Economically, Zimbabwe has been in a down-swing since 1998.  Many services have been put on hold or significantly lessened because of the extreme levels of hyperinflation.  Hyperinflation occurs when inflation cannot be normally regulated by the economy.  The currency loses value as prices increase rapidly.  In an attempt to meet the demands of inflation by printing money to cover the costs, the inflation problem actually advances by further devaluing the currency.  People lose faith in the currency and resort to quickly buying goods with all of their income and not saving or investing locally. The latest financial report out of Harare shows inflation to be near 4,000 percent and some predict it to reach 9,000 percent by year's end.  

Recently, the government created a strict response to the inflation, demanding and enforcing a 50 percent price cut on goods.  BBCnews reported how this price cut provoked a run on stores that consequently left businesses in a pinch—they had to cut prices, often at a huge loss, or be arrested.  At the same time, the government asked citizens not to create a false demand by buying in bulk, but with the current state of the economy, many Zimbabweans disregarded the request and attempted to stock up on the essentials.

The supply of and access to necessities like food, gasoline, electricity, and safe water have been significantly reduced.  Because salaries cannot rise at rates comparable to the inflation, all groups have been struggling to pay employees.  Reportedly, unemployment is currently between 80 and 90 percent, or in other words, every 4 out of 5 individuals are jobless.  Some public servants in health care, education, and security have either gone on strike or threatened to strike for a suitable raise in wages, which, in the meantime, considerably lowers the number of patrons who can access the crucial services they provide.  Although some wages have been increased by the government, most remain inadequate.

Deteriorating economic conditions aptly reflect the current political atmosphere as the media and opposition to the ZANU-PF party, are increasingly stifled.  According to a recent article entitled  “Zimbabwe: human rights in crisis” compiled by Amnesty International, Article 19, Human Rights Watch, the International Bar Association and Redress,  "the government of Zimbabwe has failed to respect and protect the rights contained in the African Charter." These organizations, over the past 10 years, have "carefully monitored the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, through a combination of research, testimonies and field work" and submitted their findings as a combined effort to challenge Zimbabwe's own submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights last October. Other reports have said that currently, all public meetings require police approval, leading to very few resistance-run meetings. 

With HIV/AIDS and the continual brain drain also assaulting Zimbabwe, we can look to vocal members of internal opposition for alternatives for dissenters and ways to support those desiring to improve the deteriorating conditions. There are a number of diaspora sources that provide dissenting views through radio and print from outside of the country.  One of the most vocal opponents is Archbishop Ncube of Bulawayo, who has even asked for international assistance in removing President Mugabe.  The efforts of Ncube and the Church have inspired some Zimbabweans to stay in the country and demand a peaceful resolution to their economic woes.

While the West has been able to criticize the human rights abuses of the ZANU-PF party, one might wonder if more cannot be done to pressure the Zimbabwean government.  President Mugabe has been clear about his disregard of the West, going as far as to say that the West has created the economic crisis that Zimbabwe is currently experiencing as a way to remove him from power.  In the past five years, Western nations have imposed selective sanctions against certain individuals, but something else needs to be done. Others analyzing this crisis say that an increase in the amount of Western pressure  would deter the government from abusing human rights.