Mugabe will go but it will take decades for the Zimbabwean society to rid themselves of Mugabe fostered environment of corruption, greed and selfishness. Its common knowledge that the delivery of basic services in Zimbabwe is dependent on your political allegiance and who you know. Even if Mugabe has gone the corruption culture is deeply interred in the edifices of the structures that MDC will inherit when they get to power. A mechanic at CMD (Government controlled motor vehicle repair service) drains petrol from a government vehicle and sells it on the black market leaving the tax payer to pick up the bill. A state security agent stationed at Harare Airport waves in goods imported by his friends without paying import duty preventing the government to earn money to use to improve people's lives. A policeman stops a driver on suspicion of drink-driving which is an offence in Zimbabwe, his suspicions are correct the guy is over the legal limit to drive instead of arresting him, he accepts a bribe to turn a blind eye again denying the government a chance to earn money through fines that in turn could be used to improve the police deliver better service for its citizens. A utility company ignores the official waiting list for anyone with a better colour of money, so a provision of land-line telephone depends if you are prepared to bribe. For many Zimbabweans stealing from the government is ok they view it a victim-less crime not knowing that delivery of service depends on it and that they the tax-payers are stealing from themselves. [More]

The threat of a food crisis is exacerbated by fears over energy security, with many countries opting to plant biofuel crops in place of traditional food crops. India, for example, has pledged to meet 10% of its vehicle fuel needs with biofuels.

Andres Arnalds, of the Icelandic soil conservation service, said the pressures on food production would have knock-on effects all over the world because of the international links in food supply.

Mr Campbell said: "If we can improve agricultural practices across the board we can dramatically increase our food production from existing lands, without having to clear more or put more pressure on soils. Simple things like good crop rotation, sowing at the right time of year, basic weed control, are what is needed. They're very well known but not always used." [More]

Labels: food, future, history