As the global economic balance of power shifts from the West to the East, it is becoming increasingly evident that we are living through the tail end of half a millennium of Western supremacy.

South Africa's government says it is withdrawing the special status granted to illegal Zimbabwean immigrants who fled their country's economic meltdown and political violence. Government spokesman Themba Maseko said South Africa will begin deportations after Dec. 31. It ends an April 2009 amnesty that allowed Zimbabweans to stay in the country without passports and visas.

The 27-nation European Union (EU) has provided the landlocked country in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, 180 million Euros for health, education, food security and governance.

A new Zimbabwean temporary travel document (TTD) is not being recognized by neighbouring South Africa's immigration authorities, preventing cross-border traders from sourcing goods for resale.