Pitch & Fan,
Remember too, that aside from the vested interest in the status quo there is also the question of quid pro quo. The "comrades" in Zim helped our current erstwhile leadership during the struggle by supplying shelter and supplies for the "strugglers" and now that the struggle is over the debt is being called in. Mbeki et al cannot say/do much more than they already have because they "owe" Bobby MacCabe for his support when they needed it.
Twotter,
Too true. One needs only stand at the SA end of Beit Bridge and look all the way to the north to see what our future holds. It may take longer than Zim (I hope it does) but I believe it is inevitable that Africa will settle down to the lowest common factor.