It is difficult to take seriously a poll of only 1,198 Zimbabweans – about 0.01% of the population – especially when 47% of them said they would not vote or say who they would vote for. So it boiled down to about 370 people who said they’d vote for Mugabe against 210 for Tsvangirai. Not particularly convincing, but the survey appears to have spooked the MDC, vulnerable to charges that its leadership has become too preoccupied with the trappings of power at the expense of the party’s principles.
We at the Vigil sense that cynical changes are taking place. We see people – black and white – returning to Zimbabwe (maybe just on visits) reporting on the big money sloshing about in Harare and talking wide-eyed about the opportunities for wheeler-dealers. There is a feeling that – never mind the people at the bottom of the pile – anyone with any sense should join in the corruption and thieving.
The latest article by the Zimbabwean economist Eric Bloch suggests that there has been no real economic recovery in Zimbabwe and last week’s issue of The Zimbabwean newspaper helps explain what is going on, giving details of Zanu (PF) people who are now buying private planes etc, So it seems that Zimbabwe is becoming a frontier society where the majority live in poverty and the favoured few are astronomically wealthy, acting with impunity in a gangster state and preparing the ground to steal another election.
We will discuss this matter at the Zimbabwe Action Forum after Saturday’s Vigil. Sept 1, 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge).
Post published in: World News