Mike Davidson, Singapore , Singapore

Human beings never give up hope. There is hope so long as the West does not interfere in the politics of any country. It is not ethical to support or fund one party against another which is not aligned to the West. In the case of Myanmar it is d same.
170608

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

dictators rise and dictators fall.
The world is powerless in the face of them, and does nothing to rid the planet of them.
There is no help when its needed, help only comes when the situation is resolving itself naturally.
World leaders! Vultures arriving at opportune moments to claim victory

Chris Cross, Harare, Zimbabwe

The problem is that what Kim,Kenya said is thought by at least 30% of Zims.Someone has forgotten to remind them that during the bush war sanctions were put on Rhodesia and that made the country even stronger cos they localised everything-industry and agriculture thrived everyone was employed and fed

Claire, Brisbane,

Nikodem- get your facts straight. South Africa is NOT doing well without "whites" as you put it. The crime rate has soared, unemployment is rife, the economy is falling...wake up and smell the coffee...S/Africa is on the decline as those of us in Sub-saharan africa know. Just like Zimbabwe.

Lesego, Francistown, Botswana

I've seen it all now..An Israeli having a pop at the UK for "Forcing" Rhodesian independence...A chinese exile asking is this not a free world...and who knows what the Kenyan was moaning about...
Haven't you lot got your own issues to deal with? I do agree to leave the Africans to sort out their ow

Andy C, chelmsford,

Why wasn't Mugabi arrested in Rome and dragged to the Hague to face crimes against humanity?.

Kenneth O'Boyle, Perth, UK

Zimbabwe is surviving on remittances from the UK and the USA,if these ceased, the regime would fall within 2 months as they could not import fuel,electricity and industry would come to a halt.The people will not suffer any more than they have.Close all accounts remitting money to Zimbabwe and watch

mchugh mudunge, Birmingham, united kingdom

The usual anti-colonial nonsense from "Kim", seeking to blame the UK for Zimbabwe's plight. Kim, if what you said was true, then Cuba's people also would be starving and have minimal life expectancy, since they have manifestly suffered from the sanctions imposed on them by the US.

Peter Johnstone, Christchurch, New Zealand

If the Chinese Government is supplying Zanu PF with weapons and ammunition, can we assume that Zanu PF is paying China for these weapons with large swathes of Zimbabwean farmland?

Colin, Cambridge, UK

The problem is that Zimbabwe is a land-locked country surrounded by neighbours who even if not actively supportive of Mugabe, have deep historical, cultural and racial motivation to keep the developed nations away. Without military bases or legal overflying rights in the region, who could invade?

Ali D, St Helier, JERSEY

The West was instrumental in destroying Rhodesia, and now they seek to "help". However, no other African country agrees because Mugabe is the most highly regarded leader in Africa.
In Africa the most violent, the most powerful and the most corrupt leaders are also the most admired.

Peter Rice, Brighton, UK

IT's tempting to claim, as many commentators do that the developed world's lack of desire to invade Zimabwe with military force and overthrow MUgabe's regime is because he has no oil. However, Zimbabwe is rich in many other vital commodities and minerals vital to an industrialised country.

Ali D, St Helier, JERSEY

Kim, Kiambu, Kenya:
Collapse of the Zimbabwe economy is all to do with corruption and incompetence of ZANU(PF) and nothing to do with UK. When personal sanctions were imposed against Mugabe in 2002, he defiantly said it would have no effect as there wasn't anything he could possibly want from UK.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

Mugabe is not democratic and ignoring will of his people, ok.
How democratic are Brown & Clegg who do not want referendum on Lisbon treaty? Not much better than Mugabe.

savo, london, uk

Yes Mr Clegg and we must cut you off from your EU pension that doesnt enable you to crticise the EU without forfieting it, hence your pathetic EU referendum about face.
As for Zim lets practice Democracy at home before we preach to others.

Andy Murray, reading, uk

invade it and restore democracy and a resonable living for most people in Zimbabwe.

Andries Graver, bridgetown, barbados

Whites get it over, Zimbabwe land is lost for you, what are you going to do return Zimbabwa land back to whites. As you see South Africa is doing ok without whites, so Zimbabwa will do

nikodem, warszawa, poland

I'm afraid the cerebral feeblemindedness abounds in all governments of this beautiful and bountiful region, peopled by the most warm and generous folk. I'm afraid that there aren't many shining beacons of good governance on the continent at all... Botswana perhaps. Mbeki has been silent as have all.

Dale, Australia,

Zimbabwe is on track to becoming another Burma.
The ruling elite care nothing for their people.
The election is a foregone conclusion. Mugabe will win. Only military intervention would force a regime change. Then we would have a second Iraq.
There is no hope.

Mike Davidson, Singapore , Singapore

I'm sorry but does Mr Mugabwe suffer from dementia ? The only way to hit him is in his own pocket, unfortunately that can't help the poor and sick in the short term.

A Hignell, Bristol, Endland

due to the interferance of the Britain the Zimbabwean Economy has tremendously declined in the last 10 years to a level that was earlier unimaginable, the British did this to force a regime change which every body that knows what is happen in Iraq and Afghanistan would be worried about.

Kim, Kiambu, Kenya

Cutting off foreign exchange would be ideal in principle, if the Chinese play the game too.

Alan, New Orleans, USA

To have a free and fair election, to see Mugabe and Dis-Grace and the nightmarish military, real/fake wo vets and youth brigade disappear or swept into Ckikarubi - it's the stuff of dreams and then we might even be able to go home and live our lives instead of being square pegs in round holes.

Susan, Irving, Texas, USA

Years ago I read an article on the International Criminal Court that said that a consequence of the ICC may be that despots fought to the bitter end to stay in power and escape trial and possible execution, as opposed to retiring to obscure luxury as they used to. Makes you think.

Angela, Epping, Australia

Boris, London, UK

Is this not a free world? Anything wrong with China owning pcs of land through legal means. Has Zim refused to sell land to the West? Please note other than the Zims, ownership of land by all foreigners is temporary only. Cant take away.So the West should not get too stressed.

Lim Hing Thing, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The last thing Zimbabweans need is sanctions!
What is needed is the UN and an army to stop the brutality - it's strange that some countries are quick to go places that have oil and 'sort them out' but they've totally ignored Africa lately, could it be that they've taken all they can and don't care?

Meg Kruse, Milton Keynes, England

Mr Clegg's views are singularly unattractive. Why punish poor Zimbabweans for Mugabe's perceived sins? A policy goal to get rid of Mugabe must not be used to inflict further injuries on a very vulnerable and suffering populace. What will happen to AIDS orphans who need medicines, food and fees?

Patrick, Aberdeen, Scotland

Maybe it makes some people including the elites feel good, but has not the "world" done enough. Zimbabwe has become a basket case since independence. The UK and the world's forcing Rhodesia and South African into independence has been a disaster. You need to apologize for the harm you have done.

Chayim Phillips, Jerusalem, Israel

Nothing is going to be done by the West to ensure a free election.A million people in Rwanda were murdered by machetes and we did nothing. Seeing politicians trying to give the impression that they can or want to do anything would be amusing if it weren't so tragic. Of course we should intervene.

John Slinger, Rugby, UK

Mr Clegg. There is politics to tackle here besides cutting off foreign currency. There are players behind the scenes with long term goals. Much of the land is now owned by Beijing. An interest that the UK and other governments are hesitant to confront. Perhaps a LIb Dem leader would take this on??

Boris, London, UK

Yes, you can find some of the money and perhaps after a long fight, cut it off. But all of it? In truth this struggle is for the Africans themselves and there is little we can do to help. Intervention usually makes things worse.

Colin, Malaga, Spain

The people who will suffer most are the ordinary man on the street, life expectancy will plunge further. Would the number of people who would die from starvation and ruin if foreign currency was blocked be considered justified 'collateral damage' to unhinge Mugabe's regime?

Joanna, Dubai, UAE

Aye!
And stop selling luxury goods to Zimbabwe.. Mugabe's wife will sack him.

Rui, Lisbon, Portugal

Cut off the aid I say!What is happening in Zim is horrendous. Haralambos,don't generalise and say "this is how africans see it." We in Botswana dont see it like that.Zimbabweans are flocking into our country since they are being killed in South Africa anyway! Mugabe must go bc the ppl are suffering.

Lesego, Francistown, Botswana

Freeze all Bank Accounts and Assets of African Dictators throught the Banking World and look into the how much they are in credit and distribute this wealth to the appropriate poor of the Countries from which each of these Dictator come.

Stop all Foreign Aid until this is accomplished.

Sceptic

Sceptic, Romford, Essex

He must have billions salted away outside the Country, can it be got at and frozen?.

jim, donegal , ireland

Nick Clegg. But, would cutting off access to foreign currency really deprive Zanu PF of funds? The battlefield in Africa has always involved bigger players. The Soviet Union used to bankroll the Freedom Fighters. More recently the CCP has become involved. Perhaps you should address them as well.

Colin, Cambridge, UK

Africa is a lost cause so only the liberal/left would worry about that bottomless pit were billions of our cash ends up. Ps I've suspected for sometime now The Times was going like The Guardian & here we now have Nick Clegg writing for you!

Jack, Manchester, England

A PM who doesn't support democracy in the UK (no election/ by-election) or the EU, is hardly the best man to do something (anything) to support it in Zimbabwe. Mugabe WAS elected - Brown wasn't. With a Govt and PM who resort to bribes to suspend civil rights we are not well placed to lecture Mugabe.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

For Gawd's sake! Who are our allies in Africa? We have no friends in Africa . None. Let the people rid themselves of their own foul dictators in the only way they know how - with brutality. Our "'great leader " is a coward when it comes to telling African leaders to shape up or get shot..

Birch bark, Lausanne, Switzerland

Do you blame the child or the parent, sanction the hell out of South Africa and the rest of the african countries that have there hands in this blood. Another question - why, if Mugabe has war crimes against humanity, was the UN powerless to arrest him in Rome. Who's not taking responsibility?

Mark , London,

Here's another way... tell those countries in Africa who have supported Mugabe and who we in turn support with aid that ALL reconstruction finance for Zimbabwe will have to come out of CURRENT african aid budgets.. the longer it goes on, the more expensive the fix... the less aid these countries get

abharrisson, london,

did i heer correctly that Mbeki is related to Mugabe? or is that just gossip?

stuart park, Fareham, uk

How are you going to cut the foreign currency without affecting the people who are already suffering? For the masses in Zimbabwe there is no foreign currency! More than 2 million Zimbabweans are in Gaborone! God only knows how many are in the rest of Botswana.

Ndanji, Masunga, Botswana

"....achilles heel his wallet."
What has happened Nick have all the Swiss banks closed down then and nobody told me?
The same remark applies to ALL of Africa which is why I would not send them a penny is charity money.

Robert D., Chelmsford, Essex.,

Before those concerned with Zim's plight option regime change think about this - if the situation were reversed would Zimbawe consider doing something to change things in the U.K.? Ridiculous? Maybe but that's how Africans see it.

haralambos, johannesburg, south africa

Mr Mugabwe and supporters are showing all the signs of an oppressive regime in decline. It has a deathwish, and a 'Dog in the Manager' attitude of 'If I cant have it, then nobodys going to have it!' Just hope that the UK government does NOT allow Mugabwe, or his cronies into the UK if they turn up!

B Clark, Chelmsford, England

What is happening, and what has happened, to sad Zimbabwe is so staggeringly incomprehensible.
Could it be said that the cause is not greed for power but cerebral feeblemindedness on the part of this bizarre chief?

hilarie, los olivos, usa