Will Zimbabwe recover?

[semiautomatix]

I think our little yellow slanty-eyed friends intend doing exactly that.

They've done a good job in Asia, I would frankly invite them with open arms. I am not, however, going to drink that Tsing Tsao beer crap again!

 

[Moederloos]

I based my argument on that it took Germany 20 years or so years to recover after WW.

Germany recovered in a short time because it still had educated people.
The war was 6 years or so, those youngsters with an education that survived the war, could rebuild the country.
Education is the key.

Zim has ZERO - nada, nothing.

Note: A "recovery" is assumed to be: stand on your own two feet and actually MAKE something - not stand around with a hand out begging international companies to build a smelter or open a mine in your country.

It will take 20 years just to educate enough people to become teachers so they can educate some more. And so on.
I do not see any foreigner going there to teach.

So, 50 years is my bet.

 

[jambai]

differnce between germany and zim
Germans are hard working !!!!!!Yet to see a hard working african nation Alll they want to do is sit around all day and party in the pub at night and then wonder why things dont work eish

 

[Pilgrim]

Zim does not need to recover. It has been 100% Africanized.

 

[Robin Hood]

Note: A "recovery" is assumed to be: stand on your own two feet and actually MAKE something - not stand around with a hand out begging international companies to build a smelter or open a mine in your country.

Best method of "explaining" recovery that i've ever heard...

 

[Cara]

IMO recovery will depend to a large extent on building up their agricultural industry again. I'm not sure if they would be able to lure their experienced farmers back to till the soil.

 

[TooFastTim]

Zim vs Germany and Japan.

Both Germany and Japan received considerable American investment/aid after WWII, in Germany it was the Marshall plan and in Japan the McArthur plan. Both required considerable sacrifices from the people in that their education systems and constitutions were tweaked to mimic the American systems.

Second, both countries were possessed of, by and large, a very high standard of education that remained prior to and during WWII. These skills were harnessed during the rebuilding of those countries. As an aside the exodus of these skills from East Germany after the war was the reason for the Berlin Wall.

TimGaul, Japan, although quite agrarian prior to WWII Japan was very industrialised and had acheived this feat in the remarkable period of 60 years or since the arrival of Perry in 1852 (see the "Last Samurai" as an romanticised example of their fevered industrialisation).

Also the rebuilding of those countries was considered an idealogical neccessity because of the simmering tensions between the US and the USSR.

In short, there are no parallels to suggest that Zim (or SA for that matter) can ever rebuild themselves let alone with 20 years.

 

[semiautomatix]

Zim vs Germany and Japan.

Both Germany and Japan received considerable American investment/aid after WWII, in Germany it was the Marshall plan and in Japan the McArthur plan. Both required considerable sacrifices from the people in that their education systems and constitutions were tweaked to mimic the American systems.

Second, both countries were possessed of, by and large, a very high standard of education that remained prior to and during WWII. These skills were harnessed during the rebuilding of those countries. As an aside the exodus of these skills from East Germany after the war was the reason for the Berlin Wall.

TimGaul, Japan, although quite agrarian prior to WWII Japan was very industrialised and had acheived this feat in the remarkable period of 60 years or since the arrival of Perry in 1852 (see the "Last Samurai" as an romanticised example of their fevered industrialisation).

Also the rebuilding of those countries was considered an idealogical neccessity because of the simmering tensions between the US and the USSR.

In short, there are no parallels to suggest that Zim (or SA for that matter) can ever rebuild themselves let alone with 20 years.

That is part of the argument in that Zim had financial, mining and various industrial activities (comparative to Japan in the period 1918-1940) prior to it all falling apart (not as much as Japan, but Zim's population is only a fraction of Japan's). Unfortunately many of those skills no longer exist, and Robert Mugabe has indeed turned his back on the world. Foreign aid may happen when Zimbabwe once again embraces the expectations of the UN. Maybe then skills can be encouraged to return. It can all happen and Zim can recover, but I hardly believe it will be in the same time frame as post war Japan.

 

[sand_man]

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe will face a challenge for his presidency from one of his own party members.

Former finance minister Simba Makoni has announced he will run in Zimbabwe’s presidential election to be held in March.

Makoni is a member of Mugabe’s Zanu-PF but will campaign as an independent.
Last year ruling party officials elected Mugabe as the party's election candidate.

Eddie Cross from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change says Makoni's announcement will make it harder for Mugabe to remain in his position.

Let's hope we've seen the end of Bob for Zims sake and for SA's sake...