falling apart really, that was how it was built, don't think the people who built it ever heard of a toilet seat. that was in vietnam btw

[DaSlug32]

Zimbabwe have got trains. Wow Mugabe is too kind.

[SIPHNEY]

@DaSlug32 wats tht supposed to mean

[DaSlug32]

@SIPHNEY Just surprised the trains are still running, and that Mugabe has not stolen that money as well.

[mchigubu]

6Mar09 SAD day for Zimbabwe! I read online news PM Tsvangirayi had asked for Western Sanctions on Zimbabwe to be removed, but Pres Obama had slapped Zimbabwe with EXTENDED year of Pres Bush's SATANIC SANCTIONS. Later in evening I learned from CNN: "Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai has been injured in a car crash which killed his wife Susan. Pres Mugabe visited PM Tsvangirai in hospital". I say "RIP Mrs Susan Tsvangirai". Zimbabwe unite in this TURMOIL of 1 more year DEATHS & SANCTIONS

[prepschoolkid]

Rhodesia faced sanctions and it was prosperous...

[mchigubu]

prepschoolkid, You better be a NON-BLACK! Yes, to a NON-BLACK, Rhodesia was prosperous. Rhodesia did NOT have SATANIC SANCTIONS like what Mugabe has! Smith was pampered by night with ALL the nice goodies Israel, UK & all could give him, and by day, Smith enojyed "FALSE SANCTIONS". Rhodesia was simply the HEAVEN for non-Blacks! SATANIC SANCTIONS are meant to de-populate Blacks under false pretence of "imposing travel sanctions on 203 governement officials" as if they care to go to Europe.

[prepschoolkid]

well the sanctions should not prevent people from growing food. Mugabe didnt even care about the whites until they started supporting an opposition party. This proves that he is just power hungry and could care less about his people. He is the one that preaches reconciliation, but i guess that was a lie. You are only supporting him because he is black, if he was white I dont think you would speak very highly of him.

[irvin2cartel]

As a matter of fact prepschoolkid you are wrong. People respect Mugabe and all the other dead and living heroes for leading Zimbabwe out of colonialism. The downfall of the country was not only caused by mugabe but by the ignorance of the wider word. People do not support mugabe because he is black, they support him for his heroics...... Roy Bennett is white, but people support him in Zimbabwe.

[boundryrider]

How can anyone respect as Despot such as Mugabe! As mentioned above, sanctions DO NOT prevent you from planting after you harvest. Facts are Mugabe ran productive white farmers off the land. This has seemed to slip some peoples minds. Some of these farms were in fact purchased post 1980 also seems to have slipped some peoples minds. Mugabe's skin colour has got absolutely nothing to do with the condition Zimbabwe is in at the moment. Playing the race card just buries heads deeper in the sand.

[Monthagny]

Its almost as bad a the new york tube

[afroheat]

That was a mordan Train 10 years ago thats sad man! that was a very nice train

[farric1]

I've travelled in worse trains than this, in India and in Malaysia. Although, I am amazed the trains are still running, given the current conditions in Zim.

I think Al-Jazeera are laying it on a bit thick here!

[brick4sale]

I think the point of the video is to show that this discrepant train is one of the few things that actually work in Zimbabwe

[hlRsiempre]

I also think it is exagerated. I slept on floors in trains, its doable, most of the time ppl are having a good time on any train, As long it keeps moving. In our trains a new rule u arent allowed to talk. so much for freedom of speech (or is it the assembly they hate?)

[hlRsiempre]

so much for commenting on you tube, i wrote it would cost 140 dollar here, to travel 400 miles, but that is actually more. And that the poor cannot use them anymore. wich is statistically precisely true . screw the censors.

[hlRsiempre]

eh that was somewhere else i suppose.. silly me:/anyjow is it censored?

[optixit]

So whats the problem. They get what they voted for. This is a good example of black african service levels. VIVA AFFRICA LMFAO

[gailfarie]

dont be ignorant

[optixit]

Africa cant help itself. It always needs Euros and Dollars to bail itself out of the crap caused by poor governance, infighting, civil wars, corruption etc etc.

[staplersandstaples]

it doesn't look that bad. the commentator made it seem much worse than it is.

[IdunCareLesSn00b]

Yeh thats right.Least of there problems.

[baronderothchild]

i would imagine that the condition on trains would be the least of there problems.

[happydancerboy]

i hate to say it as i dont like sounding unsympathetic to those worse off than me, but is it really that bad?

14 hours in uncomftorable conditions, usually when i hear about africa its about children dying from unclean water and stuff.

[brick4sale]

The life expectancy in Zimbabwe is 37 for men 34 for women, so yes it's that bad.

[Atheiossupremos]

the failure of Mugabe...

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[michaelwright999]

Sure not 1968-70 anymore, When I lived and worked there we all eat and travelled well

[ubuibiok]

sure beats walking....welcome to the 3rd world.

[DVincentW]

This is the begining of all we know these poor people just want the basics.

I couldnt rate it 5 stars because its not awesome, its great journalism but its really sad.Definately worth watching,if you care at all.

Thanks AlJazeera.