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