Worldfocus » Andrew Meldrum

Zimbabwe crisis persists though absent from headlines

Worldfocus — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:57:39 +0000

Recently, the humanitarian crisis in the African country of Zimbabwe was front-page news, with reports of widespread hunger and a growing cholera epidemic. That story has been pushed aside by other events in days since, but the crisis there has not eased — and the cholera death toll has now surpassed 1,600.

Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, reported from Zimbabwe for more than 20 years and joins Martin Savidge to discuss the state of the country’s health sector and how the U.S. can respond to the crisis.

Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, discusses the state of Zimbabwe’s health sector as the cholera crisis worsens and considers how the U.S. can respond to the situation. /files/2009/01/th_zimbabwe_meldrum.jpg /files/2009/01/th_zimbabwe_meldrum.jpg

Humanitarian crisis unfurls in a volatile Zimbabwe

Worldfocus — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:48:24 +0000

In Zimbabwe, a major humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. An ongoing cholera epidemic has killed nearly 1,000 people, even as political uncertainty surrounding leader Robert Mugabe persists.

A military commander close to Mugabe was shot on Saturday, in what the Zimbabwe government claimed was an assassination attempt.

Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, reported from Zimbabwe for more than 20 years and joins Martin Savidge to discuss the shooting incident, the future of the political situation in Zimbabwe and potential options for the Obama administration in the African nation.

Read our previous coverage of the political and health crises in Zimbabwe.

Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, discusses Zimbabwe’s political instability and its future as a major humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. /files/2008/12/th_zim_meldrum.jpg /files/2008/12/th_zim_meldrum.jpg

World leaders call for Zimbabwe’s Mugabe to step down

Worldfocus — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:07:49 +0000

As cholera spreads through Zimbabwe and the humanitarian situation worsens, world leaders — including U.S. President Bush — are calling for President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Many African countries have been slow to criticize the Zimbabwean leader, but Kenya recently called for foreign intervention.

A spokesman for Mugabe claimed that the U.S. and United Kingdom are planning to invade Zimbabwe.

Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, reported from Zimbabwe for more than 20 years and joins Martin Savidge to discuss the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe’s role in the country and international calls for the leader to step down.

Below, bloggers discuss the humanitarian and political situations in Zimbabwe.

Blogger “Sokwanele” posts images of raw sewage in the streets of Ruwa — an ominous sign for the spread of cholera as the disease spreads. For more on the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, see our previous Blogwatch: Cholera claims more than 560 lives in Zimbabwe.

The “Kubatana” blog writes that it is the failing government who is responsible for the health crisis.

The “Foreign Policy Blog” says that international calls for Mugabe’s removal give him the excuse to play victim of Western imperialism.

The “Back Towards the Locus” blog responds to an article in the Times Online that calls on the African Union to send troops into Zimbabwe, arguing that such military action would endanger aid workers and exacerbate instability.

Andrew Meldrum, a senior editor at GlobalPost, discusses the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe and international calls for President Robert Mugabe to step down. /files/2008/12/th_zimbabwe_mugabe.jpg /files/2008/12/th_zimbabwe_mugabe.jpg