Since there's been much discussion on this board about Zimbabwe lately, thought I'd post today's L.A. Times story:
http://tinyurl.com/39l2xb

Leslie

I have been trying to follow what is going on there. Heartbreaking.

there was to be a coup last week, but Mugabe's secret service caught on and those in charge were arrested. at least they're still trying...
(from allafrica.com)

Having returned from Zimbabwe in late july it seems that the situation has gone from (very) bad to even worse. You can do a search for my trip report, just called Trip report, Zimbabwe. I talked to my friends in Zim yesterday and the say now it seems hopeless. There is nothing in the shops anymore. No maize, rice, pasta, meat, cocking oil etc. They were even having a hard time finding mineral water!! They situation was not good when I visited, but now it seems like the rock bottom finally will be reached! I can´t help feeling sorry for all the wonderful people I meet. And like my friends told me, you don´t say the common phrase any "Hello, how are you", because you really don´t wanna know the answer. My friend told me that when he ask the question people start getting wet eyes and one started crying, so now he only say Hello. It is just heartbreaking.... And somehow I feel that Mugabe propably still will win the next election, but if the situation continues he won´t have a population to rule..

Having first been to Zimbabwe in 1991; and having returned five years later - both lengthy trips (my definition of lengthy in one country is 4 weeks minimum) - all I can say is I want to weep.

very sad .........