October began with President Mugabe issuing a general amnesty to all the perpetrators of politically motivated crimes occurring between January 1 and July 31. People who were convicted of political violence during the February referendum and during the June parliamentary election were released from prisons. Critics within civic organizations claimed that this presidential pardon opened the door to further, immediate violence on a massive scale and in the presidential elections scheduled for April 2002. Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1980. A 35 percent increase in the price of basic foods like bread and sugar triggered the protests.
Analysts say that the worst is yet to come.
Farmers, who produce about 40 percent of the corn crop, say harvests in the first six months of next year will drop by more than half. Some claim that political unrest and violence leading up to the June Parliamentary elections have caused the decrease in production. The bottom line is that Zimbabwe, which is usually self-sufficient in grain will have to import food. Imports require foreign exchange, which is hard to come by in Zimbabwe. Foreign exchange shortages have driven up fuel prices, raising the cost of food and transport.