A huge elephant died of human starvation in the forests of Zimbabwe. The elephant's carcass was completely disintegrated in just two hours, leaving only the skeleton. The tragedy epitomizes years of famine in Zimbabwe, a country once known as the "breadbasket of Africa" now mired in an economic and food crisis.
Zimbabwe's famine problem did not happen overnight, and its roots can be traced back to political decisions made decades ago. In the early 2000s, the government introduced massive land reform measures, which led to the eviction of white farmers and a sharp decline in agricultural production. At the same time, international sanctions cut off external aid, inflation soared, and the country fell into economic collapse.
In addition, successive droughts have exacerbated food shortages. In 2019, Zimbabwe suffered a severe drought that was not seen in a century, severely affecting agricultural production. In this context, food supplies are scarce and the economy is in turmoil, and the people of Zimbabwe have to face the threat of hunger.
The Zimbabwean government has tried to take some steps to ease the crisis, but problems remain. The economy remains fragile, large numbers of young people are unemployed, and some indulge in cheap drugs, such as "cough syrups" containing addictive drugs, to escape reality. Drugs are rampant and social problems are intensifying.
Zimbabwe, once the "breadbasket of Africa", is no longer there. The economic collapse, food shortages and social problems are intertwined to make the country's future uncertain.