Zimbabwe is another example of the danger of populism, using fear, nationalism and race to manipulate gullible voters and keep your base motivated despite obvious flaws in your policies. Robert Mugabe had a relatively easy task, using historical political wrongs that led to socioeconomic inequality to distract the populace from the looting of state coffers. He shrewdly targeted his more rural, less educated base as his stronghold. We have seen similar tactics in SA and even now in the US. These types of leaders and nationalistic political parties are logically not so effective, with the urban and better educated sections of the population. The sad story of Zimbabwe is that it had a well-educated urban population that left the country in droves for better pastures — a brain drain. Ironically, South Africans are benefiting from well-educated Zimbabweans in various fields, not always legally employed. Sadly they are also taking jobs away from often less educated locals. The lesson is t...
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