SDNR

Here is an article which was printed in the South African newspaper, The Cape Times on July 26 -- it is truly astounding.


My Zim contact explains why fasting is good for the people

Doc Mtusi must be one of the few people who understands Zimbabwe’s economic policy. He knows what’s going on even better than his boss, Finance Minister Samuel Mumbengegwi, who announced in Masvingo (Old Fort Victoria) that there was no need for people to hoard food.

"But if people don’t hoard food, what will they eat when all the shops run empty?" I asked him, after he agreed to be interviewed this week.

"Who says they’ll run empty?" retorted Doc, who made me promise I would report him faithfully.

"Shelves are already empty of basic foodstuffs," I pointed out.

"Then we’ll just order shopkeepers to fill them again," said Doc. "We’ve already jailed quite a few who refused to. It’s simple economics. We will also jail anyone who hoards food, because that is what empties the shelves in the first place."

"Sorry to cross swords with you on this, Doc, but your government is forcing shopkeepers to sell all their existing stocks for less than they paid for them.

How can you expect them to buy in more supplies at the wholesale price if they know that by selling them at the government’s retail rate they’ll make an even bigger loss. It’s a quick way to go bankrupt."

"No one ever said saving Zimbabwe’s economy would be easy," explained Doc. "We all have to make sacrifices."

"My point is you can’t blame shoppers for thinking that, unless they quickly buy up what’s left, there’ll soon be no food to buy," I said. "They are not stupid.They can see that all the shopkeepers will either be bankrupt or in jail."

"And my point is that the unpatriotic hoarding of food gives the impression that we have a problem, which clearly we haven’t, except in the South African media’s mind," said Doc. "I’m surprised Mbeki still lets you write this nonsense. We are relying on Comrade Zuma to make you change your tune, once he takes over."

"But until then, Doc, why have you now even passed a law to stop Zimbabweans importing food from South Africa? If they can’t hoard food, they have to get it from somewhere. Otherwise they’ll starve."

"We don’t call it starving," said Doc, "we call it fasting. Fasting is actually good for you. Lots of famous people have fasted for the benefit of their people. Gandhi, for instance. In our case, the people themselves will be encouraged to fast, thereby strengthening themselves against the onslaught of colonial imperialism."

"I’m sure they really would prefer to eat," I said. "Most people do."

"We have no objection in principle to people eating," conceded Doc. "Those of us in government all eat, but only because persons in our important positions have to. What we must guard against, though, is the belief that ordinary people have the right to break the law if they are hungry."

"That’s how the French Revolution started," I said.

"Thank goodness we won our revolution 27 glorious years ago," declared Doc. "So there’s no need to worry".

The Artist

Wow that dude must be on the very top of mount retarded...
And he is standing there waving a flag, and being proud about it..

SDNR

I have been very interested in what has been happening there for some time -- the world just stands by and watches as a bunch of criminals runs that country into the ground.

South Africa has some serious problems too -- but anyone who comments is immediately accused of racism or imperialism ....especially if they are white.

notic

on one hand he's trying to stop black market premiums (which is a good thing because it can really hurt an economy), but on the other hand he is using heavy government intervention, which has been proven in the past as a failure...it sounds like he's trying to dig his way out of a hole...

SDNR

True, but Zimbabwe no longer has an economy -- it is total chaos ..........can somebody please tell me what the UN is actually for?

The only leaders I have heard make any real criticism of Zimbabwe have been the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth (Don Mckinnon), [former] British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Naturally, they were all immediately accused of being white colonial imperialists. South African leader Thabo Mbeki supports Mugabe. President Bush says nothing of course because white American politicians are terrified of any issue where race is involved.

It's all a hell of a mess really.

Centurion

What a douchebag. There's nothing I hate more than greedy, stupid and ignorant running under-developed countries.

Do I have to mention that I hate Mugabe?

What's going on in SA, all I hear about the it is all the dreamy holidays in Cape Town. Blacks and white still heavily segregated?

SDNR

I have never been to South Africa so I can only go by what I have read and heard ....but things are not good. Sure, the problems caused by Apartheid could never be fixed over night, but the crime is out of control ...and there is a lot of corruption at the highest political level. Millions are infected with HIV and President Mbeki does nothing.

Centurion

Yeah. SA is like a 16 years old egg, beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Unfortunately we in the western world don't get to know much about what's going on over there beside the tourism experience the country offer.

Martinbo lives in SA and I would love from him to jump in to the discussion and give us an insight from the box itself.

SDNR

Yes, it would be great to read comments from Martin and other South Africans.

cawimmer430

Is this dumbass trying to starve his own people or what?

Idiots like this guy need to be put infront of a firing squad, seriously.