When Rhodesia was run by the Europeans, the white farmers exported large amounts of grain. When the Africans took over, they ran the country into the ground. The rest is history. Many in African pray for the good old days when the White man ran everything. The utilities worked and the people were well fed and happy. Then came the Communist agitators and made the natives unhappy. The rest is history.

@Cecil Rhodes. Yeah well if the racist Rhodesian whites had been willing to share power when a power sharing deal was offered to the racist Smith regime in the first place, much of the devastation that has hit the country may have been avoided. There's no disputing Mugabe has messed up big time, but it's just too glib, convenient and racially predictable to come with the take you have.

Graham, Rhodesian Whites were no more racist that Mugabe and his gang. Come on. Everybody is a racist. Cecil does make a point. I have heard it before from some African immigrants that came to America, instead of their brother country USA(Union of South Africa).

First off, in response to the "Come on. Everybody is racist," argument, that is just ridiculous. People who believe that Black people are incapable of ruling over their own countries . . . yes, people who believe that are racist.

Secondly, the assertion that Black people living had to be told by Communist (by implication, white) agitators that they didn't like to be ruled over by whites (Rhodesian, Boer, whatever), that is just absurd.

An easy example of an African (diaspora) country that disproves this argument: Haiti overthrew oppressive white rule in 1797! What "communist agitator" had to enlighten Toussaint L'Ouverture, letting him know that he didn't like to be ruled by slave-owning colonists?

Also, I must admit I am know expert in African politics, but it is worth noting that two of Africa's strongest economies, Ghana and Kenya, are ruled by Black presidents.
-MJ

Mjameson, interesting that you admire Haiti, the biggest failed state. Haiti made a deal with the Devil. This is what they got.

Did I ever say that I admire Haiti? I offered it as an example of a state that adopted black leadership without -then non-existent- communist influence.

I also think if you look back in your history that continued fighting with colonial powers (and Neo-Colonial powers like the US) probably had more to do with Haiti's failed state status than the influence of Satan. Call me a secular humanist, but . . .

Mjameson, you know nothing about the Vodou.

Cecil Rhodes is posting here? Wow. Will no one use the ID Mugabe?

Yeah, who doesn't want to be colonized? People love that!

Hey folks, it is all the white man's fault and his lies. In Zimbabwe, at lest we are not under the white man's rule. We are under African rule, free of the white man. The white man raped our country and women, and stole our soul, that is why we have our troubles. Send food for our starving children. You white people stole from Africa, so give us reparations.