Zimbabwe Flu, transmitted from wallet to wallet.

[formercia]

Coming to your neighborhood soon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7342774.stm

Page last updated at 10:59 GMT, Saturday, 12 April 2008 11:59 UK

Mugabe's stranglehold on Zimbabwe

As the crisis and uncertainty surrounding Zimbabwe's recent election continues, Richard Downes reflects on his recent month-long visit to the country, where many people are desperate for change.


As I sat in the coffee shop in the airport fiddling with my bill, I reflected on the extraordinary state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

I had just bought two cups of tea and two glasses of water and, reaching into my bag, I took out a massive wad of Zimbabwean dollars.
--snip--

Then I looked at the bill. The charge was Z$204m. That would make a serious dent in my brick of notes.

--snip--

[PDJane]

1. Yes.

I have friends who lived in Zimbabwe. Yes, we have had long discussions about the damages of colonial rule.

We have also had long discussions about Mugabe, and the at least superficial resemblances to other world leaders, living and dead.

This is a very scary man.

[formercia]

2. Mugabe, China and economic implosion

Mugabe's ZANU faction was supported by China and as a reward, Mugabe allowed China to enter the local economy which was then flooded with cheap consumer goods and Chinese merchants displaced the locals in the economy. The resulting outflow of revenue to China is one of the main causes of the collapse of the currency. Combined with bureaucratic incompetence and corruption, it was just a matter of time.

It's very easy to see the similarities in the US economy.

[PDJane]

3. Yes, that too...........

we've discussed that too. However, if the US goes the same route, the consequences for the entire world are terrifying.

[formercia]

4. It's all a mater of scale, bureaucratic and economic inertia

and greed. When the powers that be decide that their own economic well being is paramount and that inertia will keep the system going while they loot the economy, it's a done deal.