No way out for Mugabe

Zimbabwe is currently in the same situation it was in in 2008 when its money became worthless but this time there is no way out for President Robert Mugabe because there is no dollarization to alleviate the situation and buy the government time.

According to Prospect magazine Zimbabweans now have no way of transacting and getting on with their lives and have resorted to protests to put pressure on Mugabe to step down.

There has been a series of protests in the past few months some organised by social media activists and others by the leading opposition parties but Mugabe’s government has brushed these off as the work of the West.

Prospect magazine, however, said the protests were from citizens who felt cornered.

“For ordinary Zimbabweans, the disappearance of cash has created a situation similar to that in 2008 when money existed but was worthless: they have no way of transacting and getting on with their lives,” the magazine says.

“That is the reason why protests have erupted. But this time, there is no dollarisation to alleviate the situation and buy the government time. That pill only works once.

“The costs of its policies have caught up with the regime: it has raided almost everything worth anything without allowing regrowth and it is now running on fumes.

“Short of a large donation from some foreign benefactor, there is no way out. President Mugabe is at the limit of his politics.”

Mugabe says he will not step down as he has the mandate to rule until his current term expires in 2018.

He has also been selected by the party to contest the next elections which means that he could be in office until 2013 if he wins.

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