Zimbabwe a laughing stock, says Mugabe [View All]

Source: Telegrah (UK)

Zimbabwe a laughing stock, says Mugabe
By Sebastien Berger, Southern Africa Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:50am BST 10/10/2007

The malnutrition that afflicts millions of Zimbabweans has reduced the country to a "laughing stock", President Robert Mugabe has admitted.

Distributing equipment to black farmers resettled on land seized from white owners, he said: "We have become the laughing stock because of hunger. We all need to eat, whether you are Zanu-PF or MDC. Let's unite."

Since Mr Mugabe began confiscating farms Zimbabwe has gone from being an agricultural exporter to a country where millions need food aid. He blames supposed Western sabotage for the situation, rather than his own actions.

An international court is to be asked to rule on the seizure programme. Papers filed with the Southern Africa Development Community Tribunal accuse Mr Mugabe's regime of illegal racial discrimination and violations of human rights.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=OKOD501NWEVILQFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2007/10/09/wzim109.xml

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There's at least some hope now that Mugabe acknowledges that there is a malnutrition problem. Of course he blames others, but maybe his acknowledgment is going to lead to a reevaluation of his policies that have led to shortages and hyperinflation.