Its very difficult to include white minorities in a world that believes that white peple owe blacks their lives.

matt, birmingham, west midlands

Mr Phiri, as an advocate of Mugabe can you tell me his accomplishments? To be called 'Hero' they must be substantial and vastly out way any negatives. I worry I have missed something. For I have seen his starving, homeless, jobless, disease ridden people as I think you have too. I've read books of his massacre of the Ndebele and his demolition campaign leaving thousands of his own people homeless. I've seen the hand over of the most fertile farms to the inexperienced with no mention of educating them so they can continue to feed his people. I've seen world class infrastructure neglected and an economy shattered. I've heard excuses, oh the British, Oh the Americans, Oh the whites, oh the drought, and I remember as a child my mother taught me accountability for my actions and I have not heard that. Not only are you endorsing all of this am I correcting in saying your suggesting it should continue?

Claire, Brisbane,

Whether or when Mugabe goes is almost secondary to the real story here - the decline of the thriving, solid economy that was Rhodesia, into the starving, mis-managed shambles that it became under Mugabe.

As leader of ZANU, Mugabe was sworn to bringing Rhodesia to its knees and in that he has succeeded. It is a sad end for a beautiful country that was rightly called 'the bread-basket of Africa'.

Perhaps now, Europeans can hold back their predictable auto-response to Ian Smith and the governments that preceeded him. The facts are simple. Rhodesia worked. Zimbabwe collapsed.

Joseph Mwurangu, London, UK

It is good for the people and the country of Zimbabwe if Robert Mugabe accepts his defeat without trying to rule thru the military and the police. It would give him at least a chance to stand down and retain some glory from his early days in the 80ties.

I have been to Zimbabwe last July and it was bad, but now everything went further down the road and became totally unacceptable. Hopefully racism against the white minority while stop and the whites will be included to get Zimbabwe back on its feet. One can’t deny that before the land reform in the 90ties Zimbabwe was better off and people had work, food, better education and better health.

Include the white minority in your government, Mr Tsvangirai. And maybe Zimbabwe will regain it place in our world a bit faster.

Anew Voltaire, Munich, Germany

Mr. Phiri if Britain is so terrible you can always leave. I too am in Zambia and hear frequently how terrible things are over in Zimbabwe. When were you last there?

S.Matthias, Lusaka, Zambia

@ Retesh
If none of the Presidential candidates achieved 50% of the vote, +1, then the two leading contenders will compete in a second round.

If the old man loses that round, there is less 'space' to negotiate a retirement, shall we say, rather than a resignation.

Simply to have a re-run emphasizes he is defending his position rather than asserting his position.

To many of the other readers, I would support what Mr Phiri is saying. There are three factors that go generally unknowledged in the UK: The deep wound of colonialization that the present state in Zimbabwe was produced by all of us - including the UK; that Zimbabweans revere consensus.

This pattern was seen in welcoming any white Zimbabwean who wanted to stay - with one proviso - that we let go of our arrogance and sense of privilege. Our harsh way of speaking gives much offense on all three points.

As an English person I wish when we address Zimbabweans that we extend the courtesy on which we pride ourselves.

Jo, Olney, UK

Gilbert Phiri is a disgrace and doesn't know what he's talking about. I don't know what he is doing living in Britain. To support Robert Mugabe purely because of some negatives of colonialism makes no sense. The options here are not "Mugabe, or colonialism".

Moreover Zimbabwe is not the only country that was colonised in the history of mankind. India, Malaysia and USA were all once colonies too, and look where they are now. Even Britain got conquered by the Romans and later the Normans.

I am a black Zimbabwean who lived in Rhodesia under Ian Smith. My family never experienced hunger, even during the sanctions period. I got a good education, which I completed in Britain where I got a B.Sc. and Ph.D. Although Ian Smith was bad, Robert Mugabe has wrought more damage on Zimbabwe than all white leaders put together since Cecil Rhodes. Most people can't even buy aspirin now.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

Tom of London .... "Why wont the MDC publish the results they have gathered on the internet, if necessary via a proxy."

Go to .... http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/04/02/mdc-declares-victory/

and see the results published

Steve, Horsham, UK / West Sussex

To Robin and Plato (the real Plato must be somersaulting in his grave!), Mugabe is and will always be an African hero! He forgave the racist Ian Smith and incorporated into his government his formidable political foe - the late Joshua Nkomo - and they worked well together. Zimbabwe's problems have been caused by British and American's insidous cavalier day-light LYNCHING of a BLACK African state simply because Mugabe stood up to their insolence.
The Tsivangirai puppet (aptly once a tea boy for the colonialist masters in his younger days!) the British want to instal in Zimbabwe will never do any better than Mugabe. Policy will be made in Westminster. Fine, the Zimbabweans will have bread, milk and some token butter, maybe a revised currency but the lot of the people will NEVER improve. Britain will go in again to plunder the nation using Tsivangirai's cronies.
I am Zambian and saw what the British did to our economy when we voted out Kenneth Kaunda....we still paying heavily!!

Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK

Mugabe has been a disaster for Zimbabwe. He has mis-ruled for nearly 30 years and, now that the west has stopped funding him, the country has gone bankrupt. Zimbabwe should have been left to sink or swim on its own merits from the start, rather than the west pouring money in to it.

Richard, Manchester,

erm.... what exactly is a run-off? and why would this be so humiliating?

Retesh, Hammersmith Hospital, London,

Viva Mugabe indeed Mr Phiri, People in UK hate dictators of any colour. That is why we want to see Zimbabwe free and prosperous as it once was and Mugabe has shown he is incapable of good governance. Why are you here Mr Phiri, are you a guest in our land? Mugabe has long said he admires Hitler even down to his silly moustache, like Hitler he raised his country to greatness and then destroyed it. Like Hitler he uses the police and army to repress the people, He has his quasi Gestapo, SS and organised thugs he has used them often.
His cronies are bought with riches stolen from the masses.
They are the real prostitutes as they have sold any honour they had . They live lives of luxury and do nothing to help the starving,they are contemptible
He has played the independence hero for too long, that was
30 years ago and he has lost any political authority he had. 4 million Zimbabweans have voted with their feet, if their votes were counted Mugabe has been resoundingly defeated

plato, ely, uk

What surprises me are comments from Africans on this and the BBC-HYS forums, praising and supporting Mugabe. If these people are so supportive of him why don't they return to Zimbabwe, why stay here amongst the previous colonisers?

Colin Hills, Stuttgart, Germany

To Gilbert Phiri of Swindon,
Your attitude is typical of the kind of ignorant hypocrite who would support a a tyrant like Mugabe,

"Britain's foreign policy has a history of being uninformed and is usually disastrous"

-Oh really? and what about Mugabe's domestic policy? I think that is far more pivotal. Its so easy for corrupt African politicians to lay all the blame on ex-colonial nations whilst they sit back and watch their people suffer and die. Britain knows exactly what is going on in Zim but will not get involved precisely because it is an ex-colony. If you are from Zimbabwe then I hope, with an attitude like that, you will not be welcomed back. You have clearly been in England too long and might I remind you that, before you criticize this country, remember that you would not be so free to do the same under Mugabe's tyrannical rule.

Wake UP, grow up, take some responsibility and stop blaming Britain for the corruption of vile despots like Mugabe

Robin, Port Elizabeth/ London, Soth Africa/ England

If the MDC does get in then temptation will be for the UK to aid the country in getting back onto its feet. I'd be all in favour of that BUT only if the funds used were diverted from those other African countries who actively supported Mugabe, who helped prop up his regime, who have contributed so hugely to the destitution of the people of Zimbabwe... African leaders could have chosen to take Mugabe to task, instead almost to a man they lauded him as a saviour, as a hero, as an example of good African leadership... what a joke... the man single handedly destroyed his country and the lives of a generation (at least) of Zimabaweans).... if we contribute to the rebuilding of Zimabawe then EVERY penny should come from those countries who actively supported him in his outrageous last five years or who did nothing when they could have. Africa needs to learn that funding has a price and that price is that its leaders behave reasonably and responsibly.

abharrisson, london,

Not that I support Mugabe. However all should appreciate the full picture is not black & white. All this problems could have been averted if it wasn't for the pride of both the colonials and Mugabe's. There are two sides to a story.
The western people should not jump to premature conclusions, although I feel most would as race has played a crucial role in this saga. It's the natives of Zimbabwe that my heart bleeds for. Innocent victims of a war between a colonial masters and a once freedom fighter who still bears a grudge. Let the truth be said!! I can not see MDC being a better alternative.

With the issue of rigging, one can not complain. MDC has a majority in the parliment. Great! At least Zanu PF has admitted to this. It shows there so much rigging Mugabe can do. Rigging happens everywhere. Including United States, the leader of the "Free World".

dee, London, UK

I am still worried I think this election result is far from certain and until I see Mugarbe leaving State House with his tail between his legs I will still not believe it.

He will try and keep himself in office and while it might appear strange over here that he could get away with it. I don't think it is in the Zimbabweans nature to stand up and fight against him. The army and the police are the key here. If they support Mugarbe still then there is no chance.......

Stewart Davis, London, UK

And what will you say Robert when you have to shave your Hitler style moustach off ? Perhaps it will go with the new Robert - that of a man in control of nothing and despot over nobody !!!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

This 'super-normal' interest of Britain in the Zimbabwe elections is what will embolden Mugabe to hang on to power. Britain's foreign policy has a history of being uninformed and is usually disastrous. The unmitigated self-interest in whatever Britain does is an affront to many people in the former colonies and is the reason why Mugabe cannot capitulate and relinquish power. Viva Mugabe!

Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK

Nobody doubts that Mugabe is a fighter, after all he led the Zanu PF Party through some traumatic times to victory and Independence. However, there comes a time when even the best freedom fighters must hand over the reins of power, and for Robert Mugabe that time is long overdue. Zimbabwe needs to be reunited and rebuilt, with good, professional Africans brought in to run the once profitable farms so that the nation can once again feed its population.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

I feel sure that the strains of the Shona translation ( if it existed ) of that aged 60's rock classic with the immortal words 'This is the end, my friend!' could make a great musical entree for the inevitable post Mugabe Hollywood blockbuster that must shortly follow the tyrants 28 year rule of the emaciated, starving Zimbabwe...

The ghosts of opponents past must be rejoicing from the other world at this time!

The long suffering populus must now be able to see a great beam of light if not sunshine...

It will be a long process of reconstruction & redevelopment but the Zimbabwean people - Black, White, Asian - will face up to the challenges that a new democracy will bring with it & they will once again regain their pride & position in the Global village...

I , for one, look forward to that day.

John Rellie, Bicester, UK

Whether he goes gracefully or not, it is long past time for Robert Mugabe to leave. 28 years of tyranny and of pillaging the national treasury have left a once beautiful gem in shattered ruins, not to mention that the blood of the Zimbabwean people shall forever stain Mugabe's garments.

Edgar Faulkner, Seattle, USA

Mugabe should down, be arrested and duly prosecuted for, at least, crimes against humanity. Those countres in a position to help plan and make other contributions to Zimbabwe's economic and social recovery will hopefully do so.

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, England UK

Why wont the MDC publish the results they have gathered on the internet, if necessary via a proxy. This will show the whole world what has happened and, in my opinion, make it impossible for Mugabe to rig the elections. If his military advisors are encouraging him to stay on, then a run-off would almost certainly be rigged. Never underestimate Mugabe!

Tom, London,

It's time for Mugabe to go gracefully . 28 years spent serving the nation is far too long. It is time to let go and head for retirement. I am sure the winners of the just concluded election are capable to handle the affairs of the state. History will judge Mugabe fairly. My advice to him - just leave the political scene with your pride intact, if you still have any, without having to bring the nation to the stage like what happened in Kenya. Your legacy of oppression and draining off the Zimbabwe's weaths will be likely to be investigated by the power coming in to take your place. Be prepared!

Dr. Tan Eng Bee, Kajang, Selangor,, Malaysia.

Mugabe should just step down. He should, for the first time in a long time, think of Zimbabwe instead of himself. No, think of Africa instead of himself. He has caused the whole continent embarrassment. He should try to salvage what's left of Africa's image by stepping down peacefully and wishing his opponent luck. If he does this, Africa will take a huge step forward. Mugabe, think of Africa!!!!

If Mugabe steps down, being Kenyan, I hope our leaders can emulate this one virtue from a regime predominately full of vices.

Kenyan, Las Vegas,

As the cement dries on the MDC victory, Mugabe has been handed a golden opportunity. 5 days in, nobody is calling for his head, threatening, or disrupting anything. It is a door held long open by his graceful opponents.

Mr. Mugabe's only other options center on another round of electoral intimidation and violent resistance, which he would be hard-pressed to pull off. Zimbabwe cannot afford nor endure Burma-style repression. If Zimbabwe descends into a spiral of violence, it will be fully Mugabe's responsibility. Long-term consequences of renewed repression in an environment of de-population caused by migration, declining health, and environmental stress, include the long-term evaporation of the viability of Zimbabwe as a country, stretching Mugabe's cradle-to-grave legacy from liberation to destruction.

Miko Staresinic, Pittsburgh, USA