I lived in Britain when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe and I knew a few white Rhodesians who moved to Britain during the transition to majority rule. At that time, there were three principal contenders for prime minister, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe. All came from factional political parties, legal and illegal, united only in their desire to overthrow the white minority government led by Ian Smith. After Muzorewa’s interregnum in 1979, Mugabe became prime minister in 1980. In 1987 he abolished the post of prime minister and became president – presumably for life.
His rule has been characterized by war, ruthless extermination of political opponents and economic disaster. Whether one agreed with white rule or not, the reality was that Zimbabwe was a prosperous country and the breadbasket of Africa. While Zimbabwe was an exporter of food until the 1990s, Mugabe’s expropriation of white-owned farms has resulted in starvation, poverty and a Lord of the Flies social structure deliberately cultivated by Mugabe.
With this background in mind, consider this report from Breitbart and ponder the effects of economic mismanagement stemming from the politics of envy and faction:
Inflation-wracked Zimbabwe plans to introduce a 200 million dollar note just days after a 100 million dollar note came into circulation, the government announced Saturday.
The 200 million dollar note, announced in a notice in the government gazette, will bring to 28 the number of notes put into circulation by the central bank this year alone, as the country struggles with the world’s highest inflation rate of 231 million percent.
On Thursday the central bank introduced 100 million, 50 million and 10 million dollar notes while at the same time increasing withdrawal limits for individuals and companies.
The 100 million dollar note is worth only about 14 US dollars, and its value erodes by the day.
Cash can now only be withdrawn once a week from banks, according to the latest measures by the central bank.
Ordinary people can withdraw 100 million dollars a week while companies are permitted to withdraw 50 million dollars.
Prices of basic goods and services rose sharply on Thursday when the 100 million dollar note was introduced.
Long queues in banks and cash shortages are commonplace in Zimbabwe as people take hours to withdraw money which is still not enough to see them through the day.
The 100,000 banknote is worth only one US dollar on the widely-used parallel black market and is only half the amount needed to buy a loaf of bread.
Zimbabwe’s political leaders are currently deadlocked over who should control key ministries in a power-sharing deal brokered by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after March elections thrust the country into crisis.
Once the region’s breadbasket, the country is facing widespread food shortages while cholera has killed 575 people, the UN said on Friday.
UPDATE: Video available from Breitbart.
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