This one puts the Muliangas in perspective

Congo has cut off the entire country of Zimbabwe.

HARARE, Zimbabwe: The Congolese state electricity company has cut off supplies because Zimbabwe hasn’t paid its bills, the official media reported Tuesday.

The Congo power utility Snel was demanding at least US$5 million in arrears, the state-run Herald newspaper said.

Zimbabwe, already suffering from lengthy daily power outages, imports nearly 40 percent of its electricity. About half the imports come from South Africa. Congo accounts for about a fifth.

Mozambique and Zambia, both battling to balance their own books, have also begun losing patience with Zimbabwe’s state Electricity Supply Authority over late payments and unpaid arrears, media reports in the two countries said.

Puts the Muliaga’s problem in perspective. You’d be hard pressed to borrow $5m from an Uncle.

I guess that’s why the Zimbabwe government will shortly have power to monitor phones and Internet. I’m left wondering why they bother passing laws like this – it’s not like their courts would find any actions illegal.

Mugabe given extra 2 years free

It’s largely slipped the news, but Zimbabwe has voted to extend the presidential term so the elections will be at the same time as parliamentary ones.

I guess it’s easier to beat people only once every 4 years or whatever.

And don’t even think about protesting.

Rorted the Hypothetical System?

Let’s put aside what happened or didn’t happen for a moment.

Let’s suppose a party went out deliberately and completely and utterly routed the system in order to win an election. Let’s say to over a million dollars worth of taxpayer’s money.

What would happen?

Mugabe

Robert Mugabe was once one of Africa’s best leaders.

Zimbabwe wasn’t totally up to western standards, but by African standards was pretty good.

He was elected many times fairly.

Then he started manipulating to stay in power. One thing built on another…

Right now Zimbabwe is a complete mess. Hyper-inflation (bread is was last I checked $230 a loaf after lopping multiple (6 I think) zeros off the currency) is rife. No one can get petrol, not even the police.

People have been dumped in the middle of nowhere.

Farms that used to be the breadbasket of the continent are lying idle. People are starving.

Now he can’t resign because if he doesn’t do it right, he’ll be locked up for life.

All because a politician started manipulating things to stay in power a bit longer.

Helen, do you really want this to be you?