I spend much of each day, mired in information and articles about Zimbabwe, and this morning I was thinking about the many different battles that Mugabe has to administrate with each day. The entire population of Zimbabwe has to contend with these each day…

For ease of convenience, I have looked at just twelve basics and I have listed these alphabetically:

AGRICULTURAL: Mugabe would have the world believe that he is correcting the imbalance of land ownership brought on by the colonialising of the country. He parades the land grab as returning the land to the ‘landless blacks’ and then gives the land to the party faithful. And the fact that in order to achieve this end, his people have had to kill, injure, maim and destroy, escapes his notice - probably in the hope that we, too, will not notice.

ECONOMICAL: The mismanagement of the Mugabe administration has led to an abandonment of the local Zimbabwean dollar, meaning that few families are able to make ends meet as they are dependent upon foreign currency. Government is broke and civil servants are paid a paltry US$160 per month - not enough to even feed a family, let alone pay rent, pay utilities or for transportation for the distinct minority that have employment.

EDUCATIONAL: The economic climate has also caused school fees to increase to levels beyond the reach of many Zimbabwean families, whilst the dwindling teacher numbers ensure that schools are operating with limited resources or finance. It would be correct to state that the school system has not been fully operational for about three years. Many children are missing out on a decent education.

FINANCIAL: No one, bar those in high office, have any money to purchase anything that they need on a daily basis - bread, milk and other essentials. Banks limit how much money an account holder can withdraw at any one time, whilst many have seen their life savings dwindle to zeroes.

INTERNATIONAL: Mugabe blames the West on the catastrophe that is Zimbabwe today. He claims that his country is under full and illegal economic sanction. He and his party faithful are subject to targeted travel sanctions which make it illegal for anyone on that list to travel into certain countries, or for participating countries to do business with named individuals. Mugabe is increasingly reliant on friendly countries in the East for assistance, or works through a thick veil of corporations in an attempt to give legality to the deals done.

LEGAL: Mugabe owns and controls the criminal courts in Zimbabwe, whilst he also controls the police. As a direct result, MDC MPs have now found themselves the targets of the criminal system, being brought before courts on trumped up charges, convicted and sent to prison – another of Mugabe’s failures.

MEDICAL: No one in Zimbabwe can afford medical services, unless they have access to foreign currency - and plenty of it. Few families can afford basic drugs, and it is virtually impossible to be hospitalised without a pile of money being paid in advance. Patients admitted to hospitals have to provide their own bedding and food.

MINERAL: The diamond fields in the Eastern Highlands have proved most lucrative for the Mugabe administration - and whilst their claims that the diamond fields can buy Zimbabwe out of trouble, there is little proof that the precious gems are being sold legally - and even if they were, the money is not being channelled into State coffers.

PHYSICAL: Mugabe relies on the police, the army, the war veterans and the militia to do his dirty work. Violence continues in Zimbabwe and the police have made no move to prosecute anyone for the deaths of numerous MDC members and activists that lost their lives in last year’s election violence - even if those suspected of the killings are known and named.

POLITICAL: Mugabe applies the policies of his administration loosely, but expects that all political parties abide by them nonetheless. He may no longer have the parliamentary majority, but acts as if it were still his, and the two MDC factions have little power, if any at all.

REGIONAL: SADC rulings are ignored with absolute impunity and the African Unity is treated with disdain. Mugabe fashions himself as the ‘elder statesman’ of Southern Africa and expects regional leaders to follow his lead, as opposed to be critical of his government.

TRANSPORT: Petrol and diesel is still a huge problem in Zimbabwe, and the workers that still have jobs can no longer afford the steep bus fares to work and back, and are obliged to walk. The roads in Zimbabwe are falling to pieces and this year we have seen an increase in the number of fatal road accidents - one involving the Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, who sadly lost his wife in that event.

It beaggrs belief as to how many fronts Mugabe fights for political survival on, but he does it day and and day out. But when you have the allegiance of the security force chiefs and their various services, it must be a lot easier that it may look.

Mugabe will continue with these and any other weapon that he can use - his overall intention to remain in power, at any price.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man