As has been predicted for some time, Zimbabwe's economy is now circling the drain. Years of mismanagement, boneheaded decisions, thuggery, corruption, and total governmental incompetence has brought the country, once the breadbasket of Africa, to the brink of complete collapse and chaos.
The increasingly corrupt and incompetent government of the increasingly paranoid and delusional Robert Mugabe has, apparently, driven a stake into the economic meltdown by trying to reverse several years worth of increased-money-supply-driven rampant inflation (by some estimates over 9,000%) by ordering drastic price cuts and jailing managers and business owners who refused to comply.
This colossal shock to the already-free-falling economy has resulted in widespread hoarding, riots, empty shelves in stores, and approaching chaos in the cities.
It seems, tragically, almost inevitable that there will be widespread violence and starvation in Zimbabwe in the near future.
All of this could have been avoided by competent governance, as Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) is exceptionally blessed with fertile soil and abundant natural resources. Prior to Mugabe going off the deep end, Zimbabwe/Rhodesia fed most of sub-Saharan Africa.
There are lessons to be learned here. However, since there are no real strategic issues at stake in Zimbabwe, most of the world will ignore them.
Start writing your checks to Oxfam right now. I'm sure they're stocking up for what's coming.
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