I get the impression that the UK / US / UN are just waiting around, hoping that Mugabe dies soon, and fixes it all for them. He's 83, so he can't have that long left. God knows what will happen to the country when he does though - it'll take forever to fix that place.

With investment and know-how from abroad, they could be up and running again in a few seasons, though some might see this as an embarrassing return to colonialism.

Indeed - Mugabe said he was happy to have Zimbabwe boycotted by Western companies as they're all imperialist scum and they're well shot of them. Well done that man. Yes. You can fall back on your indigenous industry. Oh.

He's digging the country further and further into a hole that is rapidly coming to resemble the Dark Ages.

Of course we're assuming here that Mr Mugabe in his tender years still wields policy making power and isn't for example a ceremonial figure masking some army junta. Not that he isn't a bastard, it's just that he might not be THE bastard.

I've always thought those "war veterans" probably hold a lot of power. A handy paramilitary mob to have about as long as they are on your side, but probably not the guys to tick off.