"We are reaching dangerous levels in the agricultural sector. There is nothing on the ground to show that we are a nation that feeds on agriculture. Farms are derelict, farmers have no access to inputs and disturbances on the farms continue, yet the rains are already upon us," wrote Gono in the memo dated December 5, 2005.

"Your timely intervention is needed to save the situation. It is still within our realms to save this nation from the impending crisis, which indeed could become catastrophic if we all don’t pull in the same direction," wrote the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), who was tasked by Mugabe to revive the country’s comatose economy.