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Article: As a new opposition party emerges, an old enemy helps out the government.(Zimbabwe)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- September 11, 1999
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE problems are depressingly well known: inflation rages at 65%, unemployment stands at over 50%, corruption is rampant and living standards are dropping. The country is also mired in an unpopular war in Congo. Zimbabwe's problems have been created by President Robert Mugabe's government, in power for 19 years and increasingly out of touch. Zimbabweans, poorer by the week, were outraged last month when ministers and parliament blithely awarded themselves 182% pay increases.
Conventional wisdom has it that a change in the country's leadership is unlikely because there is simply no plausible alternative to Mr Mugabe. His ZANU-PF party controls 147 of the 150 seats ...