From The Rand Today:
As the woes continue in Zimbabwe, the central bank’s governor in Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono said today, “Statistics provided by the CSO (central statistical office) indicate that it is now at 2.2 (million percent).” This referring to the rate of inflation in the country. This is clearly the highest rate of inflation in the world. And this figure released of 2.2m% can not be totally accurate with many suggesting that the rate of inflation is actually much higher than this. The last official announcement about the rate of inflation was in February this year when it was said that inflation was 165 000%.
It is still anyone guess how they can actually still be able to calculate the rate of inflation in Zimbabwe with the way things our going in their economy. An inflation rate of 2.2m% really does not make sense to anyone who is not in Zimbabwe and maybe even for those in the country. If someone tells you that a cold drink is 20 billion dollars, one can not comprehend what the actual value is unless you convert it back into rands or US dollars.
Zimbabwe, once known as Rhodesia under white rule was once one of the richest countries in Africa; an exporter of food and raw materials to the world is now an economic basket case due to the kleptocratic Marxist rule of Robert Mugabe.
At independence in 1980 one Zimbabwe dollar was worth more than one US dollar. Now the Zimbabwe currency is probably worth less as legal tender than as fuel.
Much of the international community has finally faced the fact that Mugabe is a tyrant who is literally destroying his country and the poor people of Zimbabwe.
The Liberal community is trying to disassociate itself with the monster they feted a few years ago.
Michigan State University may revoke honorary law degree issued to Mugabe 18 years ago
EAST LANSING, Michigan: Michigan State University is considering stripping Robert Mugabe of the honorary law degree it gave the Zimbabwean leader 18 years ago, citing human rights violations and economic mismanagement under his rule.
But Zimbabweans have a different view:
Obert Madondo: Let Mugabe keep honorary degrees
Michael Thelwell, a professor in the University of Massachusetts Afro-American studies department, confirms this short-sightedness. In the April 5 edition of the Boston Globe newspaper, he claims: "Mugabe has become a scourge of his people and a scourge of Africa. He has degenerated as a political leader and as a human being.”
Thelwell further suggests that the University of Massachusetts “…gave it (the degree) to the Robert Mugabe of the past, who was an inspiring and hopeful figure and a humane political leader at the time. The university has nothing to apologise for in giving a degree to the Robert Mugabe of 20 years ago. And they wouldn't imagine giving an honorary degree to the Robert Mugabe of today.''
It’s worth reminding Thelwell and those of his ilk that Robert Mugabe degenerated well before he assumed power in 1980. He usurped the leadership of the independence movement. To eliminate political rivalry in independent Zimbabwe, he allegedly orchestrated the murder of fellow liberation leaders like Josiah Tongogara. After independence, when it became apparent the late Dr. Joshua Nkomo would revolve into a more astute leader than himself, Mugabe constantly harassed, once exiled and eventually killed him, politically. Then there was Gukurahundi… (read the whole thing).
I agree with Madondo. Mugabe was thug when he was awarded his honorary degrees. Recission will not remove the stain from the honor of the poeple who awarded them.
Robert Mugabe’s honorary degrees should stay. They represent a period of madness in history where a genocidal dictator went on the rampage and the international community, the West in particular, either looked the other way or cheered him on. Any university that respects human rights should never ever have awarded Mugabe an honorary degree during the 1980s or any other period. A public apology to Zimbabweans is the only sincere protest against Mugabe’s rule that these universities can offer.
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