Fidel Castro announced his retirement yesterday, meaning that he has successfully avoided deposition by nine consecutive American presidents. I’ve got no brief for Castro, but it’s hard to argue that American policy toward Cuba has been not only a total failure but a gross injustice to the Cuban people, who have borne the brunt of our pique at Castro.
Afterthought:
We have been trained to think of Castro as being the devil incarnate. But doesn’t he look positively benign next to a guy like Robert Mugabe, with whom we have done business, if sometimes somewhat reluctantly, for 28 years. Castro has, in a country that has been systematically ground down by United States economic trade barriers (we are proving the superiority of capitalism by gaming the competitor’s system) created a society in which people at least get decent education and decent health care, which they weren’t getting before he came along. The country is poor, but you don’t see Castro doing this:
The supermarket shelves are empty, inflation has topped 67,000 per cent and power cuts are a daily event – but Zimbabwe is about to have a party.
Robert Mugabe turns 84 tomorrow and no amount of suffering is going to stop him spending a small fortune in precious currency on a lavish celebration.
Marking the President’s birth has become synonymous with extravagance in the impoverished southern African country – and the ruling party’s aggressive “21st February Movement” makes sure everyone joins in.
The main event will be held in the border town of Beitbridge, while similar festivities will be held across the country. The main event on the border with South Africa is expected to attract thousands of ruling party supporters and Mugabe cronies. While the party is going on, the nightly exodus of Zimbabweans across the Limpopo River into South Africa will undoubtedly continue.
Foreign companies doing business in Zimbabwe have been lining up to donate money to fund the festivities, according to officials. They will also splash out on newspaper, radio and television advertisements wishing Mr Mugabe many happy returns.
The state-controlled Herald newspaper will carry a special supplement with congratulatory advertisements tomorrow. However, with the Zimbabwean dollar having become worthless over the years and contributions always trailing the budget required, the beleaguered Zimbabwean taxpayer has in the past few years been called upon to meet any shortfalls to Mr Mugabe’s birthday celebrations.
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