NationStates Jolt Archive

Looks like the end isn't far away. Zimbabwe has resorted to demobilising its army because it lacks the resources to feed them:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4321778.stm

Even North Korea has not reached anywhere near this state of dysfunction, in spite of all America's hopes for revolution there.

It looks like a coup and a period of psychotic violence is getting closer. They're basically where Russia was in 1917. What do you guys think? Next year, will we see Mugabe claiming asylum in South Africa, or strung up from a lamp-post with this severed ----- in his mouth and his --- in tatters?

That's amusing. Here's hoping they overthrow Mugabe soon.

Looks like the end isn't far away. Zimbabwe has resorted to demobilising its army because it lacks the resources to feed them:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4321778.stm

Even North Korea has not reached anywhere near this state of dysfunction, in spite of all America's hopes for revolution there.

It looks like a coup and a period of psychotic violence is getting closer. They're basically where Russia was in 1917. What do you guys think? Next year, will we see Mugabe claiming asylum in South Africa, or strung up from a lamp-post with this severed ----- in his mouth and his --- in tatters?

Hopefully, they'll just wipe out Mugabe and his cronies for us. You don't feed the army - they'll feed you with lead.

It looks like a coup and a period of psychotic violence is getting closer. They're basically where Russia was in 1917. What do you guys think? Next year, will we see Mugabe claiming asylum in South Africa, or strung up from a lamp-post with this severed ----- in his mouth and his --- in tatters?
We can only live in hope. And it's better than he deserves.

That's amusing. Here's hoping they overthrow Mugabe soon.

Same here. The real question is who's going to replace him? A Pro -democracy advocate? Or a high ranking general?

Same here. The real question is who's going to replace him? A Pro -democracy advocate? Or a high ranking general?
It's hard to say, but the cynic in me is afraid it'll be someone even more dictatorial than Mugabe.

1. Angry demobilized soldiers take their weapons home and form numerous, random militias.
2. Massive civil war with multiple sides
3. Complete anarchy ensues - millions die, making the occupation of Iraq look like a children's bedtime story.
4. Side effect: Mugabe dies in some interesting way, at the hands of irate former followers.
5. The UN sits on the sideline and watches, either by doing nothing, or deploying "peacekeeping" troops who fund, feed, or allow one or more parties to keep on killing.
6. We watch it all on TV and the Internet.
7. People who believe in the UN wring their hands and say, "Why doesn't the US do something?"

Hey, the people of Zimbabwe are only engaged in "self-determination". Even if that means they're doing the most stupid thing they can think of.

Heck, even if the crimi is replaced with a freedom loving individual who has the right people working with him/her, fat chance of that happening but one can always hope, even then Zimbabwe is in for a rough ride with a long road to recovery ahead.

I guess it'll be more of the same if Mugabe is outed.

The funny thing is that just a short while ago, the Zimbabwe government boasted that they have enough food for everyone:

http://www.zimbabweherald.com/index.php?id=46824&pubdate=2005-09-12

ZIMBABWE has enough food reserves to feed the whole nation and no one will starve as the Government continues to import more maize from South Africa and other countries to boost grain reserves, the National Taskforce on Grain said yesterday.

The Chairman of the National Taskforce on Grain, Cde Didymus Mutasa and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Joseph Made, who is also a member of the same Taskforce, said allegations that the country was now left with only three weeks of maize were baseless as the Government continued to import more maize from South Africa to feed the people.

Their comments come in the wake of reports by the Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Simon Pazvakavambwa, who said the country was now left with three weeks of food.

It makes to me so sad when i read things like this, i was born there and most of my family still live there. i hope morgan tsvangerayi (leader of MDC)takes over soon, before he dies 'accidentaly'. It was such a great place, its sad to see it destroyed because one man wont die

1. Angry demobilized soldiers take their weapons home and form numerous, random militias.
2. Massive civil war with multiple sides
3. Complete anarchy ensues - millions die, making the occupation of Iraq look like a children's bedtime story.
4. Side effect: Mugabe dies in some interesting way, at the hands of irate former followers.
5. The UN sits on the sideline and watches, either by doing nothing, or deploying "peacekeeping" troops who fund, feed, or allow one or more parties to keep on killing.
6. We watch it all on TV and the Internet.
7. People who believe in the UN wring their hands and say, "Why doesn't the US do something?"

Hey, the people of Zimbabwe are only engaged in "self-determination". Even if that means they're doing the most stupid thing they can think of.

...Or..... not.

As a former colony of Britain, they'll be the first to wade in. The above scenario is unlikely, particularly since there are really only two sides: MDC and Zanu-PF supporters, and also because the majority of the pop are so pissed at Mugabe that they'll do it themselves without outside interference, especially now that the army would be out of the way.

And dont worry about the US involving itself ;), it doesn't seem to care to much about troubling itself with Africa... after all, there are no resources to attract them to the Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe.. ;)

And dont worry about the US involving itself ;), it doesn't seem to care to much about troubling itself with Africa... after all, there are no resources to attract them to the Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe.. ;)

so true lol

It makes to me so sad when i read things like this, i was born there and most of my family still live there. i hope morgan tsvangerayi (leader of MDC)takes over soon, before he dies 'accidentaly'. It was such a great place, its sad to see it destroyed because one man wont die

I believe it's time for Zimbabwe to formally hand over control to Tatenda Taibu.

Hmm. A pathetic cricket team and perhaps a civil war on the cards.
Anyway, more seriously.. My maths teacher is from there. She had to leave early at the end of last term to go and see if her family was safe. Was actually quite sad.

I believe it's time for Zimbabwe to formally hand over control to Tatenda Taibu.
Lol. Brilliant. The big man.

I don't think that anyone could be as bad for a region as Mugabe, whether more or less dictatorial, it's his utterly hare-brained ideas that are more scary like flooding half the country to make it an island. The man's not just a nasty tin pot dictator, he's a nutter.

As for intervention, the US won't care as pointed out above, but with such pitiful military forces that's not an issue. Britain has quite a good record of not officially doing much in Africa but sort of getting things done in covert ways (and not blowing up an entire country). Though it tends to be a bit of a biased process dependent on who we think is best it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

:mp5:

lol about the cricket

You don't feed the army - they'll feed you with lead.


If they can afford the bullets.


And dont worry about the US involving itself , it doesn't seem to care to much about troubling itself with Africa... after all, there are no resources to attract them to the Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe..


Very true. That and they got their noses bloodied, and their arses kicked in Somalia.


It's hard to say, but the cynic in me is afraid it'll be someone even more dictatorial than Mugabe.


It would'nt surprise me. Watch out for the military, or that man who was one of Mugabe's cronies but went on to stand as an independent, or even Morgan himself.

It just would not surprise me, sadly.

That's amusing. Here's hoping they overthrow Mugabe soon.

Lets just hope Mugabe dies (he is in his 80s) and the government come to its senses. That is not likely to happen though and I am expecting the worst.

...Or..... not.

As a former colony of Britain, they'll be the first to wade in. The above scenario is unlikely, particularly since there are really only two sides: MDC and Zanu-PF supporters, and also because the majority of the pop are so pissed at Mugabe that they'll do it themselves without outside interference, especially now that the army would be out of the way.

And dont worry about the US involving itself ;), it doesn't seem to care to much about troubling itself with Africa... after all, there are no resources to attract them to the Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe.. ;)

As I recall, it was the former European powers that were responsible for the colonialization, and for drawing arbitrary lines on the map in Africa.

The best you can do is blame the US for Liberia, and after a fashion, for interfering in Angola and Somalia. The rest is Europe's problem - that is, if they bother to intervene at all.

If you consider that Vietnam was a failed US attempt to clean up after the French, and the whole Middle East a failing US attempt to clean up after the UK map drawing exercise from so many years ago, maybe we're still cleaning up Europe's messes.

If you consider that Vietnam was a failed US attempt to clean up after the French, and the whole Middle East a failing US attempt to clean up after the UK map drawing exercise from so many years ago, maybe we're still cleaning up Europe's messes.
Yeah, but are you complaining? We've had our time at the trough and plundered them for all they're worth, now you've got your turn. It's retired gangster and upstart, my friend. :p

As I recall, it was the former European powers that were responsible for the colonialization, and for drawing arbitrary lines on the map in Africa.

The best you can do is blame the US for Liberia, and after a fashion, for interfering in Angola and Somalia. The rest is Europe's problem - that is, if they bother to intervene at all.

If you consider that Vietnam was a failed US attempt to clean up after the French, and the whole Middle East a failing US attempt to clean up after the UK map drawing exercise from so many years ago, maybe we're still cleaning up Europe's messes.

Yeah, and i'm not disageeing with you. Britain, France, and to a lesser extent Portugal, Germany and Belguim carved up Africa. And odds are if anyone IS to go in, it would be the former colonial powers.

Again, the US wouldnt bother going into Africa... because they get no benefit from going in.. only getting their asses handed to them by a couple of warlords like last time ;)

Your cleaning up your own messes- Europe never asked you to wade into Vietnam or the Middle East. Your own fault.

Yeah, and i'm not disageeing with you. Britain, France, and to a lesser extent Portugal, Germany and Belguim carved up Africa.



Germany carved up africa? When was this?



Afrikaans for all i know is derived more from dutch than german

Germany carved up africa? When was this?



Afrikaans for all i know is derived more from dutch than german

http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron//Africa/BerlinConf.CP.html

The Berlin Act was an important change in international affairs. It created the rules for ?effective occupation? of conquered lands, ensuring that the division of Africa would take place without war among the European powers. Through the Berlin Act, the European powers justified dividing a continent among themselves without considering the desires of the indigenous peoples. While this appears extremely arrogant to us now, it seemed to them to be the obvious extension of their imperialism. The Berlin Conference is one of the most clear examples of the assumptions and preconceptions of this era, and its effects on Africa can still be seen today. The arbitrary boundaries the Europeans imposed often divided an ethnic group and also brought enemies under the same government causing strife that still exists today.

Even North Korea has not reached anywhere near this state of dysfunction, in spite of all America's hopes for revolution there.

Yes it has. In fact, it is worse. There are, of course, gigantic famines that can kill millions at a time, but there's also a problem in feeding soldiers. The best fed troops in the army, for example, are border sentries. Their rations include a bowl of rice, a cup of seaweed soup, and occaisonally a little something extra. That's among the best fed troops in the military.
The key difference between Zimbabwe's and North Korea's situation is that North Korea has millions of fanatical supporters that elevate Kim Jong-Il to godlike status. One can go to jail just for sitting on Kim's image on a newspaper (which he is on every day). Zimbabwe, on the other hand, is led by a dictator that does not command thhat type of loyalty, but rather, claws his way to the top. There's even a formal opposition party in Zimbabwe, even if the elections are rigged.
I can't say if the Zimbabwe regime will survive. Maybe this is Robert Mugabe's cue to take desperate measures with purges, outlawing dissent, and becoming an overall totalitarian dictator. It remains to be seen.

Germany carved up africa? When was this?



Afrikaans for all i know is derived more from dutch than german

Namibia, Tanzania... Bismarck didn't like the idea of colonies so he restricted it to only a few.

Belgium had the Congo, Portugal had Angola and one other place i think.

Hence me saying "to a lesser extent" ok?

Belgium had the Congo, Portugal had Angola and one other place i think.

Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

Ah thats them. Cheers! :)