Friday, December 05, 2008
South Africa to cross border into Zimbabwe?
For what it is worth, South Africa seems to be steeling itself to intervene in Zimbabwe (if this report in the Times of SA of 5 Dec 2008 is to be believed). Whether this proposed ‘humanitarian initiative’ avoids degenerating into a war will probably depend on whether Zimbabwe soldiers who are currently unpaid as the currency collapses even further see a better economic future for themselves in a post-intervention society.*
The flight of cholera victims across the border into SA (Matabeleland South is one of the worse affected areas) makes it impossible (literally) to quarantine the overall problem any more from a SA viewpoint.
Probably it would be better if such an intervention is not seen as being on the urgings of the United States or other extra-Africa powers though.
*On Wednesday 4 Dec 2008 the Zimbabwe dollar lost 60% of its value within minutes of banks re-opening with limits on cash withdrawals raised to Z$100,000,000 per transaction. The rate against the pound collapsed from £3.3 to £1 per Z$10 million.
The flight of cholera victims across the border into SA (Matabeleland South is one of the worse affected areas) makes it impossible (literally) to quarantine the overall problem any more from a SA viewpoint.
Probably it would be better if such an intervention is not seen as being on the urgings of the United States or other extra-Africa powers though.
*On Wednesday 4 Dec 2008 the Zimbabwe dollar lost 60% of its value within minutes of banks re-opening with limits on cash withdrawals raised to Z$100,000,000 per transaction. The rate against the pound collapsed from £3.3 to £1 per Z$10 million.
Labels: intervention, South Africa, Zimbabwe
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