Former British Colony on its Knees

In just one generation, the decline of a former economic African powerhouse has been quick and brutal. It is just 28 years since Rhodesia celebrated it's earned and most welcome Independence. It was a time to shake off the shackles of oppression and rise up with the sun in hope of a new era. However, the fatal flaw was the appointment of a leader whose ideology was that of totalitarian governance. Indeed, Britain hailed Mugabe as a 'visionary leader' back then. A vision undoubtedly shared by such company as Pol Pot, Stalin, and Freddy Kruger.

One of Mugabe's first acts as President was his land re-distribution program to give black natives land of their own, taken back from white land owners, although this was just pretence to give his cronies more housing. Since then, Mugabe has given himself more power over the courts so that a true democracy could never justify.

As the country falls to its knees, a rising superpower is using the opportunity to gain allies with a country fast losing its friends... China.

With the rise of the economic superpower that is China it is disheartening to see such a ruthless attitude towards human life. Turning a blind eye to the terror and vicious reign of Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party is spilling blood onto China's hands as well; as if they didn't have enough to concern themselves about.

Since the forming of the China-Africa forum in 2000 trade between China and Africa has exponentially increased with China relying heavily on Africa for it's raw materials (such as oil) particularly in Sudan where China has been heavily criticised for their inaction and general compliance with the Sudanese government, despite the regimes inciting of ferocious violence and mass killings and general lawlessness (in Darfur) that also afflicts Zimbabwe.

China is a major supplier of arms to Africa and despite the recent protest against the arms being delivered to Zimbabwe; they will continue to do so in the future regardless of the marginal stability and democracy. Alas, such ethical concerns are not minded by China, their own ropey approach to ethical dilemmas is concluded with swift and brutal resolutions (See Tibet 2008).

The 77 tonnes of ammunition carried aboard the recent shipment that South African and Mozambique workers refused to unload was declared 'unrelated to recent developments', and 'perfectly normal trade', by Chinese authorities that smacks of blissful ignorance.

Perhaps Mugabe is looking at the troubles in his land from one of his 25 bedrooms in a mansion that the Chinese helped to decorate, by exporting cobalt-blue tiles for his mansions roof as a gift.

It will take outside help, so how about neighboring South Africa? Well, Thabo Mbeki's 'quiet diplomacy' is widely derided. His approach is rational yet his application is lamentable. African problems should be dealt with internally is the philosophy but it's already gone too far and international assistance is vital if not a hammer blow to African pride.

The parliamentary results confirm the Movement for Democratic change have won the election, yet one wonders just how together a unified government would be with Mugabe, whom the opposition said 'would never ever' get into power, in charge.

Along with the state-run media, and just about everything else, the courts, too, are ruled by Mugabe. Indeed, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) challenged the results of the March 2005 election and is to go to the High Court in Zimbabwe, that is to say, the case has yet to commence. One wonders whether the winds of change will ever set gale upon the suffering in Zimbabwe.

Written by Josh McNab