Ever since "freedom" from their supposed colonial rulers, these two southern African nations have struggled to put together what could resemble a nation that respects life, liberty, property, and Western values that societies are normally built on. In their place we've seen stabs at collectivism, the cult of Marxism-Leninism, and disorder. Looking back at the roots of the movements to oust the Europeans, it is not suprising that they have chosen this path. The African National Congress and its allies in ZANU-PF are avowed Marxist-Leninist parties. They came to be through the powers of the Marxist-Leninist tools of criticism and self-criticism. Criticisms of the British and the dominions of the West have failed to change how we see their wretched society: as a one that truly embodies the worst of civilized beings. This has especially come to be obvious recently. Mugabe has continuously blamed the British for inflationary problems and violence that could only be of the making of him and his ilk. Foolishly, Mandingo and South Africa are attempting to reconcile their leftism with that of the Zimbabweans, who increasingly miss the old days. This has included pathetic attempts at progress as of late by Mandingo:



I think we know how this will play out.

[Edited on June 26, 2008 at 9:36 PM. Reason : ,]

6/26/2008 9:35:25 PM

People die, Mugabe wins power, there will be some protests and maybe a civil war.

It's definitely not a really pretty situation over there. Mugabe is quite the asshole, and his military leadership isn't helping.

6/26/2008 9:39:49 PM

I Wonder How Dense Your Alma Mater Is

6/26/2008 10:40:40 PM

Impressive, like the economy

6/26/2008 10:43:56 PM

So, where's the United Nations--or the European Union, for that matter--on this? Hopelessly "seized" on the matter, no doubt.

6/27/2008 1:07:43 AM

you're a real one-hit wonder, aintcha

OMG THE UN OMG BILL CLINTON OMG BUSH IS GREAT

6/27/2008 1:25:32 AM

^ No. The United States is often accused of acting unilaterally--when it actually wants to act multilaterally. But the UN and the EU are often "seized" on a given matter--the UN is rife with nations that hate America and Europe has a long and well-documented record of inaction.

In any event, not much will be done about Mugabe by anybody--other than words of condemnation. BTW, when did Nelson Mandela change his name to "Mandingo"?

6/27/2008 1:44:22 AM

Most of the Africans I know have all said that things have gotten worse since the Europeans left. It's just a fact based on all the statistical evidence you can dig up too. Certainly the argument that positive of self-governance outweighs the many negatives that have occurred since the decolonization of Africa can be made, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find too many people who agreed with you.

And before you start talking about how colonization was the root of many of these problems please stop and look at what Africa was like prior to the European colonization.

I honestly don't feel bad for the people of Zimbabwe. It's been said that in a democracy you get the leaders you deserve, not necessarily the ones you want.

6/27/2008 2:50:27 AM

Zimbabwe isn't going to have a civil war.

They were a relatively educated country at a time, and that's how strong opposition to this tyranny ever had a chance. But now, we're seeing the closing of a window of self empowerment for the people. In a short amount of time, all relics of prosperity the country has will be expelled from the country, and the entire society will become so anti-education that no chance for reform is possible.

The entire continent is in a similar shape, and to add insult to injury, a huge chunk of Asia will join the ranks of developed nations in a few decades. I really don't have any serious hope for Africa. There are a few things (societal metrics) you need before your people can advance and prosper. The Middle East has a lot of those things, China has almost all of them, but Africa is loosing the few that it ever had to begin with.

6/27/2008 10:31:09 AM