On ZIMBABWE

 If you think of Zimbabwe you could imagine people lining up in queue for hours, department stores with empty shelves and starving millions who are hurrying to cross the border to South Africa. A declining economy with inflation rates unmatched anywhere else in the modern world and of its famous leader Robert Mugabe.

Other than that few Filipinos knew that Zimbabwe was once called Rhodesia and considered the richest economy of Africa. Its capital Salisbury is teemed with new and sleek modern buildings with the highest life span and good education for its people. It’s leader then was Ian Smith, a white Zimbabwean, despite pressures and suctions from the western world, his country manage to stop rebels aided by communist China from attacking its country. The I saw pictures of its soldiers, the famous Green Beret and the “Saints” with their Canberra bombers and Alouette  Helicopter and of course I love to hear their famous songs; Rhodesia Never Die and If a World Has Another Hitler.

From what I have heard and read, Rhodesia now called Zimbabwe is a great and beautiful country with a lot of things to see. There is one song that says; You could never bee the same again if you saw the sunrise in Zimbabwe…

It’s really hard to think that a great country, a modern developing country can turn into a poor third world level. With Robert Mugabe’s rule the health and well-being of his people have dropped dramatically, which is as much an abuse of human rights as arbitrary arrest and torture. According to the World Health Organization, Zimbabwe has the world’s shortest life expectancy—37 years for men and 34 for women. It also has the greatest percentage of orphans (about 25%, says UNICEF) and the worst annual inflation rate (1,281% as of last month). He last allowed an election in 2002 but “won” only after having his leading opponent arrested for treason.

It was a beautiful country and it still is, but for how much longer? I hope and pray that someday the people of Zimbabwe can have a brighter future soon whether its a white leader or a black one.

click here for pictures of Harare