sum1

In Zimbabwe the life expectancy average is about 35 (used to be 60). A third of the population relies on imported food handouts. A separate third has left the country as refugees. 80% are unemployed. There are chronic shortages of medicine, food, fuel, electricity and water. This is the situation of Zimbabwe under the rule of Robert Mugabe.

But it looks like this may change. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has won an election against Mugabe and it looks like Mugabe may be forced from power (after 28 years ruling the country). I am thrilled for the people of Zimbabwe. This is a momentous event. I thought the board should have a thread for it.

migamoo

Not that I don't believe you, but do you have a source?

sum1

Jeez, it's all over the news. It's in the headlines. Which makes it shocking that nobody's talking about it here except that nowadays this board seems to ignore most big news stories.

Here's a source:

Zimbabwe opposition leader: I won - Yahoo! News

And here's trouble starting (I unrealistically hoped this wasn't going to happen):

Zimbabwe: the backlash begins as paramilitaries launch raids - Times Online

I expected Mugabe wouldn't go without trouble but I hoped otherwise.

And here's before that:

Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe is ready for last-ditch fight to hang on to presidency - Times Online

sum1

The opposition party is asking the UN to intervene:

Zimbabwe opposition reluctant on runoff - Yahoo! News

migamoo

I don't see why the current president would want an extension. Yes, the country is pretty much in ruins, but what would an extension do for him?

sum1

He wants to hold onto power.

Trouble is building up in Zimbabwe now.

sunnykerr

Mugabe's really old, too. Probably just wants to die in power. He's already killed most of his opposition.

Mind you, this is good knews. I was always afraid he would leave a huge vaccuum behind him. Not that he's been an effective leader (not lately anyway) by anyone's definition, but you need people who have at least a concept of how to do the job. Preferably not power-hungry despots like Mugabe. But, still, people with know-how. From my limited perspective, it was starting to look like he'd either gotten rid of all of them or threatened the rest into hiding.

This is awesome news for the country. Of course, it's a long road ahead towards recovery.

AmeliaBeck

Wow, from 60 to 35? What time span did it take for this to happen? Like how long has the life expextance been decreasing?

sum1

Now they're dragging people behind trucks to make them vote for Mugabe:

Zimbabwe: they dragged me behind a truck to make me vote for Mugabe - Times Online

McGrawchick

Wow, I am SO thankful I wasn't born there.... my goodness. maybe my problems aren't that bad after all.

sum1

I hope the people of Zimbabwe don't have to pay too high a price before Mugabe can be unseated. It's very worrying the way things are developing.

An opposition activist has been killed by Mugabe supporters:

Zimbabwe opposition activist 'killed by Mugabe supporter' - Times Online

Also, a teacher who was an opposition supporter has been beaten to death. People are being tortured and beaten. A guy was beaten, robbed and sexually abused for having an opposition t-shirt:

Victims tell of torture and murder in Robert Mugabe's 'disloyal' strongholds - Times Online

sum1

There is a campaign of terror against opposition supporters. They're being beaten and driven out of their homes:

Voters flee Zimbabwe’s state terror - Times Online

China has shipped arms to Zimbabwe, arms which I think might be used against the people of Zimbabwe in Mugabe's attempts to supress them. China has long been an ally of Mugabe.

Leaders from Malawi, Botswana and Zambia are saying Mugabe has to go.

sunnykerr

I wouldn't be too shocked if the numbers started decreasing right after Mugabe decided he wanted to be in power. But, at this point, that's just conjecture on my part.

The point is, though, when you have a man in power who will literally kill any opposition... that would tend to reduce the life expectancy, no?

sum1

An opposition leader has called for the UN security council to appoint a special envoy to Zimbabwe. The council didn't do anything. The US, France and Britain back sending an envoy. Russia, China and South Africa oppose any action being taken.

sunnykerr

Well, to be fair, people have been trying to raise the alarm about Mugabe for twenty years now.

If anything, the fact that there's an election he might NOT be winning would probably indicate to the global community that things are changing positively in Zimbabwe without their involvement.

Also, the global community (by which I mean the UN, NATO and whatever other global organizations have actual troop command) has never given much of a darn as to what happens in Africa.