Zimbabwe won't escape poverty under Mugabe

By Alex Singleton | 2 April 2005

So President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF party has won re-election in Zimbabwe's parliamentary election. It was through an unfree and unfair election, with unwanted voters being sent away from polling booths, the redrawing of election districts to favour Zanu PF, and with intimidation.

Mugabe is responsible not only for preventing economic growth and prosperity, but also for destroying it - in 2003, Zimbabwe's economy contracted by 13.6%. The country's average income is a mere $1900. More foreign aid will not help put Zimbabwe's economy back on track: only the removal of the president and his party offers any hope.