'Christmas is cancelled' in Zimbabwe

BULOWAYO, Zimbabwe, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Zimbabweans, with their economy destroyed and a cholera epidemic raging, say they are in no mood for Christmas celebrations.

"Christmas is cancelled this year," Thabiso Nxumalo told the Integrated Regional Information Network, a U.N. news agency.

President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country since independence in 1980, continues to resist calls to step down or at least to reach a settlement with Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic change. The government issued a 10 billion dollar note this week, worth about $20, at least until inflation makes it worthless.

"This year's Christmas will be recorded as the worst in living memory for Zimbabweans; it will be the worst ever since independence," said Buhlebenkosi Sibanda of Bulowayo. "There is no Christmas to talk of this year -- there are no goods in the shops, cash is not available at the banks and people are dying of cholera in their hundreds, and while this is happening President Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai are failing to reach an agreement in forming a government."

She accused the leaders of a "crime against humanity."