Mugabe Celebrates 83rd Birthday
The economic crisis in Zimbabwe continues to deepen
Zimbabwe appears to be on verge of implosion. While the president reaffirmed his grip on the country, the IMF maintained its suspension of aid to the impoverished nation.
On February 21, Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, turned 83 years old. Unemployment in Zimbabwe is at 80%, inflation has reached a world record of 1,600% and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts it will hit 4,000% by the end of the year. There are acute shortages of food and fuel shortages and a lack of foreign currency but Mugabe still went ahead with his lavish £1 million birthday party.
In a recent one-hour televised speech to the nation, Mugabe brazenly reminded his populace that he could extend his rule and mocked opposition members he thought might be interested in pursuing the daunting task of leading the imploding nation. "Can you see any vacancies?" he asked. "The door is closed." Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for 27 years.
On February 23, the IMF announced its continued financial and technical sanctions against Zimbabwe because the government had failed to address the country's deepening economic crisis. Zimbabwe's state-run media, however, lauded their president days before, praising him as "an unparalleled visionary" and "an international hero among the oppressed and the poor."
Dissent in the ranks
Widespread desertion in the military and police forces have been reported because officers do no earn enough money to feed their families. In early February, Bill Saidi, an editor for Zimbabwe's only remaining independent newspaper, received a bullet in the mail after the paper published a cartoon depicting three baboons laughing over a military paycheque.
An estimated 2 million Zimbabweans have fled into South Africa and for the disgruntled many who remain behind, there will be no public protests. To celebrate Mugabe's birthday, police issued a three-month ban on public gatherings in areas known for their opposition and on February 18, police sent a strong message by arresting and beating up supporters of the opposition party. They cited looting and vandalism as the reason for the latest crackdown.
