BBC reports that Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF political party, the controlling party and the party of the current president, Robert Mugabe, will move to extend Mugabe's term of service two years in order to have elections coincide with parliamentary elections. Their justification is to cut costs.

It is no surprise that Mugabe and his party are pushing to stay in power longer. Mugabe and his party have been criticized greatly over the last years, especially since 2001, for the choices they make: The eviction of many white farmers from their land, multiple corrupt elections, political abuse of opposition leader Morgan Tsvingari, the eradication of street vendors in Harare and Bulawayo and for having the highest inflation rate in the world at over 1000%.

I was planning on posting about Mugabe today anyway, because I saw the movie the Interpreter last night which highlights a corrupt African leader who was once notably a hero. Mugabe, even among his critics is still considered a hero, leading the rebellion against Britain to gain independence. But he is blood thirsty in power, and foolish in politics. He is tyrannical and whimsical. He manipulates his people and lets them starve for his own political gain.

Mugabe is in good health for an 82 year old. He once had one of the most developed nations in Africa, but Zimbabwe is failing under his recent leadership. It is time for change.

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