2 years ago, Zimbabwe got a lot of news headlines, thanks to Robert Mugabe & his government unleashing Operation Murambatsvina (Drive Out Trash). Mugabe & his cronies tried to explain this operation away as some effort to restore economic order & stability. But there are plenty of critics of Mugabe who are willing to refute these explanations for sending about 25,000 city dwellers out into the rural areas, rendering them homeless & destitute.

Many feel Operation Murambatsvina was another attempt to diminish anti-Mugabe sentiments; almost 100% of the urban areas at this point were completely opposed to his administration. And in a nation where there is almost no tolerance for venting one's views against Mugabe personally or through rival political parties, this urban sweep really served as proof of how far Mugabe & his gang of spooks will go to keep running the show in Zimbabwe.

2 years later, the media in some form or other may have put Zimbabwe off to the side but we cannot dismiss the current situation. With an inflation rate of about 2000% (the highest in the world) & an average life expectancy of 38 years, the nation is struggling to survive, much less find ways to sustain itself. More than 85% of the nation is unemployed, and even for those families who have a source of income, basic necessities are difficult to come by (like eggs & flour).
Food itself is in short supply as the government wants no part of foreign aid which could aid the nation considerably.

Health care is another urgent issue to deal with. More professional workers (doctors & nurses included) are leaving the country, posing an even greater dilemma for those who need to go to the hospital. Without adequate supplies, proper sanitation & other whatnot on which hospitals must operate effectively, many patients naturally opt not to go to the hospital at all confirming one's worst fears on how drastic the situation has become: they may never get the treatment they need if they did go.

And one question continues to arise: "How can we help?"

One good place to begin would be writing to a senator or congressional representative in regards to persuading Zimbabwe's neighbors (as well as allies) to limit trade & eventually pressure Mugabe to stop all the corruption which has tainted his administration for ages. Yet there are other means by which we can help, & with time limitations I can't go into all of them here.

But there is something we can do to heal Zimbabwe's pain, a way to reach out & make a difference that Robert Mugabe never made for almost three decades.