As an Ex- Rhodesian I just cant understand all this hand wringing tut tut, isnt it just terrible what Mugabe has done to a once lovely country stuff. We knew what this man was capable of 35 years ago and so did the rest of the world. It pleases me to unimaginable heights when I hear how bad things are under Mugabe's dictatorship. We told you so and now you have got what you deserved, another black utopia.

Graham Oxlade, Sydney, Australia

Hi,
Does anybody knows real exchange rate of ZIM $ against US$ for this moment (today May 28th 2007)?

Kestas, Vilnius, LITHUANIA

Rusununguko, London, UK,

What are you doing preaching about 'Britons' when you yourself are living in the UK?? If we're all as bad and ignorant as you make us out to be, what are you doing here? People do care in the UK but our Political parties have too much control, it;s not just about the vote anymore, because we don't get what we want in the UK, we get what the Government let us have whilst they do whatever they want. They also brainwash most of the UK with state run television into being British and better than everyone else in the world, and more importantly, never wrong. We are not as free as the Government would have us believe.

Darren, Southampton,

I was just in Zim last week. It's worse than people are reporting and there's not a single person to blame except Mugabe. He's ruined the country, he's ruining the people of Zim, and the only reason he is squeezing his grip on the presidential seat is because he KNOWS he'll go to The Hague! Get him out. Now.

M, Mt. Pleasant,

To answer Kishor's question about 15,000% inflation; 15,000% per year equates to 2.67% per day (15000^(1/365)). In other words if something cost you 100 Zim today, you cant even buy a drop of water for 100 Zim these days, it would cost you 102 Zim tomorrow, 120 Zim by the end of the week, 220 Zim by the end of the month, 1070 Zim in three months, and 11,466 Zim in 6 months, and 1,500,000 Zim by the end of the year.

To put this in UK terms it would mean that a 50p loaf of cheap bread today would cost £7,500 by the end of the year.

All this to keep control of power? This goes beyond the realm of criminal into the realm of genocidal. But of course Africa's quiet diplomacy is the muffled whimper of some child starving to death...

Matt, Belfast, N. Ireland

Leave Zimbabwe alone Britons and give them a chance to solve their problems. Britain refused to honour Lancaster House Agreement that gave Zimbabwe Independence when Tony Blair took power in 1997.

Mugabe took the land and Britain should compensate the White Farmers and stop meddling into Zimbabwe political affairs because they will not get any solution as they wish.
If the UK public cares about Zimbabwe they should ask their governemnt to compensate the White Farmers. I thought UK was a civilised nation but I am starting to see their ugly face, the preach human rights to Zimbabwe and then go and murder in Iraq disobeying International Law.
Give Zimbabwe a chance and move on with your UK and stop shedding crocodile tears on your faces.

Rusununguko, London, UK

Mr. Mugabe is either an idiot or just suppressive. "Printing money keeps prices down" does it?? As someonw with a degree, he is not idiot. The only conclusion one can reach that this man is a dangerous psychopath whose sole goal is to repress his people and eventually starve them all.

Guy Zino, Burbank, USA/California

His name is Ian Douglas Smith. The UK government did not favour Mugabe for power, or install him. They were led to believe by Ian Douglas Smith's intelligence services that Bishop Muzorewa would win the democratic election held in 1980. To their surprise, Mugabe won the election. He has never been popular with the UK government. Bono and Bob Geldorf have been some of the most outspoken critics of African leaders; in Geldorf's case he has called officials corrupt to their faces. Bono and Geldorf are perfectly aware of the problem of inhumane behaviour and corruption. The difference between you and them is that you think we should all just wash our hands of Africa, whereas they don't think so.

M Gaylard, Bangkok, Thailand

Hi!

To lump African States in one basket and praise Ian Duncan Smith, wont get you anywhere. Nazi atrocities is not glorious past of Europe neither is the killing fields of Cambodia that of Asia.


But coming to point what is 15000 per cent inflation? If bread is costing say, 100 units of currency today, how much would it cost tomorrow at 15000 per cent inflation?

Kishor, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

White people are treated the same as black people in Zimbabwe. However, Mugabe used the land issue as a weapon to win elections, knowing that they is a wide gap between the blacks and whites. Both white farmers and black farmers had there land taken. James Gough both white farmers and black farmers are still in zimbabwe struggling to earn a leaving. If the people of Zimbabwe (the black citzens) where againest the whites I am certain by now every white person would have left zimbabwe.

William, Dublin,

Quite frankly I couldnt give a dam after the way the white people where and are still treated.They made there bed now let them sleep in it.

James Gough, Dublin, i

Perhaps the European colonial powers were wrong to grant independence to these tribal thugs who now line their pockets at the expense of the poor people in their countries.

Doesn't Mugabe realise that there may be some medical treatment available for his madness. After all syphillis has been a cureable disease for many years.

richard, effingham, uk

A single brick now costs what ten years ago would have bought a mansion. Just like Britain then.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

The UK government were so pleased to get rid of Mr Ian Duncan smith and install Mugabe in charge. when will the Western countries learn that africa is a corrupt hopeless land controlled by inhumane ignorant macho idiots. Bob Geldorf and Bono should get off there soap boxes and open there eyes. Africa is rich in resources but swamped in corrupt africans that have no regard for human rights only there own swiss bank accounts

philip walters, singapore, singapore