Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6912223.stm
The article features emails in which Zimbabweans share their living conditions in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has been under economic and political crises in the past few years. The country has an annual inflation rate of 3,700%, the highest in the world. Eighty percent of the population is unemployed. Most people lack basic necessities, such as food, electricity, and petrol. People who have jobs are paid little; businesses are forced to close down because of lack of electricity. People start selling their possessions just so they can get some extra money. But even if they have money, they cannot buy what they need because shelves at grocery stores are empty. And when the stores get stocks, there are long lines of people fighting for the products. The stories from Zimbabweans have made me realize even more how lucky I am being in a country when basic necessities are in excess. I also though that it's ironic that while people over there have to wait in long queues for the most basic of things, people here wait in line for days for the latest iPhone or Harry Potter.
I don't know enough about the economic and and political situation of Zimbabwe to critique anyone or make any suggestions. But after a brief research, I've learned that one of the main reasons of the economic crisis is the collapse of the agriculture industry. After President Mugabe came into power, he seized all white-owned farms and redistributed them to the landless black Zimbabweans. The inefficient redistribution of farmlands and droughts led to the sharp fall in production, and hence, famine. That reminds me of our discussion in class about how the colonizers made the colonized dependent on them that when the latter is independent, it has no skills to stand on its own. Undoubtedly, President Mugabe's rule has contributed to the current situation as well (although he's seen as a hero, bringing independence from British rule to the country), but I don't think anyone can deny that it is also the result of colonization. I hope that as this class proceeds and as I learn more about development, I'll have a better idea of what Zimbabwe can do to get out of the crisis.
3 comments:
I like your thoughts on how people here wait in line to get wii or other overpriced items that really have no value to what makes us humans. I agree with you. People need to learn to be appreciative of the things. Next time we have to go to work but don't like it, just be happy you have a job. That your family is healthy and that you don't have to wait in line for moldy bread. I hate compainers. Most of us really have nothing to complain about.
I know what Zimbabwe can do to start recovering: get rid of Mugabe! Of course this is not realistic (though hopefully the 83 year old madman will soon enough meet his end) but what can be said when he single-handedly destroyed the country he helped liberate and thereafter made everything he could to make the country worse off.I actually think that Zimbabwe is a good example of what positive colonization might have had. They were self-sustaining and even exporting many agricultural goods, they had the best educated population in Africa, they still have unexploited riches... Colonization changed the country for ever but you cannot go back, there was a possibility for a transition to a sovereign African nation, but when an individual like Mugabe is in charge these is not much hope. It is interesting to contrast with South Africa, which is the most prosperous country now on the continent, but at what price?
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