The constitution is the legal parameter that governs a country and safeguards the rights of every citizen. Mugabe and ZANU PF have abused Zimbabwe's constituiton, tried to amend it many times retrospective to actions that where unconstitutional, and have by that definition committed human rights abuses. Mugabe is clever in that he has learned to call the bluff of opposing politicians, is seen to give a little when in a difficult situation, but like a man fighting for his life, there are no rules as to how he fights, which his opponents are slow to learn. So he continues to dupe those who think there are rules of etiquette or chivalry. It is like a boxing match with no referee when one participant is armed with a knife and uses it regularly. If the truly democratic countries want to out-manouvre Mugabe, then they must match their fight to his survival tactics. Pathetic excuses of racial inequalities do not condone deliberate and continued abuse of basic constitutional rights.

Euro-Zimbabwean, Biloela, Australia

please give Mr mugabe a break; we all know that he's a victim of an economic warfare against Afrika. The war in congo is over, the multinationals are doing what their want in term of looting raw material. Leave him alone, he's not a puppet , a toy like Museveni or Mobutu and Mandela.

Kakudji bab, brooklyn, USA/ New york

The imperialist have for so long enjoyed the patronage of Africa's puppet governments but now Mugabe tries to makes the difference and they are now whining.

Jonathan, London, UK

Gordon Brown has right to do what he believes is right for him to attend AFRICA-EU summit,or not.but
it's clear that he has lost his inherited war against Mugabe...and his well funded party in Zimbabwe is becaming very weak day after day, behaving like a dog chasing a car.
i have always belived that the zimbabwe situation is never been about human right issue,it's ABOUT COLONIAL injustices and ENGLAND is much more involved because what it believed that european population of Zimbabwe is an extension of it' population.

nduwayo, thswane, south africa

So we have a Friends, Romans and countryman stage setting where one of the wickedest wiliest of this particular generation of elderly African despots is coming to the end of his reign.

What does the great man of Africa, Nelson Mandela think of his next door neighbour? I wonder!!
Is there a competition in Africa to see who can be the cruelest cleverest despot , is this how they will record their history? Will Mugabe be part of African Folklore, where people sob and hide their faces when these stories are repeated to them. Will the humanitarian cruelty have been shrugged off as a problem the European started? This has always been an excuse , and before the European, who were the battles fought against?
Their tribal squabbles will carry on in perpetuity. There is really no hope to those who are intellectually redundant who pretend to be leaders in Africa.

maggawags, weymouth, Dorset uk

The issue is about principle. Africans would rather have inflation on land they own, than live well as slaves- especially on their own motherland. Simple. And Mugabe knows that very well.

Dhoh Hodho, Harare, Zimbabwe

I don't know what you guys want. So you think you are better placed than Zimbabweans to resolve those problems? No you are not honest. Surely there is something behind all this. Perhaps that is why most Zimbabweans are now begining to strongly stand by Mugabe. Yes the truth is they are. Don't be fooled by the few people who are in Harare and Bulawayo. Mugabe's strength is in the rural areas. If you pretend that Mugabe has lost support then you need to go rural and see for yourself. If a person can walk 30km just to attend a ZANU PF meeting then surely there can't be any loyalty as such. My Question is why not give the talks a chance if it is your real wish to have problems resolved. If the MDC reject talks surely we will spit them out because it will show confusion. They don't seem to have even the basics of strategy. Poor Tsvangirai should know that elections are won in Zimbabwe not in Britain. We are tired of Tvsangirai's lack of vision. How can it take you 10yrs Mr?

Munashe, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I have only two points to make;
1,I do not believe Mugabe is the cleverest politicina in the world.I believe he is being challenged by the dumbest politicians in the world.Just check out recent events in Zimbabwe's biggest opposition party and you will see what I am talking about.
2,While Mugabe is the head of state,just like the Queen of UK,people must accept that Zimbabwe's political systems and processes are crafted in a parliament that includes a large proportion of opposition members.
If one chooses to ignore these facts,one will find themselves making statements such as 'Mugabe is probably the cleverest politician in the world'.

Alton Hadzisa, Wallington, UK