[Clive]

The estimates of people needing relief in Zim were about 7 million out of a population of about 12 million.

Famine relief projections have hitherto been based on requirements until the summer harvest (March - April in Zim)

There will be no summer harvest and the least cause of it is drought. In order that there be a summer harvest, there has to be a spring planting, which effectively did not take place in much of the former commercial agriculture lands.

Zimbabwe was once considered the breadbasket of southern Africa, even in dry spells.

Last southern hemisphere winter I predicted not only the failure of the winter crop but the failure of a summer crop as well. With autumn approaching, my prediction is that there will effectively be no winter crop this year.

Maize is the staple grain of southern Africa. Notwithstanding the panic attempts of Agriculture Minister Made last winter to grow maize, there are no winter maize hybrids suitable for Zim. Wheat is the winter crop. It doesn't need as long a growing season or as much moisture.

But even wheat will not be planted in sufficient quantity as Zim is now a slash-and-burn, beast-draughted, scratch, subsistance economy. This being formerly the most advanced agrarian economy n southern Africa.

From breadbasket to basket case in less than 3 years courtesy of Comarade Mugabe.

[Clive]

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[noutopia]

So Sad To Bad,SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Sorry. INGRATE

[T'wit]

I am not surprised that Zimbabwe is expecting a drought. All you have to do to have a drought is shoot your farmers and steal their land. But Zimbabwe is just getting started. The old Soviet Union holds an almost unbreakable record with 74 droughts in a row.

[noutopia]

If they voted for Mugabe they should all starve.If they dont rise up aganist him the are not worth worrying about.

[Gideon7]

And of course the French love Mugabe. They invited him to attend the Africa summit in Paris, thumbing their nose at the EU ban on air travel to/from Zimbabwe.

Mugabe's Paris Trip Causes Political Storm

[wretchard]

What? Is this news? Nigeria says that the abusive farm seizures are largely over and that Zimbabwe should be readmitted to the Commonwealth, to help them get over their difficulties. "Mein herr, the Jews are dead now. Would you get over it and help pull out the gold fillings." No point letting perfectly good gold go the waste.

Jacques Chirac was perfectly willing to invite Robert Mugabe to Paris; perfectly ready to cancel the scheduled summit with other African leaders if Robert could not attend. Perfectly ready to move on to that Brave New World that hath such people in it.

[gulfcoast6]

Question. Where is the UN on this one?