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The country that once fed all of Africa, had the continent's strongest economy and one of the largest reserves of gold and platinum, is now facing hunger, unemployment and the highest inflation in history – how did Zimbabwe reach this point of collapse?
Formerly known as Rhodesia, the country was the true “breadbasket of Africa”, exporting food to the entire continent and having the strongest economy in the region, surpassing even South Africa.
In addition to its agricultural strength, Zimbabwe also had an extremely rich mineral base, with vast reserves of platinum, gold, iron and coal. These riches, combined with a good infrastructure of schools and hospitals, guaranteed the country a high level of development. Between 1980 and 1992, life expectancy rose, childhood vaccination rates more than doubled, and basic education expanded rapidly.
However, all this prosperity did not last. What led the country from a standout economy to one of the biggest collapses in history?
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The decline of Zimbabwe's economy
The answer to this decline is directly linked to the government’s political and economic decisions. During the 2000s, the country faced one of the biggest financial disasters in modern history. Inflation reached unimaginable levels, exceeding 66.000%. As a result, product prices soared and money lost its value completely.
The crisis has also affected food production, leading to widespread hunger. Almost a quarter of the population has become dependent on food aid, while unemployment has reached record levels. To make matters worse, shortages of fuel and hard currency have forced people to resort to extreme measures, such as renting corpses to jump the queues at petrol stations.
The economic collapse was not just a consequence of the global market, but rather the result of government policies that drove away investors, destroyed agriculture and led the country into chaos.
Robert Mugabe's role in the country's ruin
If there is one name directly linked to the fall of Zimbabwe, it is Robert Mugabe. Initially seen as a revolutionary hero, Mugabe led the country's independence and promised harmony racial and economic growth. But his trajectory took an authoritarian turn, and his policies destroyed the nation.
One of the most disastrous actions of his government was the expropriation of land from white farmers, who were responsible for the country's agricultural production. These lands were given to government allies with no experience in the area, resulting in a sharp drop in food production and the destruction of the agricultural sector.
The crisis deepened with repressive measures, political persecution and a government increasingly closed to the opposition. While the population suffered, Mugabe and his elite maintained a luxurious life, further aggravating inequality in the country.
Zimbabwe today
Today, more than 70 percent of Zimbabweans live in poverty, struggling to afford food, healthcare and housing. Although the country has shown small signs of economic recovery in recent years, the majority of the population still feels the devastating effects of past policies.
The World Bank, however, maintains an optimistic outlook about the future of Zimbabwe. According to the institution, the country has the potential to grow and recover, thanks to its natural resources and skilled workforce. If there are serious structural reforms and correct investments, Zimbabwe may, who knows, recover some of the shine it once had.
This happened with Venezuela, which was once one of the richest countries in the world. In Brazil, history is happening with this bad government. The difference is that Brazil is not as rich as this country was...