Zim Update 1.27.09

Deal or No Deal? With the exception of Botswana, which continues to be a model for the rest of Southern African countries, the member countries of SADC continue have their noses firmly up the @$$ of Robert Mugabe. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced today (again without Botswana) that ZANU-PF and MDC had come to an agreement about forming a national unity government. There's only one problem: they didn't bother to ask MDC if they agreed. They don't. It appears that SADC (minus Botswana) have just decided they are tired of dealing with this issue and so have decided to declare the impasse at an end, despite the fact that it is not. MDC currently has not accepted any deal and they will meet over the weekend to discuss the situation. Some Good News (unsurprisingly involving President Obama) According to the London Times, the Obama administration is preparing a diplomatic offensive to topple the Mugabe regime. The plan is to take a set of "'strong' sanctions including a ban on arms sales and foreign investment." This has been tried before only to be blocked in the Security Council; however, the sanctions will be coupled with a diplomatic effort to convince China and Russia to not veto any anti-Mugabe resolutions. "Last July, after Mr Mugabe was accused of rigging the elections to stay in power, China and Russia, who have significant financial interests in Zimbabwe, vetoed moves to impose UN sanctions. Mr Obama and his aides believe that, with the growing international outcry over conditions there and the devastating loss of life from the cholera outbreak, Beijing and Moscow can now be persuaded at the very least to abstain when the issue of sanctions comes to another vote." Another positive note: newly confirmed US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, is a Zimbabwe expert and plans to work this issue. The article also makes it clear that the Obama administration is hoping that MDC does not agree to any power-sharing deal at this point. They would rather the deal fail so that there is no ambiguity when they take the matter to the Security Council. Cholera Epidemic Continues unabated: 2,971 dead; 56,123 infected. To help, please donate to Save the Children's Zimbabwe Children in Crisis Fund.

Zimbabwe Nearing the Breaking Point

I talk a lot of $#!# about Zimbabwe but it is only because the government is so bad. So, this report by the International Crisis Group that Zimbabwe is close to having massive flare-ups in violence makes me feel ambivalent. If the country explodes in violence it will just be the already poverty stricken average Zimbabwean who would bear the brunt. It could also spill over into neighboring South Africa and (friend of the blog) Botswana. On the other hand, the threat of violence seems to be scaring the political elite who may throw Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe under the bus to try and save their own hides. Hopefully, this would lead to greater democratic reform and the people could finally have a competent government. Wouldn't that be novel? Pray for Zimbabwe.

Botswanan Model for HIV Testing May Be Adopted in the US

Here is a story that is an interesting confluence of two of my usual subjects: HIV/AIDS and Botswana/Zimbabwe. Botswana made HIV testing almost universal (with the option to opt out, of course) and the percentage of the estimated number of HIV-infected people receiving anti-HIV treatment rose from approximately 17% to 70%. That's ridiculously effective. Go Botswana! The program was so successful that it is being considered here in the states. Of course, there are human rights issues and the concern that people won't get the proper counseling if the number of tests rises dramatically. Also, the safety net for receiving HIV-drugs is stretched thin right now and a massive influx of people who need free drugs is likely to break the system. Read more about it. Or just go get tested.

Welcome Botswana!

I got my first hit from Botswana today. Oddly enough, it was an MSN search for "market controls" and had nothing to do with my "Zimbabwe is the worst country in the world" campaign. [For those who don't know, Zimbabwe is Botswana's Mexico.] So, in an attempt to bring in more Botswanan readers, here's a story from a Botswanan point of view about the economic conditions in Zimbabwe. (Speaking of which, the Zimbabwean dollar is continuing its slide. "The US dollar was quoted as high as $3,500 [Zimbabwean dollars], up from $3,000 at the start of the year." Go Mugabe!) Also, more farmland re-distribution is going on. This is presented as being meant to help the poor but it actually benefits members of the ruling party. Some farmers actually have the guts to fight for their land. The Zimbabwean (weak) anti-ruling party party is making a push for Presidential elections next year. The current President (for life) Robert Mugabe will not be going anywhere anytime soon, unfortunately. Finally, in non-Zimbabwe related Africa news, a cheery little story about how the negligence of the South African government has led to the impending deaths of 10,000 teachers from HIV/AIDS.