As Zimbabwe prepares itself for its farcical second election in as many months (being held because Mugabe didn't like the outcome of the last one) I happened to run into a Zimbabwean farmer on holiday in Britain. I say farmer, but these days he's a farm manager, because Mugabe's "soldiers" confiscated his own farm some years ago.
I won't identify him clearly for fear of reprisals against him when he goes back. Suffice to say the farm he runs is "owned" (having been stolen) by one of Mugabe's croneys. The croney lets it to a company owned by non Zimbabwean's who live outside the country. So the "owner" is deriving an income from the place and that, apparently is acceptable to him. My new friend manages it and controls the production, the local labour, the marketing and so on.
I asked him what it was like living in an economy where there is said to be 2,000,000% inflation. He replied that he did his best to ignore it. He gets paid in US dollars and banks most of it out of Zimbabwe, only bringing in enough for himself and his wife to live on. Most of the things they need are, in any case, available on the black market and from criminal gangs and obtainable using foreign currency or barter. Whatever, no tax is paid on any transaction.
I asked him what he thought would be the outcome of this weeks sham election. He was sure Mugabe would not allow the opposition leader to win but he thought the situation had now become so bad for native Zimbawean's that the end of the present regime must be near. The only thing holding it together now was the fear of those around Mugabe. It may take a civil war to resolve matters, he thought.
If Morgan Tsvangirai eventually became president (and he believed he was a decent and able man) Mugabe's supporters would all be replaced (or worse!) so, for now, they maintain and protect him. "But it can't go on much longer", said my new friend. "And in the end Zimbabwe's people must be allowed to sort out Zimbabwe's problems".
I found it remarkable that he was so philosophical. Like his fellow countrymen he's become hardened to adversity. He'll be watching the news from home over coming days very carefully. But there seemed little doubt that he would go back and face whatever chaos emerges after the election. Because he loves his country, whatever mess Mugabe has made of it.