Madam, - As members of the executive committee of the former Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement, one of whose main objectives was to support the liberation of Zimbabwe from white minority rule, we wish to express our deep concern about the deteriorating political and economic situation in that country. We agree with the tenor of your Editorial of March 15th.
Political and human rights have been eroded and reports show that inflation and unemployment are running at staggering levels. The state is being undermined and the rule of law is virtually collapsing. We hope that the highly respected, non-partisan International Crisis Group is correct in its view that there exists a convergence of a number of political and economic factors for a negotiated departure of the current Zimbabwean leader.
Be that as it may, there is still a need to recognise that the international community (through the 14-member-state South African Development community) has a choice: to influence the situation now to save the Zimbabwean state or get unavoidably involved later in rescuing a "failed" state. - Yours, etc,
TERENCE P. MCCAUGHEY, GEARÓID KILGALLEN, RAFIQUE MOTTIAR, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Robert Mugabe has said that he will tell the ambassadors of other countries that Zimbabwe is not a country which is "a piece of Europe". This may well be the most accurate observation he has ever made. No country in Europe, blessed with the natural resources that Zimbabwe possesses, would be unable to feed itself, have an unemployment rate of 80 per cent and an inflation rate currently running at 1,730 per cent. - Yours, etc,
DAVID DOYLE, Gilford Park, Sandymount, Dublin 4.