Current Events Summary 3/6

Times are very tough in South Africa. The region of South Africa is facing many different kinds of turmoil at the moment. The economic crisis is among the worst in the world in terms of inflation. Inflation is Zimbabwe tops out at 24,470%, the highest in the world. To put a bit of perspective on the number, 15 million Zimbabwe dollars is the equivalent of 3 US dollars. The country is facing massive shortages of food and gasoline, as well as hard currency and other necessities. One of these necessities may be covered by an emerging medical breakthrough. A new vaccine for Tuberculosis is being testes in South Africa. While it's only being tested on children so far, it may help reduce the suspected 1.5 million people a year that still die from TB.
A political outcry has been sparked over current President Mugabe's ex-finance minister, Makoni trying to unseat the current President in the up coming election. Since Zimbabwe has such a high inflation rate and unemployment is estimated at 80%, Makoni feels he is best suited for the Presidency. Mugabe has held power ever since Zimbabwe's independence, 28 years ago.
A man accused of smuggling nuclear weapons has been sentenced to a suspended 15 year jail sentence in a South African court. Daniel Geiges, pleaded guilty to the import and export of equipment. The leader of the smuggling ring was a Pakistani scientist by the name of Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is charged with leaking nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea.
Life is very difficult for the people of South Africa right now. With a failing economy, and lacking many necessities of life, people will have to struggle to survive.