I am a Zimbabwean,, was born and raised in Bulawayo. Me and my family were lucky under British rule, got out early. However as a surviving British colonialist that prospered on the system when it was still under Ian Smith's government and saw independence happen, I had a slight feeling when I left to the US that something devastating, even at 21 years of age, like this would occur. Poverty, death, Aids, poor living conditions, little or no education and absolutely zero health care. The question is now.. what do we do to help.. do we stand by and let these people suffer, because its an issue of race.. or do we help? How is the question..if you are reading this, then you know who you are. I got lucky and so did my family.
Natalie Miles. Bulawayo

Natalie, Bulawayo, now Los Angeles, United States

The one point that is distressing about some of the comments here is that they are made in support of Mugabe by people who have never lived in Africa. Colonisation was good for most countries, and it is apparent that after in some cases, 100 years of especially British as Rhodesia was, soon after the black terrorists took over, the countries are desolate and as people who know, who live there even now, and I lived in SA for 25 years until 1999, that once rich country will be like Zimbabwe in about 10 years. The real racists in this situation are those who have never lived there but feel guilty about the perceived "poor blacks suffering" which was rubbish under a white government, even Apartheid will be proven to have been better, and by supporting black rule before they are ready, condemn the masses to an early death after a life of abject poverty, which did not occur by African standards under a colonial government, even Apartheid. What moral right had these meddlers to interfere?

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

The international community is pathetic - This is genocide in slow motion. There are international laws against this kind of situation isn't there? Whats the point of individuals following laws if countries don't do the same? Lets all live in anarchy

Zak, London, UK

I had tears reading your story for the courage and dignity in which these people bear such abominable conditions; conditions brought about by one man's heinous ego and loathsome reign. A thank you is due you for caring about and helping Sarudzai Gumbo and to your readers for their donations. If only all the children of this now forsaken country could be given such succor or airlifted out and brought to a safe and healing place. How can the governments of the world stand by and allow this horror to continue?

sharon, london, england

The worlds inaction in Zimbabwe is the great shame of our day.

While the United Nations sit talking and Zimbabwe's neighbors turn disgraceful blind eyes, the millions in Zimbabwe are dying in a country regressing back to the stone age.

I fear the general attitude is, "Mugabe is an old man, he'll die soon and then we'll take action"

That will be far too late for this once great country.

What will it take for REAL action to be taken? how many will have to die?

While tragically sad, i'm afraid the only answer here is armed action either from forces within Zimbabwe supported by the west or from outside the country to remove Mugabe who's policies or now quite literally killing the people of Zimbabwe.

Standing by and watching as these people die is in my opinion not far from being an accessory to genocide.

Michael, London,

The sad thing is it is impossible (well for me, anyway) to tell at what point this could have been averted. Independence had to happen. Corruption, it seems, had to happen. Perhaps China will be part of the solution - untainted by colonialism and needing the produce of Africa.

Geoffrey, Sydney,

It is to all our everlasting shame that we stand by watching this preventable catastrophic human tragedy unfold in slow motion before our very eyes.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

The current leaders of Africa should be ashamed. They should look to how and why Julius Nyere of Tanzania overthrew Idi Amin in Uganda and do the same to Mugabe.

Rob Champion, Lima, Peru

Of course, Bishop Tutu of South Africa, came running to Israel last year to inquire about and lament the accidental wounding of two Palestinian children by Israeli gunfire. Israel and the Israeli/Palestinian crisis is a means for dictators, tyrants, monsters world-wide, to deflect world attention from their own horrendous and massive crimes against humanity. It will always be so,
unfortunately.

Mike Cato , Vestal, USA/NEW YORK

I thought the headline related to the UK

D BERRY, LUTON, uk