ジンバブエの独裁者ムガベ大統領、極貧に苦しむ国民を尻目にアイスクリーム会社設立

ロバート・ムガベ大統領と妻グレース・ムガベ夫人は、アイスクリームとチョコレートの会社の立ち上げを思いついた。

国連世界食糧計画(WFP)の最新統計によると、ジンバブエは最貧国の一つだ。現在、ジンバブエ国民の72%は貧困ライン(必要最低限の生活水準を維持するために必要な収入)を下回った生活をしており、1日に稼ぐことのできるお金は1.25USドルにも満たない。

しかし、ロバート・ムガベ大統領と妻グレース・ムガベ夫人は、そんな状況でもアイスクリームとチョコレートの会社の立ち上げを思いついた。

ガーディアン紙が2012年に「長い間、国の財産をすべて搾取していると非難されている」と書いたように、この浪費癖の激しい大統領とファーストレディーは、地元のスーパーに「アルファ・オメガ」というブランドの製品を置くことを発表した。

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2013年8月、大統領就任式でアイスクリームを食べるムガベ大統領 AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER JOE (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images)

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2013年1月、大統領選挙の集会で演説するグレース夫人(右)とアイスクリームを食べるムガベ大統領

2012年、世界最大の食品メーカー、ネスレが2012年にグレース夫人の農場からミルクの購入を停止したため、夫人は自国の食品メーカー「アルファ・オメガ」を立ち上げた。ネスレは2009年にも、人権問題活動家からの圧力により、グレース夫人の経営するグシュンゴ・デイリー・エステートとの取引を終了している。

ジンバブエの国営テレビ局は、新しいデザートの製品の発表を放映した。大臣や政府官僚たちがさまざまなアイスクリームを食べる様子が現地メディアのアイウィットネス・ニュースで取り上げられている。ジンバブエの農林水産大臣は、「アルファ・オメガは低価格なので参入当初から国内市場のシェアの30%を獲得している」と話した。アルファ・オメガはミルク、ヨーグルト、ジュースも生産している。

ジンバブエの独裁者ムガベ大統領は、アイスクリーム事業に参入するのは良いアイディアだと思っているのかもしれないが、この国はまだ長期の経済危機に苦しんでいる。ジンバブエでは多くの企業が破綻し、IMFと世界銀行はムガベ大統領に増大する一方の債務を返済するように迫っている

国がもっと多く食料品を生産すれば、去年よりも今年のほうが食料不足で困る人は少なくなるだろう。しかし国連によると、ジンバブエの食と栄養の供給はまだ「脆弱」で、「自然や経済の影響を受けやすい」と注意を促している。2003年で63%だった地方の極貧地域の割合は、2014年で76%にまで跳ね上がっており、この国ではまだ多くの人がその日食べる物を探すのに苦労している。

ムガベ大統領
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Zimbabwe President Mugabe is seen during celebrations to mark his 91st birthday in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Saturday Feb, 28, 2015. Mugabe turned 91 on the 21st of February to become the worlds oldest leader with his supporters saying they will back him to run his full term until 2018 and beyond despite nagging questions about his health and a struggling economy.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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President Robert Mugabe is seen during celebrations to mark his 91st birthday in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Saturday Feb, 28, 2015. Mugabe turned 91 on the 21st of February and become the world\'s oldest leader, with his supporters saying they will back him to run his full term until 2018 - despite questions about his health and an economy that is crumbling under his watch. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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President Robert Mugabe is seen during celebrations to mark his 91st birthday in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Saturday Feb, 28, 2015. Mugabe turned 91 on the 21st of February and become the world\'s oldest leader, with his supporters saying they will back him to run his full term until 2018 - despite questions about his health and an economy that is crumbling under his watch. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe attends a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Aug. 26 2014. Mugabe, who has been criticized by Western nations for human rights violations, was welcomed Monday with a 21-gun salute at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP Photo/Diego Azubel, Pool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Zimbabwe President and Zanu-PF ruling party leader Robert Mugabe delivers his key note address during the official opening of the 6th Peoples Congress of Zanu-PF in Harare on December 4, 2014. Mugabe sought to shut down a bubbling succession battle at a key party congress, warning that his embattled deputy and onetime heir apparent could face criminal charges.\nAFP PHOTO/JEKESAI NIJIKIZAMA (Photo credit should read JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEKESAI NJIKIZANA via Getty Images)
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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attends the funeral of his sister Bridget in Zvimba, Zimbabwe, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, about 100 kilometres west of Harare. Mugabe who turns 90 was next month, says he doesnât have a secret for longevity and that he is alive because it\'s \"all in God\'s hands\". The long time leader, who has outlived his five siblings, was addressing family members, party leaders and traditional chiefs at his rural home in Zvimba, west of the capital Harare. (AP Photo / Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A birthday cake celebrating the 91st birthday of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, during birthday celebrations in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Saturday Feb, 28, 2015. Mugabe turned 91 on the 21st of February to become the worlds oldest leader with his supporters saying they will back him to run his full term until 2018 and beyond despite nagging questions about his health and a struggling economy.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。

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