There is a classic eastern proverb that goes like this, “When two elephants are fighting, it is the grass who suffers.” Unfortunately for the people of  Zimbabwe, there is no end in sight for their suffering. It will take an estimated $5 billion for Zimbabwe to recover from it’s 10 year old recession according to an article written by Brian Latham on Bloomberg.com. Given  Zimbabwe’s dire outlook, they should probably take a number and get in line for a bailout from the US government.  However, Latham’s article unveils the sour outlook given Zimbabwae by the us based on the country’s poor human rights record.

This begs the question though, who is really punished in the end? This situation is remeniscent of the scene in Gaza. Though the “leaders” bear the brunt of the responsibility for their people, when they are deemed ineffective, what is the correct response?

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangira was involved in a deadly car crash today. Although the Prime Minister survived with non-life threatening injuries, his wife of 30 years, Susan, was killed. They have six children together according to Tsvangira’s official website. Although there is no indication of foul play, it should be noted that Mugabe’s rivals have had a higher than normal accident rate. At least three opposition members have met untimely death’s via accident since 1999.

A CNN article highlights the dubious background which has faced Mugabe’s opposition leaders.

“I’m skeptical about any motor vehicle accident in Zimbabwe involving an opposition figure,” said Tom McDonald, the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe from 1997 to 2001. “President Mugabe has a history of strange car accidents when someone lo and behold dies — it’s sort of his M.O. of how they get rid of people they don’t like. Quote courtesy CNN

The accident will also test the fragile power sharing agreement recently agreed to by Mugabe and Tsvangira. With an accident occurring less than one month after Tsvangira taking office, this underscores the dubious reputation which Mugabe has engendered domestically and internationally.

It’s been a long haul for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. If you’ll think back a couple of decades, or peruse your Bob Marley collection you may remember Mugabe was the darling of Africa. His was hailed as a freedom fighter after the Bush Wars in the late 60s. He led what was previously known as Southern Rhodesia out of British colonialism and into a new era of independence.

Mugabe’s hold on power for nearly 30 years has resulted in violence, economic chaos and instability. Check out the the posts on Mugabe and Tsvangira.

Say what you will, but Obama’s job is going to be a lot easier than the incoming Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai. In a power sharing agreement that was negotiated after elections which were held nearly one year ago, Tsvangirai has large obstacles to overcome to get his country back on track. He was sworn in as Prime Minister today.

In addition to walking a fine line in sharing power with long time dictator and some time thug, Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai will have to combat an economy with an unemployment rate of 90%, a cholera outbreak as well as the shutdown of schools in the wake of a humanitarian and political crisis.

Say what you will about Obama’s problems, but it seems that Tsvangiria’s got it worse. Could you imagine Bush still hanging over Obama’s shoulder?