2007 Articles 19 Dec Looking Back 9 Dec Mugabe at Large 5 Dec Pressure Mounts 30 Nov Deceit Deception 28 Nov Making progress? 19 Nov Perspective 18 Nov What happens 11 Nov Developments 7 Nov World Markets 6 Nov Struggle cont d 31 Oct Mugabenomics 29 Oct When will it end? 24 Oct Kevin Wood 18 Oct Economic Collapse 17 Oct Murambatsvina 16 Oct Question of Time 8 Oct Whats ahead? 28 Sept Destruction 28 Sept Public Posturing 27 Sept End of Winter 24 Sept What on Earth? 19 Sept Political Weapon 13 Sept Not Cricket 10 Sept Fighting back 9 Sept Water Crisis 2 Sept Kraals burning 1 Sept Gota Plan 26 Aug Free Markets 24 Aug Eco Fundamentals 23 Aug Done enough? 15 Aug Reality 9 Aug Still up there 6 Aug Crisis deepens 2 Aug Pol Pot 26 Jul Tug of War 20 Jul Closing Down 12 Jul Drifting 10 Jul Why? 7 Jul A warning 5 Jul The Pirates 4 Jul Kleptocracy 26 Jun Economic Lunacy 25 Jun Vasbyte 20 Jun Dawn? 15 Jun Ground Zero 12 Jun Mugabe should.. 10 Jun Sky at night 9 Jun Zanu PF Campaign 7 Jun Pesky Steers 1 Jun Dip Tank 30 May Collapse Looms 27 May May Magic 18 May Real Leadership 12 May Hard Choices 27 Apr Drought 25 Apr Majority Rule 21 Apr How much longer 16 Apr Games begin 8 Apr Nowhere to hide 1 Apr Let Down 28 Mar Crunch time 23 Mar Collapse 21 Mar Emergency 18 Mar Tea Party 17 Mar Aftermath 13 Mar Beaten 9 Mar Winds of Change 28 Feb The Crisis 26 Feb Economy 23 Feb Cyclone 19 Feb Root & Wings 5 Feb Rain 28 Jan My Cell 23 Jan Deserts 22 Jan Political outlook 17 Jan Shame on you! 8 Jan Chicken Treatment 5 Jan Outlook 2007
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The crisis intensifies!
The situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated sharply in the past few
days. The
government has imposed a ban on public meetings, the strikes are
continuing
with the State run hospitals now completely paralysed, Doctors and
Nurses
refuse to go back to work. The Universities are due to open on Monday
but
staff is on strike and there are no signs of compromise. Students plan
to
join the strike on Monday in support of their lecturers and demanding
attention to the stark conditions under which they are living. The ZCTU
has
announced a national strike in a month's time and the State Security
Minister has threatened them with dire action.
Now a form of curfew is being imposed on the high-density townships
across
the country in an effort to bring the situation under control. These
are
clearly signs of panic in the realms of government.
Tomorrow should be the start of a 4-month freeze on prices and wages
-
however I understand the proposal has been abandoned as being simply
unworkable. No statements are forthcoming from the authorities and to
say
the least, there is considerable confusion in business and Union
circles.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank speaks of a 'Social Contract' but
none
exists.
However the most serious indicator of collapse is in the open market
price
of foreign exchange. Driven by the frantic efforts of people to buy
foreign
exchange in any form for a variety of needs from education fees to
water
chemicals for the Cities and those who want to externalize or even
protect
their assets. No one wants to hold local money - and the options are
the
stock market, foreign exchange and assets such as property or simply
business stocks.
Today was no exception - the USD went to 7 500 to 1, the pound to 14
200 to
1 and the Rand was at 1100 or 1200 to 1. These are dramatic
devaluations in
a matter of a few days and importers simply do not know what to sell
their
imported products for when it comes to replacing their stock. Fuel
distributors closed their outlets today while the adjusted to the new
situation. We bought fuel at Z$6 600 and watched as the company
ratcheted up
its price to Z$7 500 while we were present. That seems to be the price
at
the moment. Bakeries are all over the place - most are charging
double the
'controlled' price.
This means a new surge in inflation and it is now clearer than ever
that the
government has lost all semblance of control in the economy. Gold sales
are
declining even more rapidly as mines close down in the face of
unrealistic
prices and exchange rates. Food is now being imported to meet all our
basic
food needs - local stocks are exhausted.
I watched a special programme last night on SABC about the plight of
the
border jumpers. Anyone watching that could not help but be moved by the
plight of the people affected by this crisis in Zimbabwe. To see them
risk
crocodiles, armed gangs, the SA Police and Army and thirst and exposure
to
get away from Zimbabwe and try to make a living, any sort of a living,
in
South Africa was heart wrenching. To hear a white farmer describe
finding a
dead women next to a game fence with a baby that had lived for 3 or 4
days
after the mother had died of exposure, just made me mad with anger at
those
who created and continue to tolerate the actions that have brought this
about.
If someone with power does not do something to get this situation back
under
control, they better prepare for a real flood of refugees into South
Africa - because the situation in Zimbabwe is simply no longer
tenable.
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 28th February 2007
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