This is redistribution for Zimbabwes elite, not revolution in a ruined nation

[Soph0571]

Zimbabwe has famously abundant natural resources but resuscitating the economy after 20 years of disastrous mismanagement and wholesale looting by corrupt officials is a major undertaking. The banking system needs to be rebooted, faith restored in the national currency and government finances somehow replenished. The vast debts incurred by Mugabe’s regime need to be rescheduled or waived and new funding arranged to rebuild the country’s shattered infrastructure.

Investors have long been interested in Zimbabwe but put off by the significant risk that any funds will be stolen or any successful venture appropriated. Can they now be sure that will not happen? Old habits die hard.

The ruling Zanu-PF party and allies in the military launched their takeover to purge an ambitious faction that threatened their position, not because they wanted to see structural reform that would shut down their own lucrative rackets and rent-seeking.

[link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2017/nov/18/zimbabwe-economy-robert-mugabe-grace|

[DetlefK]

1. Similar to what's happening in China right now.

China is run by competing networks of corrupt politicians and business-leaders. And President Xi Jinping is using his current anti-corruption-policies to get rid of competing networks.

How squeaky-clean is Xi Jinping?
His finances are so clean that Hong Kong bookstore-owners who sell a tell-all book about his finances get kidnapped by the chinese government.