Mugabe on his way out?

[Vaud]

Hashtag massiveshock

[Chris Type R]

To be honest, the story/photos are not credible. That's not Zim police.

[Vaud]

Chris Type R said:

To be honest, the story/photos are not credible. That's not Zim police.

I suspect the leaders have squirrelled away a lot of money but it would be hidden offshore...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Wiccan of Darkness said:

I wonder if they'll change the name and/or flag. I've had this theory regarding African states, the longer the name, the more politically unstable it has become. I mean, if it remains Zimbabwe, then fair enough. Republic of Zimbabwe, starting to look dodgy. The rot sets in if it becomes the people's republic of Zimbabwe.

If it gets renamed to "The African People's Democratic Republic of Zimbabwe" and change the flag to incorporate a fist of freedom punching the air, then frankly all is lost.

The official definitions are as follows:

Democratic Republic - the people never get to vote.
People's Republic - you get shot for asking why you can't vote.

[schmunk]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The official definitions are as follows:

Democratic Republic - the people never get to vote.
People's Republic - you get shot for asking why you can't vote.

Democratic People's Republic - One man, one vote.

Here is the man. He has the vote.





(with apologies to the late Terry Pratchett)

[Vaud]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

The official definitions are as follows:

Democratic Republic - the people never get to vote.
People's Republic - you get shot for asking why you can't vote.

Sir Humphrey: East Yemen, isn't that a democracy?
Sir Richard Wharton: Its full name is "The Peoples' Democratic Republic of East Yemen."
Sir Humphrey: Ah, I see, so it's a communist dictatorship.

[Lazadude]

This may be a very naive question, but nothings actually changed right. Granted as a person he wasn't great but he was very insular.

It's still a low GDP under performing "ex"dictatorship like various other African countries. In the grand scheme of the world stage, whats the impact?

Other than giving the news some stories to show for 20 hours a day about how "Democracy prevailed"...

[Phud]

It will either be another round of a few getting all the money or having reached rock bottom, they might just start to have a country again which had a surplus of food and crops.

My money of on the first

[sugerbear]

Funny that people talk about tribal voting and enrichment by those in power in Africa but appear to be blind to the parallels in our own country.

One mans "I only vote for my tribe" is anothers "I only vote for the tories/liberals/labour".

I am optimistic. Zanu PF might just lose the next election.

[craigjm]

Was a very successful agricultural lead economy in the past earning lots of foreign currency and then the land grab and redistribution began and the farms went down the toilet because the people given them didnt have a clue. There is the possibility they can turn it around but if the new leader really wants to be seen as the face of change then he needs not to wait until next year for elections but to declare a government of national unity now and have elections within six months. They should also ensure outside monitoring of the elections too so that they are free fair and open. If they can achieve that then the journey can begin.

[Cobnapint]

Where is the farming expertise going to come from for this great recovery? Are they going to reinstate the original white farmers (the ones that are still alive).....no, not going to happen. Mainly because most farms are in ruins and nobody in their right mind would want to come back to them knowing the same machete wielding lynch mobs are probably still living locally.

[craigjm]

Cobnapint said:

Where is the farming expertise going to come from for this great recovery? Are they going to reinstate the original white farmers (the ones that are still alive).....no, not going to happen. Mainly because most farms are in ruins and nobody in their right mind would want to come back to them knowing the same machete wielding lynch mobs are probably still living locally.

Yes indeed and therein lies the problem. The expertise was killed of left the country and the farms went down the toilet as i said. They have a lot of potential but it will take a lot of $$$ and a lot of help. Wont happen overnight either.

[Cobnapint]

If this new bloke announces free and fair elections, the international community won't be able to help themselves. They'll throw millions at him.

He'll take those millions and throw it at the local Mercedes dealership.

[Vaud]

China is the key to driving change in my view.

That said, even with elections, people will probably give him a chance, just because he isn't Mugabe.

[BlackLabel]

I see Morgan Tsvangirai has died - he was a brave man. It's sad that a guy who spent decades fighting against Mugabe dies in his 60s whilst Mugabe is still alive and kicking and enjoying life as a free man despite the crimes he committed against his own people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43066175

[Andy-SP2]

My late wife lived there for many years, after moving to Rhodesia as a young child...

She had an accountancy business in Bulawayo but moved back here around 12 years ago as life was getting pretty scary

[FN2TypeR]

Imagine Morgan Tsvangirai dead in his sixties whilst that old rotter Mugabe lives on in his nineties; no justice.

[james_tigerwoods]

BlackLabel said:

I see Morgan Tsvangirai has died - he was a brave man. It's sad that a guy who spent decades fighting against Mugabe dies in his 60s whilst Mugabe is still alive and kicking and enjoying life as a free man despite the crimes he committed against his own people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43066175

I missed this story - As above, why is it the likes of Mugabe hangs on, although I suspect his regular overseas visits to better equipped hospitals than his own populace has something to do with it...

[Peanut Gallery]

BlackLabel said:

I see Morgan Tsvangirai has died - he was a brave man. It's sad that a guy who spent decades fighting against Mugabe dies in his 60s whilst Mugabe is still alive and kicking and enjoying life as a free man despite the crimes he committed against his own people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43066175

RIP. He is now with his wife who died in a "car crash" a while ago. Brave man to stand up to the ruling party, pity the MDC broke into different parts.

[Earthdweller]

According to Reuters/Fr24

Hundreds arrested in Zimbabwe and at least 68 protesters have been treated in hospital after being shot in protests about rising prices and massive rises in fuel costs

On hospital in Harare reporting 172 injured

Reports of injured people being removed forcibly from hospitals by soldiers and arrests of opposition MP’s and prominent opponents of the govt