Big Man Economics

Robert Mugabe is what Africans still call a 'big man' .... this of course is simply another term for 'thug, dictator, criminal etc etc'. He has remained in power despite blatant corruption, nepotism, and cronyism towards his main supporters.

He is currently trying to engineer his wife 'Grace' (was ever a woman so misnamed?), taking over when his soul eventually shrivels away and he is gone ... this is principally as he can find no bolt-hole for his criminal family to take their ill gotten gains to, where it doesn't risk seizure from the regime after his being ousted.

African Big Men Come In Many Sizes ....

I almost feel sorry for the people of Zimbabwe, but despite his highly visible crimes and some electoral vote rigging, the fact is that he continues to get voted back into power in sufficient numbers for it to be clear, that although the numbers claimed might be dubious, there is little doubt that he got a majority, albeit lower than he claimed.

South Africa's Surprising Maturity

South Africa has had nationwide local government elections - these have passed off peacefully and with nearly 80% of the votes counted the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says voter turnout stood at about 58% of eligible voters - slightly more than the previous municipal elections in 2011.

ANC Stay In Power, But Not
Everywhere ..... But Peacefully

More importantly the vote was peaceful and there was even enough space for the IEC boss Mosotho Moepya, to appeal for patience, as people waited for final results, saying his team wanted to make sure there was "due diligence and accuracy”. Mr Moepya also thanked over 200,000 election officials for their work, as well South Africans for voting peacefully and passionately.

Last Of The BIG Men

I have always been surprised that Robert Mugabe has managed to cling onto power in Zimbabwe for so long (The 92 year old has governed the country since independence in 1980). But perhaps 'cling on' is the wrong simile ... he has actually retained an iron grip on the country for decades. One of my earliest posts on this blog, was on his then position, and I was very wrong in assuming that he would have fallen long ago.

Bread And Circuses have Worked For Centuries .....

Now finally perhaps his grip may be slipping .... any tyrant has to think about 'bread and circuses' .... the two key elements to keeping the mob, err population, happy. Despite his total economic incompetence and corruption, Robert Mugabe has always found money for his key support base, the Army and Public Officials. He has always managed to make sure these two groups are paid, and therefore have a feel good factor, even while the rest of the country, particularly in rural areas, suffered great poverty.

Zuma and the Tyrants

"The brother leader [Col Gaddafi] delegation has accepted the roadmap as presented by us," South African President Jacob Zuma has declared, in support of his plan to keep Colonel Gaddafi and his family in power in Libya.

He also supports Mugabe in Zimbabwe, against the democratic winner, and Laurent Gbagbo in the Ivory Coast, against the recognised democratic winner ...... in fact he apparently supports all the old style 'Big Men' of African politics.

Is this what the 'democratic' rainbow nation has become, apologists and supporters for Africa's worst tyrants and dictators?

Switzerlands Banks, Africa's Stolen Wealth

The practise of rulers like Robert Mugabe stealing everything from their country in Africa was illustrated sharply this week, when the son of one of these criminals, challenged attempts to repatriate some of the money to the country it was stolen from. 

Yes, one of the sons of Nigeria's ex-ruler General Sani Abacha has tried to stop $350m (£236m) in illegally gained assets being returned by a Swiss court. 

Mugabe, Lord Of Corruption

The disgrace of Africa, Robert Mugabe is still wielding terrible power over the country he has all but destroyed.

His latest little scam is to stop the 'register of land holdings' being completed, because it will prove that he, his family, and his cronies have benefited most from the theft of 'white farmer' lands over the last couple of decades.

Northern Mashonaland Central province is a favoured area with prime agricultural land and the ownership of the 'appropriated farms' reads like a 'who's who' in Mugabe's government. Even within that corruption, there are further layers of criminality with many top officials owning more than one farm, which is in direct violation of the dictators own rule of "one man, one farm".

"They are registered under different names, relatives - even children" says one 'resettled' farmer.

However as it's common knowledge that Mr Mugabe owns Highfield Farm, in Norton, about 40km (25 miles) outside Harare and he and his wife have also appeared on state TV declaring that they jointly owned Gushungo Dairy Farm in Mashonaland Central, then its fair to assume that the "one man, one farm" policy is really just an aspiration.

Indeed one unnamed cabinet minister has defended the president's conduct, saying: "If it's true that Mugabe owned more than one farm, we mustn't forget he is the father of the nation. He spent over a decade in jail fighting for your freedom. Don't compare yourself, or even me, with him."