Merciless Mugabe

Stealing the spotlight once again, Mr. Mugabe, the dreaded dictator of Zimbabwe is now being pressured by world leaders to step down and finally hand over the gauntlet. Will he do it? Personally, there's a better chance of seeing a cow jump over the moon than Mugabe resigning any time soon. If you look at his ruling record, he's never been one to concede defeat. His so-called "free and fair elections" have continually been questioned by foreign observers. Not surprisingly, since his party, the ZANU-PF goes around the local townships and villages harassing and intimidating (to put it lightly) people who don’t vote for him. Or, because many registered voters (who cast their ballot for Mugabe) are already deceased.

So, for the last three decades under his ruling regime, the African country has plummeted into a hole of economic despair. Since taking power in 1980, inflation has sky rocketed. According to the International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe's inflation rate has been pegged at 150,000 per cent. In light of the economic turmoil, Zimbabwe's unemployment rate has reached 80 per cent. Actually there was even one report stating it had risen to 90 percent!

On top of rising inflation and high unemployment there are also major food shortages throughout the country. Given the dire situation in the country, it would have been a blessing for the opposition to defeat Mugabe in the presidential elections earlier this year. Unfortunately once again, the March elections were flawed. Algthough the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC leader) did win the first round of presidential poll, he lost in the presidential run-off.

Since the elections, there has been an attempt to create a power-sharing agreement between the MDC and the ZANU-PF. Although the agreement has been signed, the two leaders remain deadlocked over the allocation of ministries between their parties, the ZANU-PF and the MDC.

Additionally, Mugabe has come under fire for the growing health crisis sweeping his country. Cholera, a water-borne disease has already claimed the lives of nearly 800 Zimbabweans. According to the World Health Organization, the disease could reach 60,000 if nothing is don’t to halt it. Sadly, many government-run health institutions have been shut down, leaving thousands of patients stranded and without aid. Why have they been shut down? Surprise, surprise, a lack of finances. According to BBC news striking doctors and nurses have refused to return to work until they are paid $2,500 a month.

In response to the current humanitarian crisis, Mugabe argues that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic has been "arrested." What kind of dream world is this guy living in? While Mugabe is arguing the crisis is over, the United Nations is warning him that the epidemic is growing worse. Moreover, South African officials have just declared part of their northernmost province a disaster area because Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak is spreading into their territory.

In any case, whether he acknowledges it or not, he has to face another election in six weeks. With so much international pressure mounting on him to resign, maybe this time he will have mercy on his people, step down, and finally give someone else a chance to save his country.