http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/africa/understanding-zimbabwe-an-interview-with-professor-timothy-burke/ Reporting the Global Water Crisis Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:19:02 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/africa/understanding-zimbabwe-an-interview-with-professor-timothy-burke/comment-page-1/#comment-4863 The Walled Grave: Politics of Neglect Caused Zimbabwe’s Cholera Outbreak | Circle of Blue | WaterNews Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:42:29 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=1326#comment-4863 [...] UPDATE: Find the full interview with Professor Timothy Burke here. [...] [...] UPDATE: Find the full interview with Professor Timothy Burke here. [...]

]]> http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/africa/understanding-zimbabwe-an-interview-with-professor-timothy-burke/comment-page-1/#comment-4864 The Walled Grave: Politics of Neglect Caused Zimbabwe’s Cholera Outbreak | Circle of Blue | WaterNews Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:42:29 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=1326#comment-4864 [...] UPDATE: Find the full interview with Professor Timothy Burke here. [...] [...] UPDATE: Find the full interview with Professor Timothy Burke here. [...]

]]> http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/africa/understanding-zimbabwe-an-interview-with-professor-timothy-burke/comment-page-1/#comment-4790 Kit Robertson Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:45:06 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=1326#comment-4790 To talk of the post-colonial era after 1980 is perhaps unfortunate. Rhodesia was self-governing from 1923 and, although rejected by the rest of the world, "independent" since 1965. From then until 1980 the country endured the full force of world-wide sanctions but despite this continued to thrive and expand; so that when Mugabe eventually took over the running of the country Health, Education and Agriculture were examples to the rest of Africa. Prof. Burke does not realise how efficient water supply and sanitation to the townships was; that it continued to function although on a continuing and increasing downward slope due to lack of maintenance until very recently - perhaps the last two or three years. That all major dams, irrigation projects and sewerage disposal plants had been built by the Rhodesian authorities. Finally, I think Prof. Burke underestimates Mugabe. Thanks to the system of patronage and corruption that he has created he remains firmly in control. To talk of the post-colonial era after 1980 is perhaps unfortunate. Rhodesia was self-governing from 1923 and, although rejected by the rest of the world, “independent” since 1965. From then until 1980 the country endured the full force of world-wide sanctions but despite this continued to thrive and expand; so that when Mugabe eventually took over the running of the country Health, Education and Agriculture were examples to the rest of Africa.
Prof. Burke does not realise how efficient water supply and sanitation to the townships was; that it continued to function although on a continuing and increasing downward slope due to lack of maintenance until very recently – perhaps the last two or three years. That all major dams, irrigation projects and sewerage disposal plants had been built by the Rhodesian authorities.
Finally, I think Prof. Burke underestimates Mugabe. Thanks to the system of patronage and corruption that he has created he remains firmly in control.

]]> http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2009/world/africa/understanding-zimbabwe-an-interview-with-professor-timothy-burke/comment-page-1/#comment-4789 Mwoyo Chirandu Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:37:37 +0000 http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/?p=1326#comment-4789 How about the sanctions professor? Have they not contributed to the collapse of infrastructure? Washington has made it clear that there will be no development support until land tenure patterns revert to pre-1998 structures. Why is the West so reluctant to admit that their sanctions - both declared and undeclared - have killed the country. Zimbabwe last got a penny from the IMF in 1998. Is it not a coincidence that all this support dried up when the Zimbabwe Government embarked on a land reform programme that has seen over 300 000 FAMILIES occupying land previously held by 4 500 white farmers? How about the sanctions professor? Have they not contributed to the collapse of infrastructure? Washington has made it clear that there will be no development support until land tenure patterns revert to pre-1998 structures. Why is the West so reluctant to admit that their sanctions – both declared and undeclared – have killed the country. Zimbabwe last got a penny from the IMF in 1998. Is it not a coincidence that all this support dried up when the Zimbabwe Government embarked on a land reform programme that has seen over 300 000 FAMILIES occupying land previously held by 4 500 white farmers?

]]>