Cathy Buckle's Weekly Letter From Zimbabwe !

No question

Easter Sunday - 23rd March 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

When Mr Mugabe and Zanu PF came to power in April 1980, inflation in the newly named Zimbabwe was 7%.

Twenty years later, Mr Mugabe and Zanu PF were still in power and in June 2000 Parliamentary elections were held in the country. Farm invasions had been underway for nearly four months and inflation was at 59,3%. A standard loaf of bread cost sixteen dollars, a single banana was four dollars and a dozen eggs were thirty five dollars. Zanu PF retained power in the elections. In March 2002 Presidential elections were held in Zimbabwe. Mr Mugabe was again the candidate for the ruling party and had just turned 78. Farm invasions were continuing, companies and businesses had been invaded and inflation was 113%. Maize meal, sugar, cooking oil and margarine were not available in shops and a dozen eggs cost a hundred and fifty dollars. Mr Mugabe was declared the winner of the elections.

In April 2005 Parliamentary elections were held in the country. Zanu PF and Mr Mugabe had been in power for 25 years, factories were closing or relocating to other countries. Most commercial farms had been taken over and inflation was at 129%. Daily electricity cuts of 2-4 hours were commonplace, fuel queues stretched to many hundreds of vehicles and the shops were bare of sugar, salt, margarine and other basics. A loaf of bread cost four thousand dollars and a single banana was one thousand dollars. Zanu PF were declared the winners of the election.

In November 2005 elections were held for the previously disbanded Senate. Inflation in the country was at 502% and a loaf of bread cost twenty thousand dollars.

On the 29th of March 2008 Zimbabwe will hold combined Parliamentary, Presidential, Senate and Municipal elections. Mr Mugabe is 84 years old and is again standing as the head of the party. Zanu PF have been in power 28 years. Inflation stands at over 100 thousand percent. Electricity cuts last for 16 hours a day at least, water is rare, fuel only obtainable to people with US dollars. Shops are empty of all goods. A loaf of bread costs 7 million dollars (actually 7 billion dollars as three zeroes were removed from the currency.) A dozen eggs costs 36 million dollars (actually 36 billion dollars) and a single banana is 3 million (actually 3 billion dollars).

There is no question who to vote for in a few days time. We must vote for ourselves, our children and our physical survival.The time is now, the power is in our hands.

Until next time, love cathy.