Today marks 30 years of independence and as well as 30 years under President Mugabe. The nation which was once an "agricultural powerhouse and educational beacon" is now suffering from "a continuing political stalemate and an impoverished, stagnant economy." Few were actually celebrating Mugabe's years in office, considering many believe the economy's collapse will only end when Mugabe ends...and Mugabe has no intentions of leaving. While it is still an offense of publicly insult the president one man said, "Surely it is time for him to enjoy retirement." However, it appears as though he is already enjoying retirement because while over the last couple of years the economy has suffered from hyperinflation (being forced to shave zeros off of the local unit in order for it to be more manageable), Mugabe has been living the good life off of "profits on lands, business deals and speculative construction, and import and export contracts." Although wanted in International Criminal Court for political violence, vote-rigging and the massacre of 20,000 civilians who led an uprising against him, some say "nothing is going to change for a long time."
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/18/apworld/20100418081255&sec=apworld
Submitted By: Erin Burneson
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