I lived in Zambia through the 90's and used to drive to South Africa, via Harare, 5 or 6 times a year. Zimbabwe is a beautiful country, and the people wonderful.
What has happened over recent years is the result of apathy by neighbouring states, particularly South Africa, and a lack of commitment by this country, which is meant to lead the Commonwealth.
Britain, in particular this Government, has abandoned all of the white farmers who have been forcibly evicted from their thriving farms that were funding the Zimbabwean economy.
Why didn't this country stand up and stop this madman? Was it because they were white and it wouldn't be PC to defend them?
That was the thin end of the wedge, and just look at the country now, with 1700% inflation and a population that is starving and being brutalized by a savage ruling Shona government.
Doesn't this ring any bells from recent history?
As Hegel said, "The only thing one learns from history is that nobody learns anything from history."

Lyndon, Brentwood, Essex, England

We in the United States are tired of being blamed for all the ills of the world, and being expected to correct them. We have already created a mess in Iraq; don't expect us to do it again in Zimbabwe. We didn't have any colonial presence in Africa - we just dealt with whoever was in power in those countries.

Quit whining and try fixing your own messes! We're almost broken - economically and militarily!

V. Black, Austin, United States

Given the reports and images emerging from Zimbabwe it is clear that strong and decisive action is neccessary. Any sort of intervention, however well-meaning, from Britain, Europe or North America would be unlikely to gain the backing of many African states. The weight of responsibility therefore lies with those same African states who have, for far too long, watched on and often excused Mugabe's vile tactics in the name of exorscising the ghosts of Africa's Colonial history. Healing the scars created by previous foreign rulers in Africa is a vast and complicated task but Mugabe does not offer any useful solutions; he deepens old wounds and creates new problems.

Tom Richards, Florence,

I was born in what was then Rhodesia and it saddens me to see that such a beautiful country has been left ot rot!!
It was once a british colony that was thriving and when the brits had enough they turned their backs on the country.

Instead fo the world doing something about Maugabe years ago they just chose to ignore the pleas for help and sit back and watch a beutiful country and it's people get destroyed. All because of one demented man!

Yet it was ok for Britan & the US to spend billions going to war and distrupt an entire country all for nothing. But yet they won't intereven wher it's needed. Is that because Zimbabwe has nothing of interest to them...not like a country who has oil!!

Hayley, Romford, Essex, United Kingsom