Zimbabwe’s CrisisBy: Dmitri Deyev

2008 Electoral Process• March 29, 2008

– Robert Mugabe• Incumbent president and member of the leading party, the

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) • Round 1 popular vote 43.2% (Claimed a run-off necessary)• Round 2 popular vote 85.5% (Re-elected as president)

– Morgan Tsvangirai• Part of the major oppositional party, the Movement for

Democratic Change (MDC)• Round 1 popular vote 47.9% (Claimed to have won majority)• Round 2 popular vote 9.3% (Dropped out due to serious political

violence toward supporters 1 week before; name still on ballot)– Simba Makoni

• An independent• Round 1 popular vote 8.3%

Deal or No Deal?

• September 15, 2008

– Power-sharing talks

• Held in Harare, Zimbabwe

• Between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai

• Witnessed by Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa

– Results in:

• Signed power-sharing deal between the two

– First release of any power by Robert Mugabe in 28 years

• Morgan Tsvangirai to become the prime minister

• Both trying to get over their differences by working together to repair the broken economy

Inflation!!!

• Zimbabwean Inflation Rates (Official) Since Independence:

• Date: 1980; 1981; 1982; 1983; 1984; 1985; 1986; 1987; 1988;• Rate: 7%; 14%; 15%; 19%; 10%; 10%; 15%; 10%; 8%;

• Date: 1989; 1990; 1991; 1992; 1993; 1994; 1995; 1996; 1997;• Rate: 14%; 17%; 48%; 40%; 20%; 25%; 28%; 16%; 20%;

• Date: 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003; 2004;• Rate: 48%; 56.9%; 55.22%; 112.1%; 198.93%; 598.75%; 132.75%;

• Date: 2005; 2006; 2007; 2008;• Rate: 585.84%; 1,281.11%; 66,212.3%; 11,268,758.9%;

Where’s the Food?• Robert Mugabe

– Blames severe economic crisis on:• Years of drought• Plot by other Western countries to bring down his government

– Tries to make up for economic food crisis by:• Importing 600,000 tons of maize• Not enough to make up for shortfall• Last year output down 44%, this year expected lower

• Zimbabweans– Estimated 3.8 million need food aid to survive

• Shortage of cash• Food prices beyond peoples’ reach

– Predicted to be 5.5 million (1/3 population) by the end of the year

Works Cited• "Zimbabwean Dollar." Wikipedia. 21 Sep. 2008. 21 Sep. 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwean_dollar

• "Zimbabwe Food Shortages Scare." BBC News. 10 Oct. 2003. 21 Sep. 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3179718.stm

• "Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Deal Signed." MSNBC. 15 Sep. 2008. Associated Press. 21 Sep. 2008 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26715920/>

• Zimbabwe's Manmade Crisis." U.S. Department of State. 12 Mar. 2003. 21 Sep. 2008 <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/16501.htm