The Western consensus about Zimbabwe holds that having inherited a country that was as beautiful as it was prosperous, and with the goodwill of the world behind him, President Robert Mugabe has outstayed his welcome at home, outlived his usefulness to his country and exhausted the patience and goodwill of the international community. The West's dominant image of Zimbabwe is one of a country sliding into lawlessness and anarchy.
While true, this is not the whole truth. As in most issues, there are two sides to this story, and Zimbabwe's has not received equal coverage in the international media.
The most recent flash points in Zimbabwe have come at the intersection of land rights and electoral politics. The politics of land is a peculiarly emotional issue everywhere, including Europe, Asia and North America. It is especially so in developing countries, conferring social status and privilege as well as being the most valuable resource. It is inextricably tied to issues of national identity.