Stop all "aid" forthwith.

Tom Katz, Weybridge, UK

It will be interesting to see in time how credible South Africa's democracy is, if a viable alternative to the ANC emerges. Somehow I believe that the ANC will follow the example of Mugabe's Zanu PF.

Martin, Cambridge, UK

When it comes to African politics, no one can claim to be an expert. Most people had wrongfully predicted that the SADC leaders would come hard on Mugabe. Things don't just work out like that. I live in Harare myself, and I know the majority will not agree with me when I say the opposition here is not up to scratch. The fight amongst themselves when they are not fighting against the regime. They have people in parliament , chosen in an election whose result they do not recognise.

And Mugabe 'loyalists' wont agree with me when I say the old man should step down, if not only because he is past his retirement age. Great torchbearers are known for passing the flame on. Leadership is like a relay; do your lap, and hope the next sprinters will do the best they can.

Tsvangirayi could be the next President of Zimbabwe, but he should learn not to play to the gallery. He has a strong charactrer and should not allow himself to be patronised by whoever, especially the likes of Kate Hoey.

Mutambandadya, Harare,

For too long other African countries have failed to put pressure on Zimbabwe, in particular South Africa has failed. The attack by African states on the West using outdated expressions such as ‘colonist policies’ is pointless & only serves as an attempted excuse for their own ineptitude.
We should cut aid to all these states that do not support us, why should we give
taxpayers money to those who not help themselves or us. In the end they have to stand on their own feet & are responsible for their own actions.

AS, Doncaster, UK

another clanger being dropped. africa does not care about zimbabwe. zimbabwe cares about africa. poor people of zimbabwe have been left to endure so long on their own. the west cant help, they say its an african problem. mugabe has been an expert and a mechanic in fixing the concept that he has the full support of his efrican colleagues never mind ZANU PF . the legacy of mugabe will carry on because we now live in a selfish world.

WILL, LEICESTER, UK

With leaders like these there is clearly no hope for the ordinary people of Africa. However much money the world community pumps in, notthing will change while Africa's leaders have such a disregard for the well being of their own people.

Andrew Brown, derby, UK

Rob, the appointment of Thabo to mediate on zimbabwe is no concrete result. It is an insult in the face of Africans by their african leaders. This is a tired, tried-and-tested-and-failed initiative. Put simply, the meeting was a failure. Its back to the drawing board as desperation edges zimbabweans towards civil war. Mark my words.

Wiriranai, Perth,

I am so sad for this country. If you ever knew anybody from Zimbabwe then you would have seen they were the nicest people you ever meet, black or white. It was not the farmers fault they owned farms in Zim. Mugabe made that agreement with them, then was slack in implementing a land transferal system. How do you in good conscience destroy people, whether they oppose your ideals or not. Please Africa, don't save Zimbabwe, save Africans in Zimbabwe. People that have a right to exist, and you have a duty as leaders to preserve life. Why allow the misery when you have the power to make a difference. Do you have love or compassion for your fellow man at all?

Creigh, Johannesburg, South Africa

Most African 'leaders' are the same as (ex-)communists - they never recognize a fault in their partners in crime.
After all, if they would, their own people might be next in line to demand democracy and sound government. And boy, would that be inconvenient...
Africa is a lost continent, not so much because of it's colonial past, but because of the continued incompetence and egoism of it's 'leaders'.

Bill, Bristol, UK

BASKET CASE? The only thing left of the "food basket of Africa" is the basket. I will be branded a racist on any issue I raise but it appears the "racist white man" has been feeding Africa with money and food for so long that the majority of the people wants the white man back. Sad that no racist will return to the basket case.

Sir Roy, Johannesburg, SA

The devil will have to buy iceskates before africa will condem an african, i sure hope no one was surprised by the outcome of the SADC conference, it is a well known fact that no matter how brutal, corrupt ,undemocratic or just plain useless a government is it will always be supported to the max.
The reason behind that is that it is not their fault, it is a legacy of colonialism or apartheid or any other form of exploitation or injustice visited upon africa by the western powers.
As long as African leaders refuse to take responsebility for their actions nothing will change, and africa will continue on the road to poverty.
If nothing else good come out of colonialism at least it provided a convienient excuse for for any wrong doing

Jurgen Kilanowski, Johannesburg, South Africa

As I commented a couple of days ago, I was not going to hold my breath for an outcome from the SADC meeting which would see the start of any action to relieve the situation in Zimbabwe. Sadly, I was right.

The SADC is now complicit in the unfolding disaster. To me the obvious answer is to impose sanctions on all the member countries, but guess what? I am not holding my breath on that either. Perhaps we should just write off the poor people in Zimbabwe. We can be sure that they will not be allowed to starve to death peacefully. They will be beaten, imprisoned and tortured as well.

I could weep.

William McGregor, Melbourne, Australia

I didn't expect much from this conference, and they produced far less than I expected. Apparently it's all right for native Africans to destroy your own people if you liberated them from colonialism in the first place .We will soon have another failed state in Africa, but in this case one that once was one of the brightest stars of the continent. It remains to be seen if Mugabe can exceed Germanys post WW1 inflation, or surpass Cambodias killing fields. Given the track record so far, I'm not inclined to bet against him on either one.

Robert, Starke, Florida