Zimbabwe now has an inflation rate greater than 100,000%, an unemployment rate in excess of 80%, malnutrition in 45% of the population, and a life expectancy of just 37 years (compared with a life expectancy of 62 in 1985). On almost every measure the quality of life has been steadily declining for people in Zimbabwe since Robert Mugabe became president in 1987, and in recent years things have been spirally completely out of control. It’s not hard to find the reasons for the slide into poverty. The difficult question is, how can the country climb out of poverty from here?
According to the BBC, there is plenty of work to do. Roads and sewers are in need of repair. Power supplies need to be reconnected. The countless thousands of people who have been abused, rendered homeless, and left to starve will need to be housed and rehabilitated. The corruption which has become an endemic part of daily life will need to be rooted out. Confidence will need to be restored in government institutions, the army and the police force.
The problems are very large indeed, and the human capital available for dealing with the issues has been severely depleted. Millions of those who are wealthier, better educated, and better skilled in coping with problems have escaped from the country to earn a living elsewhere under less repressive conditions. Most of the farmers with the skills needed for providing sufficient food for the people have been chased out of the country and had their property seized and rendered worthless. Unfortunately, poverty is much easier to create than to solve.