Venezuelans should take a good look at Zimbabwe.

Tom Jones, Whitehall, U.S.A.

In the 17 and 18 hundreds, "white anglos" began to show interest in Africa and its minerals, airable farm land, etc. The local inhabitants were nothing more than tribes of people that warred between themselves to take what others had that they wanted. It was not uncommon for one village to attack another village, take the women as slaves and kill the males of that village. We used to call these kinds of people "savages". As the white anglos began to hav emore influence in this country and began to develop it for its various resources, the indigenous people began to see that there was more to being successful than attacking other villages. The white anglos set up government and the rest is history. Come forth the Nelson Mandelas of the 20th century claiming that what the white anglos created should belong to the indigenous people and racism becomes the watchword of the day. Ultimately, Africa gets turned over to the indigenous folks and look at what is now left of the country.

w. Conda, Tucson, Arizona - USA

Comes now the question: Was this country better off under white rule than under this socialist/marxist clown. I know, I know, being subjected to rule under another race (white over black) is wrong but is it any worse than being subjectged to a black over black dictatorship. Ås usual the silence of the blacks in the US is deafening. Çertainly don't want to criticize a brother from the mother-country do we.

ron stone, nashville, TN, usa

Everything happening in Zimbabwe was predicted back in 1999 and 2000 when the "white" commercial farmers and their workers had their "human" rights abused. Where was all this fuss then? Oh that's right "white colonialist" don't count much less have human rights.

This is just Karma.

You will always reap what you sow. If you don't sow you don't reap.

It's Animal Farm all over again. Chicken and the wheat. Ant and the Grasshopper etc etc etc......

Barbara, Cleveland, USA

Socialism ALWAYS fails. This is another glittering example of that axiom. Socialism run by crooks (apologies for redunduncy), simply fails faster. In Zimbabwe, Atlas has shrugged. This is every country's eventual future unless they turn away from socialism.

DRC, Dallas, Texas

There needs to be an old dictator' home, somewhere like Paris, when he can retire with a billion dollars and be protected as long as he leaves his country alone. Mugabi drove off the farm management. Farms require management.

Walter E. Wallis, Palo Alto, Ca

About Steve from Portland: Why should Steve give a rats patooty? "Would you care to reinforce a few more stereotypes for us? " is the common attitude of the european liberals. America has been far more accepting of other people than anyone else in the world, and what has it gotten us? Stabbed in the back by our so-called friends. You people are a bunch of small minded anti American bigots. England has been the catalyst for the biggist majority of strife throughout the world. How many of these hot spots are former British colonies? Yet you have the audacity to blame America for the worlds ills. ZANU-PF is the delinquent bastard stepchild of British colonialism.....not America's.

Tim Rafferty, Crane, USA

US and UK stopped buying farms for Zimbabwe redistribution, when Mugabe gave them to his crnies or kept them for themselves. Shame on them.

Ben Porter, Woodbridge, usa

I remember well the conversations that were held on the nyc black radio stations several years ago when Mr Mugabe began throwing white farmers off their land.Hailed as a great victory for the black man in africa,this "land reform"was to be the backbone of a new Zimbabawe.Clearly Mr Mugabe has proved once again that he and his army are muderers,thieves and mindless miscreants,who line thier own pockets while the masses starve and are murdered.All too typical for that part of the world.

usa, shirley ny, usa

I think that Rusunguko, London, UK is way off. Mugabe has brought that country to ruin. When he took over what once was the nation of Rhodesia, it was a oasis is a desert of sorts.
The economy was most agricultural based, and not only did it produce enough food for itself. But also to export to neighbouring African country's as well!
But now with the white farmers driven off of their lands? The country has sunk into even lower debts of despair, and it all started down hill the day he took office.
How can this person even try to blame others when it is Mugabe who is to blame and nobody else?

james sullivan, Indianapolis, Ind/USA

If the people of Great Britain really care about the plight of Zimbabweans, they should ask their government to honour the Lancaster House Agreement that gave Zimbabwe Independent. Tony Blair refused to honour the obligations like compensating the White Farmers for their Land that was redistributed to Landless Black Zimbabwe.

Truly speaking Mugabe has support of the majority of Zimbabweans more than 65 % of the people who reside in rural Zimbabwe, of course the opposition has support in Town and Cities but they have no mandate to rule Zimbabwe.

I disagree with people who put all the blame on Mugabe because the Zimbabwean economy is controlled (more than 60 %) is controlled by foreigners and they have the power to increase the prices of goods any time without any problem.

Rusunguko, London, UK

How true.

Joe Hooker, Milton Keynes, UK

Shame on you Steve of Portland, OR!! The fingers of your hand all look different, but they are all fingers of Y-O-U-R hand (the metaphor in this case is the members of the human race. If a single finger is damaged, the functioning of the entire hand is jeopardised - leave aside any moral and/or ethical questions which might trouble (some of) us....

David, Ljubljana, Slovenia

It is inexplicable why the South African Government together with the rest of the world lets this destruction of a once vibrant country continue on unabated, the world powers including the UK have endless different racial standards by which they judge the situation. I would suggest that had this been an Ian Smith much more would have been done by now! The repercussions for South Africa are imense. There is already a huge flow of refugees and illegal migrants from Zimbabwe into the country. Where does everyone think these soldiers will go once they can no longer survive in Zimbabwe. They will in all liklihood end up adding to the already high crime levels in South Africa.

Andrew, South Africa,

As an ex-Rhodesian and short term Zimbabwean, I don't think Mugabe is too bad. Some cultures respond better to a dictator. Certainly Iraq is crying out for another dictator. An essential type of leader sometimes, as people keep putting them in place.

Nick Hardie, London,

Sadly, even when Mugabe is overthrown, Zimbabwe is likely to be cursed with a mere run-of-the-mill dictator like virtually all the rest of Africa.

R M, London, UK

Steve from Portland,

How typical is your response.....unfortunaltely a result of highly ineffective education......planet Earth consist of the US and the US alone.......

Maybe you should open your eyes and look beyond the borders of the US...amazing what you will dicover

Eric, Seattle, WA

The comment of Steve of Oregon reminds me of Scrooge's famous " humbug" in the Christmas Carol. Both remarks reveal inhumanity and stupidity. Perhaps the gentleman from Oregon has the same attitude about Iraq and other international issues. He had better stick to the really important matters of gazing at his navel and repeating ad nauseum how "great" the USA is.

anthony radbill, antwerp, belgium

Why are the powerful nations of the world look on
while this insane tyrant goes on killing
his people directly and indirectly.
There are lots of talk of human rights in
the west, what about the human rights
of Zimbabwians, these people deserve
the right to survive.

GS, London, UK

Steve from Portland, Or - please don't tell me that you really don't care about what is happening outside of the US? Would you care to reinforce a few more stereotypes for us?

The poor people of Zimbabwe had no choice (of late) when re-electing their disgraceful, hated leader - what is your excuse for Dubbleya?

Will, London, UK

The Armies of the left were strident in the latter part of the twentieth Century in their condemnation of Aparthied and "White" Africa. Today they espose "Colonialism" with a degree of truth as being responsible for Africa's woes. We send fleets of idealistic youths in white landrovers filled with dollars to ease our conscience. We save Africa every year with appeals and concerts.
We can't save Africa or Zimbabwe with coins from our purses.
Only the Africans can save Africa and just like Britain this includes all colours not just Blacks.

David Edwards, Berrow, UK

So What! Couldn't care less!

Steve, PORTLAND, Or

Let's hope this will lead to a complete breakdown of the Mugabe regime and a restoration, eventually, of a democratic Zimbabwe.

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK

As sad as it is for those who may yet suffer, hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Robert Mugabe.

Duncald, Melbourne, Australia