Tonjo in Ilford - Mugabe will indeed have a rich retirement - he has squirreled away billions in bank accounts abroad. Now where did all this money come from / The salary of the President of Zimbabwe is not paid in millions is he ?

Gregory Ndele, London, UK

One thing Tsvangirai appears to offer that Mugabe doesn't is a willingness to work with the international community. If his words become actions the international community responds the damage can be repaired. He needs only to look at the examples of neighbours Zambia, once a basket case itself.

Tsvangirai also appears to recognise that the agricultural and mineral economies should be returned to the hands of the experts, rather than to unskilled vagrants because they are of a certain colour, tribe or family.

If reason reigns and he does manage to get into office, Tsvangirai's first 100 days will be vital in the messages he sends out and the actions he takes. Unfortunately there is some truth in what Andy says, the case history of African leaders does not trigger unbridled optimism, but we can at least begin to hope.

These are not the thoughts of an ignorant outsider, I was born and raised in the country. Colonialism was wrong, but despotism is worse.

richard hallward, warsaw, poland

i am worried . this has the wholemarks of kenya . i gear the worst , maybe i am a bit tired as not slept like most zims i woriied the zpf machine is full at work and could rig this . we cant have another 28 yrs of this rubbish

martin takawira, london, devon

I saw your video clip on how Britain "failed" Zimbabwe. Why do we have this blame culture, the French and British built schools, built farms and gave these countries education. After independence form the French and British the schools were either torn down or ignored and farms run down. The leaders of the failing African nations have returned politics to tribal mentality. They keep for themselves or their friends and let the rest suffer. These countries have had independence for more than 20 years, they had economies, educational and political structure that they threw away because the "white man" made them. Cuba has received no help from the outside world yet has gotten by, Africa countries have received trillions of dollars yet they get worse. Let us hope that the new party gets voted in and changes things for the better. I say we should pay no more into Africa and let the continent sink or swim on its own. It's the only way the countries and governments will learn.

Graeme, Edinburgh,

Is it really just one person who is "destroying" southern africa? Is it not also the people who support - and hope to gain from - a violent government? Moreover, are not also those to blame who look on without condemning or worst of all, those who don't expect anything better?

It [also] tolls for thee...

Dirk, London, UK

Mugabe has been steadily bringing his country to ruin for the last 30 years, i dont see him giving up power now. At least the Smith regime was not corrupt.

Tom Leeburn, London, Great Britain

Will he retire to the UK with his government and security colleagues?

Mike, Midlands, UK

It has to be all over for Mugabe. The willingness of two ministers (Education and Justice) to officially concede defeat and submit their resignations must reflect the realities that elements within his outgoing cabinet no longer endorse this madness.

The security forces now need to assert their apolitical credentials and support the peoples’ mandate if they are to play a supporting role in the re-democratisation of this country.

Mark , Sliema ,

No one is arrogantly claiming that Tsvangirai will be better at being a president but for one, he supports a democracy and not a dictatorship and two, Zimbabweans want CHANGE.

Mugabe's regime has crippled the country because his policies evidently don't work- it's time for someone new to take the reigns. Yes, Morgan has a challenge facing him, but Zimbabweans have hope.
So Andy, all the way over in France, unless you are HERE in Zimbabwe and see what we see and feel what we feel, I would suggest you refrain from voicing an opinion that is based on nothing.

Nic James, Harare, Zimbabwe

Mugabe had to go, and has to go, but to our dear plato ely of UK, IT IS NOT true that Mugabe admired Hitler, it is a fabrication of statements he made. His exact words were in Shona, he said "Kana vanhu vachinditi ndini Hitler nekuti ndatora ivhu redu, kabva ndini Hitler wacho". Translated it Means "If people call me Hitler because I have taken back our stolen land, then let me be Hitler".
Only the truh will sae us.

Madyira Chitova , Gutu, Zimbabwe

I knowe quite few people from Africa, who look nostalgically to colonial times, when there was order as well as honesty in government.

The results of de-colonisation, in Afica atleast, have not been encouraging.

DamianH, Hull, UK

it will be good for zimbabweans to have change even though we hardly know Tsvangirai. Lets just give him 1 term and see what he does. Its all about god being in control within him and lets hope for the best guys. after all he has gone through l believe he can bring Zimbabwe out of the ocean. hey guys lets wait and see coz people are just fade up. whats all this sekuru. look at his age he has long passed the retirement age when is he gona rest and enjoy what he has reaped within his working age. With due respect we salute him for the good he has done for us. We wish you a happy retirement ex-president Mugabe. May god richly bless you.

tonjo Mabhonzo, ilford, uk

Well, Andy - you obviously have a nice, unbiased and not remotely racist view of South Africa! Might I suggest you check some properly documented figures re that country's economic performance since the demise of Apartheid? Especially note the foreign reserves left in the coffers by the outgoing white administration in 1994, with what is in the kitty now - the figures should amply demonstate that it is not only BLACK dictators who strip a country's assets bare...

Alastair Roy, London, UK

plato, ely, uk

Hitler did alot of his country, there were no jobs, after WW1 they had limited supplies as we were holding back giving them anything. He went about it in a horrible way, but he did alot for his country.

Adam Webb, MK, UK

I am also worried about the unsubstantiated and highly racist claims by the MDC 's Tendai Biti about alleged Mossad involvement in rigging the elections. The Mossad has bigger fish to fry than to waste its time in being involved with rigging an election in a country which has no geographic or strategic relevance to it.. A private Israeli company may very well have been employed to upgrade government software. If this is supposed to represent support of the government, then I would hate to think what Biti thinks of British and European companies with many more significant investments in Zimbabwe, and indeed of all those MDC supporting Zimbabweans living and working in the UK who generate sufficient pounds sterling to keep the Zimbabwean economy ( and by consequence , its governnment ) afloat. I find it difficult to trust someone who uses unfounded hate speech for political gain.

David Guise, Dundee, UK

i have never heard of such delays, this could only mean one thing. he is going try and rig the elections again. why are we letting one man get away with destroying what was once the heart of africa!! i say its time me had a say...............

bongie , bulawayo , zimbabwe

Nkhobo, we knew what the people of Zimbabwe wanted ten years ago. In 2002 they were beaten into submission and defeated. Lets hope the world, especially your country, won't allow that to happen again.

Richard Flynn, Huntingdon, UK

Its all very well for the world to hold its breath and hope that the corrupt and self serving monster Mugabe is removed ... but what about M. Tsavingarai .. do we know what his policies are for sorting out Zimbabwe's problems ... Historically in Africa one despot is removed and replaced by another who immediately surrounds himself by his familly and cronies and seamlesslessly replaces his predecessor's hand in the country's till with his own ... ! .... We only have to look south at South Africa and it's steady descent into ruinous power struggles which will eventually bring even that economy to ruin to see the challange Tsavingarai will have.

andy , Lardieres, France

Really am interested in this story. Haven't been away from the news on it for days now. Go for it, good people of Zimbabwe. You are almost there!

If you go now Robert, you might even be remembered by the people of southern africa as a hero in some respects. You could still spin that. Accept what you must know to be true and bow out. There will obviously be bloodshed otherwise...

I really hope he listens.

herobear, Brisbane, qld

I think we have to listen the people of zimbabwe and support whoever who"s going to win.

nkhobo, virginia, south africa

Regretfully the Army and Police are Zanu-PF's jobs. They will be fired at best, hounded out probably (with very good reason) and they know it. See the two department chiefs comments.

They will not accept defeat.

SA will swallow any nonsense dished up by Mugabe and won't do anything even if it destroys SA in the process. So expect voilence.

Hopefully I am wrong

Richard, London,

Mugabe has made no secret of his admiration for Hitler.
He even has a Hitler type moustache. Like Hitler he blames everyone else but himself for the disasters of his policies. Like Hitler he has brought a prosperous nation to ruin and like Hitler he will manipulate elections and do anything he can to hang on to power

plato, ely, uk