Zimbabwe is in big trouble. They have just failed to raise money to pay for
36,000 tonnes of wheat, which is currently sitting in the harbour of Beira in Mozambique. Zimbabwe needs about 450,000 tonnes of wheat per year, but are currently producing less than 80,000. This is because of insufficient power available for irrigation. Agricultural production has fallen sharply over the last decade. Besides, Zimbabwe lacks foreign currency to pay for diesel and petrol needed for power generation, tractors, etc.
The prospects for this country are bleak. Just take a look at the following figures:
- Official inflation rate currently at more than 7600%. This means that what cost $1 a year ago now costs $77!
- Unemployment rate of 80%.
- More than 40% of the population have HIV/AIDS.
- Life expectancy is 37 years for men, 34 years for women - lowest in the world.
- 25% of the population have fled abroad. Another 4% are displaced within the country.
The political mess is just getting worse, with human rights violations in every imaginable area. It's just a matter of time before the country disintegrates in riots and civil war, as I see it.
Someone said "Any society is just nine missed meals from anarchy". If no grain shipments reach Zimbabwe soon they will be there soon.
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