Today's Black Humour

If it weren't so tragic, this post from the ABC would be hilarious. Robert Mugabe urging his supporters to be honest about the economy as if ordinary people had no clue about 100,000 percent inflation?

Let's be honest about economy: Mugabe

Posted 51 minutes ago

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has urged his ruling party to be honest about the dire state of his nation's economy as he prepares to launch his campaign for a sixth term.

"Let's tell people the truth about the economic hardships they are facing," Mr Mugabe said in the southern border town of Beitbridge, where celebrations for his 84th birthday culminated in a campaign launch address.

"The truth about what Government is able to do and what it is not able to. We are going to work hard to address the problem," he said.

His supporters' morale has been dented by a crumbling economy with hyperinflation at a whopping 100,000 per cent in January and chronic shortages of basic commodities.

The ruling party ZANU-PF officially raised 3 trillion Zimbabwean dollars ($US1.2 million) to finance Mr Mugabe's birthday celebrations.

A loaf of bread, when available, costs about 5 million Zimbabwean dollars.

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai launched his election campaign by pledging to revive the country's moribund economy and mend strained relations with the West.

Mr Tsvangirai, who is taking on Mr Mugabe for the presidency in March 29 general polls, also promised a new constitution for Zimbabwe within two years if elected into power.

"We believe the Zimbabwean economy is an enclave economy that is uneven, unequal and virtually dead," Mr Tsvangirai told thousands of supporters gathered at a stadium in the eastern border town of Mutare.

Economic crisis


Zimbabwe is reeling under an economic crisis with annual inflation officially at 100,580 per cent - the highest in the world - and chronic shortages of basic commodities like fuel, cooking oil and sugar.

At least 3 million of its citizens, among them highly skilled professionals, have migrated to neighbouring South Africa, Britain and Australia.

"We are not going to patch up the tattered economy," Mr Tsvangirai said.

"The economy has been destroyed to such an extent that we need to start afresh.

"Zimbabwe is one of the world's great humanitarian crises. We need food, drugs and medical care. The nations of the world are helping but we need more.

"Beyond the humanitarian aid, we need the help of the world to rebuild our economy, but more than anything, we must look after our own."

He said $US10 billion would be required to revive the economy, including resuscitating companies that have folded and establishing a trust fund to woo back professionals who have left the country.

Across the border from Beitbridge, in South African Musina, some 300 Zimbabweans in exile called for "free and fair elections".

"Mugabe is celebrating, across there in Beitbridge", said Reverend Peter Nkululeko, one of the demonstrators.

"Yet ordinary people are suffering. Infrastructures have collapsed, yet he is spending millions for his birthday party".

- AFP

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