Zimbabwe's Dilemma

Zimbabweans, even if they could afford to buy the food they need, find themselves looking at bare shelves in their food markets. The very basic commodities of daily life are simply not available. And they've been given the information that the country's government statisticians have figured that the official inflation rate now stands at over 100,000 percent.

Is that staggering, or not? The wonder is that Robert Mugabe hasn't imprisoned them for outing that data.

But he's in a good mood, things are going along zippingly for him. It's his birthday after all, he's reached the prime old age of 84 in a country whose population cannot begin to approach half that age in their ongoing search for a fulfilling life.

Smoke, anyone? Nice way to relax, forget your problems. That'll cost you $500,000 (Zim/babwe). To put that in perspective, the exchange rate is $8-million (Zim) to the U.S. dollar - and rising.

That awkward imbalance highlighting the perilous descent of the country's finances and future is of no real concern to President Mugabe and his friends, though. They get a very special rate, bearing no resemblance to that imposed on their hapless countrymen. The Mugabe-approved insiders are doing all right for themselves, building huge mansions.

In stark contrast to the impoverished population struggling for existence in their shantytowns. But a nice display will be put on for the president and his cronies in celebration of the great man's birthday. As for the upcoming presidential elections, contested by "traitors" and opponents of his regime, he's not concerned, he's "raring to go, raring to fly"; never give up the ship.

The two rivals within the opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by the determined and much-bashed Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara have experienced their own problems, flailing about in disagreement about presenting a united front in facing next month's elections.

In so doing, indelibly bruising their own cause. And up comes the country's former finance minister, Simba Makoni, intent on traitorously unseating his president. Tossing him out of the Zanu-PF hasn't diminished his resolve, and he'll battle on. And he's got a good battle before him, to wage against those notoriously rigged polls.

What seems to be driving Mugabe even more insane than he already is, is the certain knowledge that Mr. Makoni has covert support from within Zanu-PF, and he doesn't know who they are. Nor do they have any intention of tipping their collective hand.

Understandably, since no one likes to bring to themselves the kind of attention that will guarantee them a speedy dispatch from this mortal coil. But the president remains confident nonetheless, that he will not be deposed.

The European Union, Britain, the United States are all waiting with breath bated, ready to pitch in and support and fund a new administration in support of political reform.

Not likely, it would seem, as long as the corruption-prone Zanu-PF becomes reinvigorated with a potential win on the part of Mr. Makoni; far more likely should Morgan Tsvangirai be successful, bringing his MDC party into governance.

All will be revealed.