At least 31 persons, mostly black Movement for Democratic Change supporters, have been killed and hundreds others have been beaten, raped or forced to flee their homes. Ominously, so-called war veterans, doing the government's bidding, have been deployed to Matabeleland, where they wear red berets. I should point out that there are veterans of the war who are increasingly speaking out against the terror of these government-directed groups. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe economy is collapsing. The illegal land seizures, designed to intimidate the political opposition, are accelerating the demise of an already troubled and corrupted economy.
Food shortages are sure to come.
The country's health services also are in crisis. The State Department recently said that the U.S. is deeply troubled that Zimbabwe's previous reputation as a law-abiding, democratic society is in jeopardy. Violence and intimidation are undermining the rule of law and the very foundation of democracy in Zimbabwe. This isn't quite right. Sadly, the rule of law and democracy have long been compromised in post-independence Zimbabwe.