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John Meakin

Thanks to IQ and the Spectator for an outstanding debate. I am not surprised the motion was carried so decisively. The entire panel seemed united in condemning the moral repugnance of government policy that has brought the country to the point of total collapse. This is an emotional, multifaceted and messy subject that resists simplistic answers. But while applauding all that Britain has done to try to mitigate the problem, I do believe we could and should have done more/better. We still can. So our failure is relative and rightly should be shared with the international community (UN), especially South Africa and even China, who all surely could and should have done more. Our hearts go out to the people of Zimbabwe in their plight and we can only hope and pray things will improve soon. During the debate I asked whether the problem was essentially "mugabe-esque", in other words, intrinsic to him and therefore likely to be soon resolved after his passing. I hope and believe so. Whilst not wishing the elderly Mr Mugabe an unseemly exit to meet his maker, I want to see the Zimbabwe people liberated from chronic misrule as soon as possible. Sincerely, John Meakin