Zimbabwe's dictator Robert Mugabe has laid the blame for his country's woes at the World Bank and IMF. I fear that he might be suffering from memory problems. It is his economic policies - such as confiscating farms ("land reform") - which have run Zimbabwe into the ground. Thanks to Mugabe, it is now the fastest shrinking economy in the world.

Cato scholar Marian Tupy writes:

Yet there is a glimmer of hope. When Togo's dictator of 38 years, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died earlier this year, the military ignored the Togolose constitution and appointed his son, Faure, to the presidency. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took the lead in opposing that coup d'etat and forced the military to accept early democratic elections.

Where West Africa has shown the way, Southern Africa would be wise to follow. Member states of SADC need to understand that their tacit condoning of Mugabe's dictatorship reflects badly on them. It makes a parody out of Thabo Mbeki's grand design for Africa - the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). NEPAD promises to improve Africa's record on human rights and accountability in exchange for more aid and investment. Time has come for African leaders to make good on their promises.