Watch Out

The economic collapse is evident in frequent power cuts and water shortages, in the mountains of uncollected rubbish and the broadening rivers of raw sewage. Crime and corruption have exacerbated a crisis rooted in severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages.

The world has marvelled at pictures of Zimbabweans visiting the supermarket carrying piles and piles of near-worthless notes – images that would be laughable if they did not point to a human tragedy.

For anyone brave enough to speak out as a supporter of Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change since the elections of March 29, violent retribution has been a fact of life. Election workers have been beaten until the flesh has fallen from their bones, made to sing songs in praise of Mr Mugabe at allnight reeducation sessions, or murdered. Hundreds have gone into hiding. Like the millions of Zimbabweans who have fled abroad – to neighbouring countries, to Europe and America – they may start weighing up plans to return home. Most will take their time to assess the political settlement before deciding on their future – to see if the new dawn is a true one.

The new unity government is expected to agree an emergency economic revival programme, and to dispatch Mr Tsvangirai to mobilise vital financial and food aid. Fully a third of Zimbabwe’s 12 million citizens have fled the country. Most of those who remain survive on barely a bowl of sadza – mealie-meal porridge – a day. The most basic services, health, education, transport, have all but collapsed. Zimbabwe now has the lowest life expectancy in the world.

If Mr Mugabe is right, and we should be optimistic, then the only way is up.

The long road

1999 Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) forms as economic woes persist

2000 Zanu (PF) narrowly holds off challenge from MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, in parliamentary elections

2002 Robert Mugabe is reelected as President

2003 Mr Tsvangirai is arrested twice and charged with treason

2004 Mr Tsvangirai cleared

March 2005 Zanu (PF) wins two thirds of the votes in parliamentary elections, which the opposition says were rigged

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