retired_kris10nicole

Yeah, that's from the BBC, hardly a neutral observer.

The why is simple enough BG. For 100 years, more or less, until Mugabe won independence for Zimbabwe the natives were continually displaced from the land by the white rulers including waves of immigrants from Britain post WWII. Even after independence which was only agreed to on the proviso that the land refrom would be slow at best and non-existent at worst there was very little reform. Then in the late nineties Mugabe started forcefully taking the land and giving it to his own supporters.

There was much belly-aching etc with heart rending reports of white people having to leave the land they grew up on. I wonder how many similar reports made it to the pages of London newspapers in the 1880s and 1890s when genocide & ethnic cleansing was committed by Cecil Rhodes? But I suppose that's excusable as it was the practice at the time, whilst economic sanctions are excusable at the moment as somebody would dare to remove western influence and attempt to exert local control, albeit in an extremely incompetent, unjust and brutal fashion. </BLOCKQUOTE>

So basically, anything goes because the white's started it more than 100 years ago but it wasn't properly condemned then?

Does that mean we can invade scandinavia?

retired_fabricodalacosta

I just find it odd that the UN or the likes of America/Britain seem reluctant to step in. Is it more to do with it not being economically viable (as was suggested earlier) or because we've already gone one step too far with the likes of Iraq ? You wonder if Zimbabwe had a huge natural oil reserve, whether anything would have been done then. Perhaps it's not as simple as that though.

retired_mnw_cna

I had family out there, in Bulawayo, but they've fled now. They were working as engineers for Shell, and by the end were living in a walled compound with armed guards.

Such a shame; it's a beautiful country and the people on the whole are really friendly, but Mugabe really does seem to be completely obsessed by remaining in power forever to the point of not giving a **** what goes on in the country as a whole.

The shortages there are getting worse and worse. Hopefully things will improve when (if - I reckon he drinks the blood of young virgins or goats or something to stay alive) Mugabe finally pegs it. Can't see it getting better in the short term though.

retired_ks reddy

If Zimbabwe had a huge oil reserve they'd be invading their neighbours rather than sitting about moaning about how hungry they are.

retired_nini59

10 years of reports on channel 4 and the BBC, then ITV decide to do a week on it and BG pipes up after just one day.

Please watch some proper news I beg you. That's all I want to say.

retired_keysh

Friend of mine who is good at business but is terrible at things like geography and history has just bought www.zimbabwe.com.
We have continually mocked him since.

retired_boombalabutt

If you're talking economic sanctions then they'd end up hurting the people who most needed the aid in the first place and leave Mugabe's regime untouched. If you're talking militarily, well historically the US was very much set against the continuance of British rule after the end of the Second World War (except when it suited their goals, like the maintenance of anti-Communist rule in Malaysia), and they probably simply are not bothered now, especially with their commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan not having a clear end in sight. As for us Brits, we couldn't possibly win a conflict there on our own.

I rather suspect the current problems engulfing Zimbabwe will survive Mugabe's lifetime and far beyond that unfortunately.

retired_boombalabutt

Oh, and as a side note, ITV news is truly terrible.

retired_fabricodalacosta

Eric - I've been aware of what's going on in Zimbabwe ever since Mugabe starting seizing land, which must be nearly 10 years ago now ? I know a little of what's been going on, but wish to know more which is why I posted the thread. Fair enough ?

retired_nini59

fair enough, but half your threads seem to be inspired by ITV's reports, just turn the channel over if you want to know more ffs.