Something that has been troubling me for a while - have been reluctant to raise it cause if there is credence to this theory, there is a good reason to make sure it does not get attention.
The essence of the conspiracy theory is that Robert Mugabe is being bankrolled by some (or a) cigarette company in response to the efforts to dismantle the tobacco industry in Zimbabwe.
There are many documents and lots of information available about the collapse of Zimbabwe and the associated dismantling of the tobacco industry and the land reform policies. The impact of this was initially seen in 1998 and finally collapsed around 2000. The State of California in the USA imposed smoking bans in public spaces in 1998 after many years of campaigning. This then started a global following of the policies and resultant cut down in terms of cigarette advertising and public place smoking bans. It is a feasible conclusion, or merely conincidence, that the first thing that was destroyed in Zimbabwe was the agricultural sector and specifically the tobacco industry. I recall seeing footage of this process at the time and it alarmed me then. Simply put ... if the changes in legislation were to have an impact, it would mean that there would be a reduction in demand for tobacco. Zimbabwe was one of the world's largest tobacco producers and yet one that was the easiest to dismantle as there was political instability. To protect US based production, it makes good sense to take out some significant competition.
I do not have a detailed collection of info on this since it has merely been the collection of ideas over the last while, but has really troubled me. I have tried on numerous occasions to make contact with the US government to solicit some form of response (started while I was living in the USA from 2001 to 2003) and to date I have not even had an acknowledgement from the US government. (Not that my enquiry has sufficient weight to expect a response.)
It seems a plausible explanation for the manner in which things have been done. I have also run this theory past a number of people including reporters and there has been varied response to the theory. I am looking for additional information that would possibly prove or disprove the theory. A good number of people are keen to expose this if some evidence can be obtained.
I know of too many people there who have suffered. If this is true and is exposed, it may bring about some change. Love to hear some comments.
