Zimbabwe on its death throes

Unnerves one to go through these horrendous facts on Zimbabwe. Not a single point in it is positive. Most galling to read is that bit on Mugabe's mansions!

1. Located 16 km north of Harare, Mugabe’s 25 en suite bedroom mansion is the size of a medium-sized hotel.

2. Building the mansion has cost in excess of US$ 26 million in a country where most people earn less than the equivalent of eleven dollars a month.

3. More than 2 000 bags of cement meant for the victims of Operation Murambatsvina were diverted to ongoing building operations at the Mugabe mansion.

4. This is the third luxury residence that Mugabe has built and the fifth he has owned since he came to power.

5. In 2003, Mugabe and his wife Grace also took over the magnificent Iron Mask farm in the Mazowe area from elderly white commercial farmers. The owners were given 48 hours to leave the property after a visit by Grace Mugabe, accompanied by police, soldiers and youth militia.

Zimbabwe hurtling down towards total economic collapse

Phew! Its a wonder that people are still living in Zimbabwe. Official inflation rate is 4500% and there is 80% unemployment. The stores are empty and people just cannot afford even the minimum healthcare.There is a tsunami of refugees entering South Africa from here. The latest news from the economically beleaguered country is the minting of the new 200,000 Zim dollar which can buy only one kilogram of sugar!
Meanwhile, President Mugabe is still sitting unperturbed with his highfalutin claims that other countries (who are only trying to help) are intefering in his country's affairs.

Zimbabwe's Economic Collapse

Zimbabwe’s inflation is already 4,530% - the highest rate in the world. As if this is not shocking enough, it is predicted that it could reach 1,500,000% by the end of the year. Is this for real ? What an astounding figure! The country is battling its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1980, with unemployment estimated at 70%. It is slated for collapse in 6 months.
Business quotes were now valid for just one day or even an hour,according to financial consultants
Individuals are only allowed to withdraw one and a half million dollars at a time from the bank - even if they have just deposited a hundred times that amount the same day. The bank charges a 'handling fee' for the withdrawal of amounts of one and a half million dollars or less but you can cannot withdraw more without applying for permission from the Reserve Bank in Harare.
You have to stand in a queue in the bank for four days in a row - each day drawing out the maximum amount, each day paying the 'handling fee," in order to purchase one tank of fuel for your car . Three days of maximum withdrawals will give you enough for one filling at the dentist. By the time you've got enough money together, the prices will have gone up again.
Read more such heartrending stories by Cathy Buckle the author of 'African Tears'.