And you thought our elections were bad...

Quote:

---

ABUJA (Reuters) - The price of machetes has halved in parts of Nigeria since the end of general elections in April because demand from thugs sponsored by politicians has subsided, the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria reported.


NAN surveyed prices in the northeastern state of Gombe and found that a good quality machete was now selling for 400 naira ($3) compared with 800 naira before the elections, which were marred by politically motivated violence in many states.


"A price survey on machetes, which served as a popular weapon among political thugs in the state, indicated ... a drop in the price of the implement," NAN reported over the weekend.


Machetes are primarily used as a tool for farming in Nigeria but they are also popular among political gangsters.


"Before the conduct of the general elections, I was selling a minimum of seven machetes daily but can hardly sell one a day now," said Usman Masi, a trader quoted by NAN.


Africa's most populous country returned to civilian rule in 1999 after three decades of almost continuous army rule but violence remains a feature of politics, especially during the build-up to elections.


European election monitors estimated that at least 200 people were killed in politically motivated violence during months of campaigning ahead of the April polls.

---

REUTERS

Does this have anything to do with machetes?

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=65852031

The Rwanda debacle was pathetic. The same year SA 'achieved independence'(?)