Back to Index

Despotism and Disease: A Report into the health situation of Zimbabwe and its probable impact on the region's health
Roger Bate & Richard Tren
March 11, 2005

http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.22117/pub_detail.asp

Download this document
- Acrobat PDF version (1.3MB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking here.

Life for the average Zimbabwean has become dramatically worse in the past five years. Unemployment is at 80%, inflation is in triple digits and food production has collapsed leading to widespread malnutrition. Violence awaits all those who have the courage to voice criticism, and the election due on 31st March, will be the third in a row that is far from free and fair. While this information is well known, what is less understood is the disastrous impact on the health of Zimbabweans, and soon the region from the mismanagement of the economy.

Infectious disease is rampant among the malnourished majority – malaria once under control is resurging, tuberculosis is thriving in the increasingly HIV-positive environment. Sexual behavior is poor given the precarious conditions in which people live, HIV rates could well be the highest in the world (official rates are 25% but it could be far higher). But since most qualified personnel have left the country quality estimations are thin on the ground. While this is a tragedy for Zimbabweans, other countries in the region, that have so far not acted on the political mayhem, may soon be left with a choice: Act to establish democracy in Zimbabwe, or have even more HIV in your country. The most mobile Zimbabweans are also those most likely to carry HIV. And while their lives have been nasty and brutish, they are not short enough to prevent transmission of HIV into neighboring countries.

The time for the ‘quiet diplomacy’ of the West and South Africa has come and gone. Action is required in this outpost of tyranny.

*Roger Bate is a resident fellow at AEI. Richard Tren is with Africa Fighting Malaria.

Download this document

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP