zim flag

Eddie Cross's Website

2024 23 22 21 20 19, 18, 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04-01

Eddie Cross - Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

2008 Articles
25 Dec Kingdom Come
21 Dec Christmas
15 Dec Step Forward
5 Dec Beginning
1 Dec Amendment
30 Nov Facilitation
26 Nov Genocide
24 Nov Running Out
17 Nov Crisis
15 Nov Somalia
12 Nov What Next?
8 Nov Leadership
2 Nov Chipo
1 Nov Rome Burns
29 Oct Failure
25 Oct High Noon
19 Oct Never Easy
10 Oct Abyss
8 Oct Filibustering
4 Oct Chaos in Zim
29 Sept A Mule?
21 Sept On Step
16 Sept The End
12 Sept New Beginning
11 Sept Deal?
6 Sept Consequences
3 Sept Need a Deal
2 Sept Dollar Died
31 Aug Steering
29 Aug Unstuck
23 Aug Betrayed
18 Aug The Devil
13 Aug 13 Aug 08
12 Aug Today
11 Aug Cliffhanger
8 Aug Whats Going On
27 Jul Progress
22 Jul Agree to talk
21 Jul Mbeki kicks
16 Jul Crunch Time
13 Jul Economics
9 Jul Reality Looms
2 Jul Where?
30 Jun Looking Glass
26 Jun Battle
22 Jun What Now?
21 Jun The Commitment
16 Jun Do or Die
13 Jun Morning After
10 Jun Closing Doors
26 May Current Outlook
24 May Fan Club
19 May Tyranny
17 May End Game
15 May Flushing
8 May Violence
6 May Bizarre Process
25 Apr Cornered
20 Apr Electoral Fraud
19 Apr Jesse
17 Apr This Farce
11 Apr The Devil
6 Apr Wounded Buffalo
1 Apr Dying Kick
31 Mar Politcl Tsunami
27 Mar Current Situ.
26 Mar 4 days to go
21 Mar 8 days to go
15 Mar Election Time
27 Feb Games Begin
17 Feb Public Office
11 Feb Choices
4 Feb Decision Time
26 Jan Ambushed
25 Jan The Struggle
20 Jan Truth or Fiction
12 Jan Mugabe Mistake
8 Jan Surprise
2 Jan Kenya Lessons

Articles:-
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004-01

       

Today

The talks broke off yesterday after a tense session at the end of which Morgan Tsvangirai spelt out in clear terms what he was wanting from the talks. All parties are now reviewing their positions and they will come back this afternoon for another session. Mbeki was here originally for two days has now been here for four and this demonstrates the importance he gives to these talks and their consequence for Zimbabwe, South Africa and the region.

This morning my staff told me that the Rand was now trading at Z$90 billion to 1 on the street. Yesterday it was Z$75 billion, a week ago it was Z$25 billion. In my business the average inflation in June was 2,5 million percent - in July it soared to 32 million on average for the month. The news that it might have topped 42 million does not surprise me. How much longer can this go on and why this sudden surge in inflation and the collapse of the currency - we have never seen such conditions.

The State certainly cannot cope with these conditions - they cannot pay their staff and the armed forces. They cannot protect their assets. As this rate the new currency will be worthless in two weeks. Then what do they do?

There is now only one solution to the crisis and that is to do a deal and get international help to sort out the economy. To do that Mugabe and his cronies have to accept that they are no longer in control - power has passed to a new generation of leaders. They can negotiate the best deal for themselves thereafter - but the basics have to be acknowledged and accepted.

If they do not accept this and are not obliged to do so by regional pressure then the consequences for all of us - including those in the regime today, will be dire.

Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 12th August 2008