Zimbabwe: what can we do?

Lizzie Horsey investigates the humanitarian and political crisis in Zimbabwe and makes some suggestions about how we can help.

Children play with dirty water Cholera has surged in Zimbabwe due to the breakdown of city sewerage systems, poor maintenance of water supply systems, severe drinking water shortages, and the lack of basic hygiene items such as soap. Photo: AP/PA Photos Here, men offload maize and beans from a truck at a food distribution point. Distributions are being carried out in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) Photos: Laxwel Zitye and Blessing Mutsaka

We've all heard about the crisis in Zimbabwe. There is starvation, rising inflation rates of over 100,000%, which makes currency there worthless, 80% unemployment; and now the Cholera outbreak. But what has caused this humanitarian crisis? Why is there this common displacement of people and trust?

Many Zimbabweans have spoken out about the violence and injustice of their illegitimate government, one said, "We will have people perishing because of a government that tells lies". But these people have had replies of murder, torture and imprisonment. Due to this negligent Government, hundreds of thousands of people are thought to be at risk from the Cholera epidemic. Poor maintenance of water supply and sewage systems and want for basic hygiene has caused this. "With the rainy season upon us, the epidemic will spread even more rapidly," says the County Director of Oxfam in Zimbabwe.

With all this negativity, it is hard for me to believe that help is being provided to the people of this country. Even though it's generally not in the media's spotlight, things are being done to help. For example, Oxfam has launched an appeal to provide support to 1 million people in Zimbabwe. This includes rehabilitating water sources, carrying out hygiene promotion and providing soap, disinfectant and clean water.

But although there are aid efforts, there has been little progress on the political and economic state of Zimbabwe. There have also been calls for the EU and Western leaders to step in and take actions to help people in Zimbabwe. Desmond Tutu has called for South Africans to join him in a hunger strike and protests, in an effort to force their government to isolate Mugabe; but so far no recognisable action by the South African government has been taken. The people in Zimbabwe are calling for South African help. Zimbabweans have appealed on film for immediate and decisive action from South African leaders to help resolve their country's political, economic, and humanitarian crises.

It is very clear that the roots of this crisis lie in the hands of Robert Mugabe and the inner circle of his ruling party. All the chances Zimbabwe have been presented with in the past have been wasted, and the rule of law has been replaced by the whimsical and cruel decree of the self appointed elite. In my opinion we can and should help the lives of the people in Zimbabwe by donating to charities that work there so that they can continue to provide aid to this man-made crisis.