Mischief on the Zambeze
The latest news from Zimbabwe:
“Zimbabwe badly needs Western donors and foreign investors to rescue its economy but external help will depend on the creation of a democratic government and reforms such as reversing plans for nationalization.
Economists said if the Washington-based IMF really was looking at a package, it would be designed to force a switch from Mugabe policies such as the printing of money and seizure of land that have caused hyperinflation and economic collapse.
“It will be extremely fussy with the conditions,” Harare-based economist John Robertson, who has met previous IMF and World Bank delegations, said. “They will set very tough conditions, which we deserve because we have behaved badly.”"
-Zimbabwe says IMF ready to offer immediate help, Reuters [my emphasis]
The “Western donors” are already on the move:
“Australia ended a long-standing ban on non-humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe Wednesday, saying it wanted to help Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai relieve the suffering of his nation’s people.
…
Australia had repeatedly called on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to step down, imposing financial sanctions and travel bans on members of his regime, prohibiting arms sales and cutting defence and ministerial links.”-Australia lifts ban on Zimbabwe aid, AFP [my emphasis]
Australia was more than happy to let the people suffer until they “democratically elected” the candidate wanted by the West.
The IMF delegation to Zimbabwe is the modern day equivalent of a punitive expedition going up the Zambeze river to punish the insolent locals, who thought they could exercise sovereignty in the face of world-dominating imperial rule, helped of course by comprador politicians and self-flagellating economists.
