| Quote: |
Zimbabwe will grab foreign firms
Sydney Morning Herald
September 27, 2007 - 3:01PM
Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a bill giving local owners majority control of foreign-owned companies including mines and banks, threatening to drive the fragile economy deeper into crisis.
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, which enjoys a majority in parliament, pushed through the legislation today after members of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) walked out in protest.
Mugabe's government - which critics accuse of plunging Zimbabwe into turmoil by seizing white-owned farms and handing them to inexperienced black farmers - says the bill is part of its drive to empower the country's poor majority.
"We cannot continue to have a skewed economic environment where our people are not able to fully participate," Paul Mangwana, the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister told parliament during the debate.
Analysts fear the move could sound the death knell for an economy in recession and which has been hit by foreign investor flight over fears about the security of their investment.
Zimbabwe is grappling with the world's highest inflation rate of more than 6,600 per cent, shortages of foreign exchange, fuel and food and rocketing unemployment that has left many people unable to buy even basic foodstuffs. |
Link to the full article.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/zimbabwe-will-grab-foreign-firms/2007/09/27/1190486463175.html
What is wrong with this picture?
I just don't get it.
They threw out the white government around thirty years ago.
The economy collapsed.
Then they gave the white farmers farms to the locals.
The economy collapsed more.
Now they are stealing the assets of foreign companies and giving them to the locals.
The final collapse.
I knew a guy 20 years ago who fled Zimbabwe because he couldn't even buy tyres for his car in the country. He had to drive to South Africa to buy them.
He was an engineer with the national airline. A very intelligent and educated person.
He took his wife and children to Australia over 20 years ago.
What amazes me is that after 30 years or more of self rule the Zimbabwe government still seems to think that all their economic problems are because of the whites in the country.
When it was called Rhodesia it was one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, under white rule.
Since then everyone has either fled or is starving.
What the **** is going on? Does the Zimbabwe government hate it's own people?the situation is like that in most of africa... its a few ppl trying to control 90% of the wealth of the nation.
Africa is one of the continents in which I support a US force or an International one to invade nations, setup democracies and then leave (i.e. like what USA says she is trying to do in the MidEast).
The problem with MidEast is taht they will be more successful if they are left alone. Look at Iran for instance, USA and the West even forbade selling passenger aeroplane parts to the country and place huge sanctions since 1979. Now Iran is one of the greatest powers in the MidEast, it makes it owns cars, its militarilry strong (for a MidEast nation), its economy is growing year on year despite US sanctions, it has control of 50% of North Sea reserves in Eruope (i think it does anyways 
).. its is developing nuclear power, it has more freedoms that any other midEastern nation, it has a Jewish MP, and much much more.
Africa on the otherhand, is like the forgotten continent. America thinks the costs does not justify the means. But where hearts and minds are concerned, it certainly will... esp. the huge Afro-Carribean nationals it has in her own country. I think something like 10% of the country is black (double check this figure). Africa is the richest continent in terms of national resources, but then again look at Sierra Leone after discovery of diamonds.
Basically,, most of Africa needs international help. But the world doesnt care about Africa which is a real shame!!!
Perhaps the chinese do care, with recent investments,, but i dunno. Look at what the million % rate of inflation has done to Zimbabwe:
http://humorland.wordmess.net/20081025/what-the-real-crisis-is-like/
Apparently the Zimbabwe government decided to cut out a few zeros at the end of the number in order to counter the inflation.. No prizes for guessing that the numbers are starting to get added slowly but surely back into the original levels! | ThePolemistis wrote: |
the situation is like that in most of africa... its a few ppl trying to control 90% of the wealth of the nation.
Africa is one of the continents in which I support a US force or an International one to invade nations, setup democracies and then leave (i.e. like what USA says she is trying to do in the MidEast).
The problem with MidEast is taht they will be more successful if they are left alone. Look at Iran for instance, USA and the West even forbade selling passenger aeroplane parts to the country and place huge sanctions since 1979. Now Iran is one of the greatest powers in the MidEast, it makes it owns cars, its militarilry strong (for a MidEast nation), its economy is growing year on year despite US sanctions, it has control of 50% of North Sea reserves in Eruope (i think it does anyways ).. its is developing nuclear power, it has more freedoms that any other midEastern nation, it has a Jewish MP, and much much more.
Africa on the otherhand, is like the forgotten continent. America thinks the costs does not justify the means. But where hearts and minds are concerned, it certainly will... esp. the huge Afro-Carribean nationals it has in her own country. I think something like 10% of the country is black (double check this figure). Africa is the richest continent in terms of national resources, but then again look at Sierra Leone after discovery of diamonds.
Basically,, most of Africa needs international help. But the world doesnt care about Africa which is a real shame!!!
Perhaps the chinese do care, with recent investments,, but i dunno. |
as soon as you "impose" democracy - it's not democratic anymore.
and africa had been invaded a long time ago. it's been raped and plundered. it's ppl had been kept in ignorance because the invaders knew that knowledge is power.
it has taken the "west" over 200 years to "grow into" democracy and it's still in a developing format - and some countries in africa have started this process and it just can't be hurried up in a continent with 53 different nations and hundreds of different ethnic tribes - just look at the usa and how they still stuggle to get the principle of democracy "right".
yes africa is very rich - in culture, history and natural resources. culture and history are not seen as valuable by the world powers and i wonder what is the difference if our natural resouces are exploited by multi-nationals or domestic conglomerates or "potentates" - it's the ppl in the steet that always get stuffed no matter who takes the cream off the top.
it's gonna take a long time to change attitudes here in africa and there in the "west" and the only way we can achieve it is by working together with respect for each others knowledge and admittance of our mistakes - and then learning together.
cheersAnd interesting news of today, coffe anan (united nations general secretary) and former US president jimmy carter were not allowed to enter zimbabewe today and were deported. This is what I heard from someone and did not confirm so if this news is wrong, I appologise ( and also for spellings).
Seems as though cholera is finishing off the final phase of the collapse of Zimbabwe.
From African success story (Rhodesia) to failed state (Zimbabwe).
Sad situation for all the people who have to suffer this fate.
| Quote: |
| When it was called Rhodesia it was one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, under white rule. |
I heavily suggest you move that quote. It may never was under RULE, it was simply trading with foreingers e.g. Iran (very small amounts) And other arab countries.
The white people (although techniqly arabs are white (aryans)) Where the japanse ect investing.Unfirtunately, recent history of the world is full of lots of injustice. I wonder why the black population of the africal formal colognial countries were not educated so that they could run thier contry well and there is still so much brain drain that after all the natural resources, they are still unable to have a better life for thier people in general.
The complex structure of international markets, the currency exchange and monatory system and debit/credit systems play so much with struggling economies and unwise or corrupt governing bodies leave the people always suffering.
Zimbabwe was also wealthy under black rule until the mid to late 90s. So the whole white rule argument doesn't hold water. Besides, that "rule" was oppresive almost as bad as apartheid! Basically the problem with Zimbabwe is a problem that a lot of developing countries face - leaders who become addicted to the power they have and simply don't want to let it go. (The same thing is happening in Venezuela with Chavez trying to make a constitutional ammendment that would see him remain in power until 2016 or something rediculous like that) That's the problem we have with that crazy idiot Mugabe. Until Zimbabweans get rid of him things will continue to get worse!
| ParsaAkbari wrote: |
| Quote: | | When it was called Rhodesia it was one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, under white rule. |
I heavily suggest you move that quote. It may never was under RULE, it was simply trading with foreingers e.g. Iran (very small amounts) And other arab countries.
The white people (although techniqly arabs are white (aryans)) Where the japanse ect investing. |
Uhhh?????
| Quote: |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID (8 April 1919 20 November 2007) served as the Prime Minister of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 11 November 1965 and as the first Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 11 November 1965 to 1 June 1979 during white minority rule. Smith unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965. The country failed to gain international recognition and United Nations economic sanctions were instituted.
The party he led, the Rhodesian Front, won all but two general elections until the end of white rule in 1979, a period in which few blacks were qualified to vote. The Smith administration fought against black nationalists in the 19711979 Rhodesian Bush War. He negotiated an Internal Settlement in 1979 after 14 years of maintaining white rule in the face of war, economic sanctions, and international pressure. The agreement led to biracial rule and a coalition government led by Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa of the UANC. The Lancaster House Agreement and the election of Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister of the newly renamed Zimbabwe in 1980 marked the beginning of majority rule. Smith remained a member of the Zimbabwe Parliament until 1987. Subsequently, he enjoyed a long and comfortable retirement in Zimbabwe before relocating to Cape Town, South Africa. |
You have got to be joking. | Quote: |
| It may never was under RULE |
The government was a white government, the prime minister was white. That isn't white rule????
| lyndonray wrote: |
| Zimbabwe was also wealthy under black rule until the mid to late 90s. So the whole white rule argument doesn't hold water. Besides, that "rule" was oppresive almost as bad as apartheid! Basically the problem with Zimbabwe is a problem that a lot of developing countries face - leaders who become addicted to the power they have and simply don't want to let it go. (The same thing is happening in Venezuela with Chavez trying to make a constitutional ammendment that would see him remain in power until 2016 or something rediculous like that) That's the problem we have with that crazy idiot Mugabe. Until Zimbabweans get rid of him things will continue to get worse! |
That is simply not true | Quote: |
| Zimbabwe was also wealthy under black rule until the mid to late 90s. |
I worked with a Zimbabwean/ Rhodesian from 1990 till 1999 in Australia. He left Zimbabwe in the mid 80's and already by then to get new tires for his car he had to drive into South Africa, put on the new tires then drive back into Zimbabwe hoping he wouldn't be checked at the border because the country was so poor it could not import foreign goods like car tires. He had a wife and 4 children and even then he had to take them to Australia because they had no future in Zimbabwe.
I suggest you do some research before making statements like this.it's common in Africa unfortunatly. And also a cruel reality in many other poor countries.
