It was once celebrated as a rare African success story — an example of what committed leadership can do. Education for all was the policy Zimbabwean authorities pursued diligently for much of the first decade since independence from Britain in 1980. But then it all started to go wrong.

He could well be a lawyer, what with his reputation for having more to do with legal affairs than most people in that profession. In fact, many people in town think he is — a label that no doubt enhances his business profile. But Khoza is a debt collector, with clients that include a hospital, a bank, a high school and a major pharmacy.

For many subsistence farmers in the semi-arid regions of southern Africa, dependence on drought relief is tantamount to serving a death sentence. Many have been encouraged to expand their production of maize, which is the dominant cereal crop in the 14-member Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Women were among those badly beaten during a demonstration held in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city of Bulawayo on Wednesday. Some were unaware of the protest until it was too late. Others, however, were there for a reason — including Jenni Williams, head of the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise.

Up to 20% of Zimbabwe’s population is estimated to have sought sanctuary and a living wage in neighbouring countries. Mozambique now has an estimated 400 000 Zimbabweans. Botswana says it cannot cope with high numbers of illegal Zimbabwean immigrants and South Africa has announced new visa requirements.