This is the same old story. The "means of production" should be in the hands of the workers. Different industries in different countries, but the same thing.

There are no "decent countries" around Zimbabwe. The only one which is in any position to do anything is South Africa (all the rest are economic basket cases), and Thabo Mbeki is one of Mugabe's most loyal supporters -- how else do you think Mugabe has lasted as long as he has?

I have long thought that the reason Western countries are leary of doing something constructive about the basket case regimes in Africa is the fear of being labeled racist.

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"There are no "decent countries" around Zimbabwe. The only one which is in any position to do anything is South Africa (all the rest are economic basket cases)"

Since when has Botswana been a "basket case"?

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"There are no "decent countries" around Zimbabwe. The only one which is in any position to do anything is South Africa (all the rest are economic basket cases), and Thabo Mbeki is one of Mugabe's most loyal supporters -- how else do you think Mugabe has lasted as long as he has?"

I think your old habits are showing through there ...

Botawana is a "basket case" eh?

Yup - as an evil, advantaged white guy, you can't
go around criticizing dictators-of-color, much less
advocating their removal by the people-of-color they are busily looting, killing, and generally oppressing. To do so would be racist! After all, you're own soul is far from pure...

The dictators-of-color get bonus points if they are
anti-American - as are almost all dictators nowadays.

Even better if they are bearded and look good in
forest-green or olive-drab, and got their start in life
by being a brigand of one form or another.

If you're a garden-variety dictator-of-color, a way
to start is to make some mouthings about "peace",
invite Hollywood types to occasional soirees in your,
er, "your people's" palaces, and make sure that the
French get their payoffs. This way, you'll doubtless be chairing the UN committees that otherwise may
publish unpleasant reports on your enemies.

--Foobarista

I'm sorry -- perhaps I should have specified what I meant by "basket case", lest I [shudder] be called a racist by the Foolish Liberal Set and Professional African Apologists.

Let's see... where to start, where to start?

Botswana:
-------------
Adult AIDS infection rate: 38.8%
Life expectancy: 30.76 years
Population below the poverty line: 47%
Unemployment: 40%
GDP per capita: $8,800 (cf. Mexico $9,000, Croatia $8,500)

-- and this is high only because Botswana has almost no population and huge mineral resources.

Granted, Botswana has a fine democracy (for many years, it was the ONLY true democracy on the African continent), but the plain fact is they cannot "help" Zimbabwe in any significant manner.

Personally, I love Botswana. I've been there many times, and it's one of the more beautiful countries on Earth (if you like savage semi-desert and stark bushveldt). But powerhouse, it ain't.

One last thing, for the name-callers.

My standard question for these people is quite simple:

Where were you in August 1979?

I was in a South African jail because of my public and vocal opposition to apartheid.

When I write about the sink-hole which is Africa, it would be a grave mistake to write me off as just another White racist.

My family has lived in Africa since 1692; I was born there and lived there for thirty years. Africans are my people.

That doesn't mean I can't look on their works, ye High and Mighty, and despair.

Sorry,small typo in the above.

I was jailed in August 1972.

Sure, Botswana and others can "do" very little, but the very fact that they might finally come out and speak against Mugabe is very useful. It allows the views of the "white" west to gain more credance in the discussions. As of now, Mugabe is beleived when he says it is the old colonialists.

As an aside, we took our vacation there in March, South Africa would not give us visas. Things are as bad as the news reports show them. Worse actually, the food situation is dire.