ZIMBABWE was bracing itself yesterday for the possibility that President
Robert Mugabe, forced into an expected election runoff against his
opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai, could mobilise an army of thugs to
beat, intimidate and terrify voters, while taking emergency powers to vary
the electoral regulations so as to make ballot-stuffing easier.
Both Britain and the United States are exercising strong diplomatic pressure
on Mugabe not to follow this route. But some diplomatic observers believe
that it may be the ageing despot’s only way of keeping his vow to die in
State House.
Mugabe’s deputy information minister, Bright Matonga, who claimed last week
that the president’s Zanu-PF party had let him down in the first round of
voting, predicted a resounding victory in the second, saying: “We only
applied 25% of our energy in the first round. That [the runoff] is when we
are going to unleash the other 75%.”
What will be unleashed, according to leaders of the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), are war veterans, pro-government militia and the
security forces in a display of brute force aimed at enabling Mugabe, 84, to
cling to power.
Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, who warned that Mugabe was about to launch a “war
against the people” said his party was reluctant to take part in any runoff
because of the growing risks of violence. In any case, he argued, there was
no need for one because he had won last weekend’s presidential election
outright and was already forming a new government.
He called Mugabe a lame duck president who “must concede to allow us to move
on with the business of rebuilding and reconstructing the country”.
According to the MDC, Tsvangirai secured 50.3% of the vote, enough to be named
president. It is understood that Mugabe’s politburo was briefed on Friday
that Tsvangirai had won 47.7%, compared with 43.4% for Mugabe and the
remainder for Simba Makoni, a former finance minister expelled by Zanu-PF.
If confirmed, this result would require a runoff.
The official tally has yet to be declared and when MDC lawyers went to the
High Court yesterday in an attempt to force an announcement, their way into
the building was blocked by police from Mugabe’s office over the road. One
of the lawyers, Alec Muchadehama, said the police had threatened to shoot
them. The case was eventually postponed until today.
The longer the delay in announcing the presidential election result,
opposition activists say, the more time Mugabe will have to mobilise his
forces.
Reports yesterday suggested that attempts to intimidate the opposition could
already be under way. According to one African news agency, Zimbabwean
soldiers beat supporters of the MDC in some parts of the country to punish
them for “premature” election victory celebrations. At least 17 people were
said to have been beaten so badly that they had to be taken to hospital.
The war veterans - 1,000 of whom marched through Harare in silence on Friday -
accused the MDC of defying the law by putting out results before the
official electoral commission was ready. The tactics were “a provocation
against freedom fighters”, said the veterans. They vowed to repel any
attempt by white farmers ousted since 2000 to repossess land which is now
held by black Zimbabweans.
“The election has been seen as a way to reopen the invasion of our people by
whites,” said Jabulani Sibanda, their leader. “We cannot just sit back when
there are all these provocations.”
Zanu-PF’s youth brigades, known as “green bombers” because of their military
style of clothing, were said to be ready to return to action alongside the
veterans, evoking memories of the pounding of opposition supporters – some
of whom had their homes burnt down - in past campaigns.
Yesterday’s events followed a week of claim and counterclaim about Mugabe’s
intentions. At one point it was reported that he was negotiating a dignified
exit and yesterday there were suggestions that his wife Grace was demanding
that he resign to protect the interests of their children. There was no
corroboration of these reports.
The Sunday Times has learnt the inside story of what happened last Sunday, the
day after the poll. By Sunday afternoon the theoretically independent
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the body under Justice George Chiurshe which
is charged with conducting the elections, communicated its initial estimates
of the result to the Zanu-PF politburo: Tsvangirai 58%, Robert Mugabe 27%
and Makoni 15%. These estimates were based on too narrow an urban sample and
were too favourable to Tsvangirai and his MDC, but the message was clear:
Mugabe had lost. The politburo, particularly Mugabe himself, hit the roof.
According to an account sourced to a commission official, Mugabe then ordered
it to declare him elected with 53%. He was angry at Makoni’s “treachery” and
demanded that his vote be reduced to 5%.
This produced resistance from the commission and also from the army, police
and intelligence chiefs.
The commission objected that manipulation of the results on such a huge scale
would be too obvious, while the security chiefs were concerned that the
country might become ungovernable if the popular will was so blatantly
flouted.
At this stage Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s president, took a hand - he was
continuously on the phone from Pretoria and had his emissaries in Harare.
Mbeki’s overweening interest is to maintain Zanu-PF in power as a sister
liberation movement of his own African National Congress. He fears a
possible domino effect throughout southern Africa if a movement that had
wrested power from the whites in a liberation war is seen to fail and
perhaps then fall to bits.
However, Mbeki wants Mugabe to go. Instead, he would like Makoni to succeed -
a younger, modernising technocrat who would, he hopes, restore both his
party’s and his country’s fortunes.
Out of Mbeki’s discussions came the notion that the results should be
“adjusted” so that Tsvangirai was brought back under the 50% mark, perhaps
to 47%-49%, while Mugabe could get 41% and Makoni 10%-12%.
With no candidate over 50% this would produce the necessity of a second-round
runoff and Mugabe should then withdraw, leaving Zanu-PF to rally behind
Makoni. Provided the security forces could be given a strong role in the way
that the runoff was organised and conducted, Makoni could then be given just
over 50% and Tsvangirai kept out.
As word spread into the South African media that Mbeki had been heavily
engaged, his office quickly denied that he had been involved at all. By the
end of the week Mbeki was publicly appealing for all sides to respect the
vote, whatever it had been.
At a conference on progressive governance convened by Gordon Brown in
Hertfordshire yesterday, Mbeki told the international community to wait for
the full election results, saying it was not time for action. “No, it’s time
to wait,” he said.
The proposal stitched together by Mbeki might have worked, provided the armed
forces were willing to give Makoni some fairly muscular support.
“We were saved from this outcome,” an MDC source said, “by our most reliable
ally, Robert Mugabe, who absolutely refused to stand down.”
This brought matters back to square one, leaving the security chiefs and the
electoral commission in disarray. Constantine Chiwenga, head of the armed
forces, together with Mugabe’s cousin, Perence Shiri, are said to have
wanted the army to take power itself. They were faced down by others,
including Philip Sibanda, the head of the army, and Augustine Chihuri, the
police commissioner.
Chris Mbanga, Tsvangirai’s chief of staff, said he had also heard of the coup
plot. “But the fact is they couldn’t have got far,” he said. “We
have our own people in there at every level and they would have resisted.
The police and the army want change too, you know.”
Meanwhile, the drama had shifted to the commission’s command centre where
Mbanga sat monitoring the parliamentary and presidential results for the MDC
as they came through. With the electoral register absurdly out of date and
so many having fled or died, the voting totals were often very small.
Mbanga suddenly began to notice some considerable anomalies. In general, in
every constituency Tsvangirai was running well ahead of the score achieved
by the MDC parliamentary candidate - but he noticed that in Budiriro the MDC
candidate had won more than 15,000 votes and Tsvangirai only 12,000. Then he
noticed that at Mount Darwin West in Mashonaland North, Vice-President Joyce
Mujuru had won 6,071 votes according to the tallies posted up outside the
polling stations there, but the commission had given her 13,270. Similarly,
at Shamva North in Mashonaland West, the cabinet minister Nicholas Goche had
won 4,195 votes, according to the polling station tallies, but the
commission credited him with 10,385.
“Once I saw this and some more very fishy figures indeed coming in for
Mashonaland Central, I just said, okay, I’m not signing for anything more,”
he explained.
Instead, Mbanga insisted on an audit of every single seat, with all the
original tally papers from all the polling stations brought in so they could
be compared. Thus, while Mugabe has been widely blamed for not declaring the
results more quickly, it is the opposition that has made counting such a
slow process in its determination to prevent cheating.
By Monday the police and army were everywhere on the streets and a few
independent websites were showing the MDC running well ahead of Zanu-PF in
both the parliamentary elections and the presidential poll.
Most people were dependent on state television which leaked out the
parliamentary results at a snail’s pace, always leaving Zanu-PF one ahead of
MDC. Of the presidential results there was no word.
Ordinary Zimbabweans had no idea of the drama being played out. So terrible
has been the toll of the Mugabe years that the struggle just to stay alive
preoccupies those who are left - so many have died and at least a third of
the population has fled the country. Among those who remain, 80% are
unemployed and most go hungry.
Every morning begins in the towns with huge queues outside banks and building
societies, for nobody may withdraw more than Z$500m a day - about £6.
Harare is the only city where you can see large-denomination banknotes
scattered on the pavement. So rapid has inflation become that all notes bear
an expiry date after which they are invalid and the central bank adds
another nought or two to the next set of notes. People just tear up invalid
notes and throw them away.
When you speak to people in the queues you realise how beaten down they are.
“I have three children, all hungry. I’ve sold everything in the house except
a table and our beds,” said Margaret Zimondi, a secretary.
“We’re just waiting to hear that Mugabe rigged the elections again, as usual,”
said Learnmore Maposa, a carpenter.
“Things are much worse in the countryside,” he added. “I went to see my mother
in her village last weekend. They can’t cook on oil stoves any more because
the price of diesel is too high, so they have to cook with electricity.
Often there is none, so they just go to bed hungry night after night. My
mother can’t weigh more than 35kg [77lb] now. In our village so many have
died already. I am frightened for her.”
When the parliamentary results finally came out, the state media tried to
depict the situation as a tie when the opposition had clearly won. The MDC
had 99 seats, Zanu-PF 96. The MDC splinter party led by Arthur Mutambara had
11 and there was one (pro-Tsvangirai) independent. Three candidates had died
before election day, but all in almost certain MDC seats so the combined
opposition has 111 out of 217 seats today and will end up with 114 out of
220.
This result alone would make it difficult for a Zanu-PF president to govern.
The party promptly accused the MDC of bribing officials in 16 constituencies
and demanded that the results be overturned.
As the week progressed the tension grew but observers sensed on every hand the
resistance of the Zanu-PF state, facing a situation it had never dreamt of.
Mugabe called a meeting of the Zanu-PF high command and, as usual, imposed
his will. There would be a runoff and he would run, and meanwhile the
opposition and foreign journalists would be put in their place. Armed police
duly raided MDC offices and hotels housing foreign journalists.
Ahead lies a bruising second round. It is quite possible that Mugabe will
break the constitution and insist on a three-month gap before a second
round, using that period to try to smash the MDC and terrify the electorate
into voting him back in. But the odds are against him now.
£1bn aid plan
A vigorous aid programme to rebuild Zimbabwe’s economy, society and
agriculture would quickly follow an opposition victory, with Britain in a
prominent role, writes David Watts.
With £1 billion to be spent, the International Monetary Fund would take the
lead in stabilising the currency - inflation is forecast to hit 500,000% by
May. The plan would also involve the World Bank, UN and EU. Britain is
already putting £45m into the country over the next two years to help
HIV/Aids victims and to provide food, shelter and education. More could be
made available to help to resettle refugees - there are 800,000 in South
Africa alone.
Video: Government
begins Zimbabwe crackdown
Video: Sir
David Frost interviews Morgan Tsvangirai
I would like to close by saying did any body invade Britain when they were living in squalor during Charles Dickins times and 5 year olds were sweeping Chimneys, and poverty was rife, I am sure invasions is what appears in the White Colonialist minds, because that is the nature of the beast.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
Former USA president Jimmy Carter was the schmuck who helped put the murderer Mugabe into power and the worldwide media including the United Nations winked and then all looked the other way when Mugabe killed hundreds of thousands of the opposition soon after assuming power. The people of Zimbabwe are suffering terribly at the hands of this rogue despot. Again, the rest of the world just watches as a looming catastrophic nightmare is just around the corner in Zimbabwe. South Africans better pay attention to Zimbabwe ... their ANC is slowly leading their country down Zimbabwe's tragic road.
David, Florida USA.
David, Sarasota, USA / Fl
@ Daphne Kenward "Britain has had santions on Zimbabwe for many years which has distroyed the Zimbabwean economy." Has there been any sanctions on imports / exports of goods? No. Has their been an asset freeze in Europe on what is believed to be the funnelled aid money misused by those in power in Zimbabwe? Yes. Add on some travel restrictions. None of this can be blamed for the collapse of the economy. For that best look to African 'leadership' inside Zimbabwe and out.
Ben, Greater London,
To understand the disaster that is the continent of Africa, please read Thomas Sowell's "Conquests and Cultures: Chapter 3-The Africans". Mr. Sowell, an African-American, is one of the world's preeminent historians and world cultural anthropologists. In this book, much of the pathos that is sub-Saharan Africa (a.k.a. black africa) and Arab-Africa (arab/islamic africa) is dispassionately and rationally analyzed. His astute theories (based on historical, irrefutable fact) will open your eyes to the historical reasons (and not just recent colonial history) for why the continent of Africa returns inevitably to fractured and brutal tribalism. His chronicalling of the Islamic-initiated slave trade--started 1000 years before any European-initiated slave trade--is a MASSIVE EYE OPENER! And you thought the "western" slave traders were bad...check out the death rates of black african slaves by their islamic masters as they were forced to cross the Sahara Desert barefoot! READ THIS BOOK!
Califas, San Francisco, California
Let's dispense with the sham that Zimbabwe has ever been a democracy. Mugabe and ZanuPF have clearly lost at least the last three times, and that is even allowing for intimidation of voters that would be illegal in a real democracy. The pretence about runoffs which is being played out now, is an example of people clutching at straws to get rid of a tyrant. Even if Mugabe loses his concocted runoff, he will simply announce the result in his own favour. The MDC is right to declare itself the winner now, and a Presidential runoff unnecessary. To do otherwise is simply to accept that Mugabe is still being allowed to call every shot in his own favour. And one other thing: the conduct of Thabo Mbeki in all this, does not augur well for the chances of voters in South Africa ever being able to vote out the ANC if they tire of it.
Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia
And look how Ian Smith was maligned... Read the correspondence between Smith and Sir Alec Douglas Hume, Wilson and co. He was right and Mugabe has effectively, single handedly given colonialism a good name. Hysterical isn't it. and we shouldn't be too upset that democracy hasn't really taken off in Africa - it too is deemed to be a form of Western imperialism, i.e. who is the West to dictate how governments must change in Africa or elsewhere? The BBC once did a study comparing Malaysia and Ghana, Both countries became independent in 1957.... need one say more? The former Asia colonies took the ball of colonialism (aka modernity) and ran with it - in Africa they just stare at the ball and get cross with it. Malaysia is not a begging bowl country, unlike most of Africa. Rhodesia, and specially the former Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953-1963) was a brilliant idea. Quick fix "liberation" is only skin deep. If things happen slowly, gradually they take root and grow.
Wilhelm , Cape Town, South Africa
To understand the disaster that is the continent of Africa, please read Thomas Sowell's "Conquests and Cultures: Chapter 3-The Africans". Mr. Sowell, an African-American, is one of the world's preeminent historians and world cultural anthropologists. In this book, much of the pathos that is sub-Saharan Africa (a.k.a. black africa) and Arab-Africa (arab/islamic africa) is dispassionately and rationally analyzed. His astute theories (based on historical, irrefutable fact) will open your eyes to the historical reasons (and not just recent colonial history) for why the continent of Africa returns inevitably to fractured and brutal tribalism. His chronicalling of the Islamic-initiated slave trade--started 1000 years before any European-initiated slave trade--is a MASSIVE EYE OPENER! And you thought the "western" slave traders were bad...check out the death rates of black african slaves by their islamic masters as they were forced to cross the Sahara Desert barefoot! READ THIS BOOK!
Erika, San Francisco, California
Roy, Isle of Wight, Too right. We only have to look at the Balkans today to see what happens when colonial powers leave a region after hundreds of years of rule leaving a power vacuum and multiple national groups tussling each other. Nationalism (extended tribalism) isn't an African thing. More people died in Europe early in the last Century than ever did in Africa after that
raymond, norf, uk
Most of the views I have read today miss the point. Only one mentions the history of Zimbabwe and that is very relevant to todays' situation.
Africa is a collection of disfunctional "nations", formed by Europeans through the enforced amalgamation of TRIBAL nations. Tribalism is alive and well in Europe. Is it any wonder that it is in Africa? Tribes are led by "strong" men, the ones with the better wepons. Europeans had the better wepons when they subjugated Africa, why are we surprised it falls to bits when we leave?
"Strong" men usually profit only themselves, but at least Europeans benefited the average African, despite being a hard task masters and exploiting mineral wealth.
The UK should be gravely ashamed of its role in the tragadey of Zimbabwe in the last 30 years; particularly when, unlike Afganistan, Zimbabew is not guilty of suppling illegal drugs. Our armed forces enable the conditions for the Afgans to do it. The UK should be in Zimbabwe, not Afganistan or Iraq.
Roy, Isle of Wight,
For Zimbabwe read South Africa in a decades time. Seems the hand of the ANC is already showing itself. Cry democracy when it's a useful political tool, drop when it no longer works for you.
Ben, London, UK
Daphne Kenward your comment proves you are ignorant of the history of Rhodesia. In 1883 when the whites moved into Rhodesia looking for minerals, there were 400.000 black people there, many who had fled from Shaka in Zuland.. These became the Matabele tribe. There was nothing like the wheel, no method of recording (written language) and the average life expectancy (LE) was 35 to 40 yrs. 100 years later, under white rule, the number of blacks there had increased to 11 million with a doubled LE. The whites changes brought peace & prosperity to the country, but we must remember as many commentators said at the time and since, and their words have been proven to be 100% true more than once, do not let the locals have absolute power until they are really ready. But people in Europe called that racist and stopped the natural planned progress and the results are there to see. In about 10 years South Africa will be in trouble as it is now. Do not be a racist by ignoring the facts.
B J Deller, Marbella, Spain
It seems odd to me that Britain has spend billions invading countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan yet has taken no action against a commonwealth country led by a dictator for the last 3 decades. At what point does the commonwealth as a group of aligned countries take actions against, what can only be described as undemocratic. Gordon Brown (and Tony Blair) have sat on the fence over the tragedy of Zimbabwe for far too long. Surely it's time for a leader with some spine who is willing to rescue what once was a beautiful country.
Bob Clarke, London,
I do not feel qualified enough in any respect to start commenting on the usual 'the USA should intervene', 'South Africa, where are they?', 'blame it all on the old imperialists' arguments
All I wish to say is that I think about the situation all the time, and I hope that the people of Zimbabwe (my heart goes out to their suffering) get the result they deserve - a President, elected by 'the people' who may at the very least be able to turn around the fortunes of this beautiful state (of which I have had the pleasure of visiting) even if it takes many years
Paul, Manchester,
A mere handful of ex Zimbabwe farmers who had been forced off there farms have now ended up in Zambia. In a few short years, Zambia for the very first time since independence, are now producing enough maize to make an offer to help feed the starving millions in Zimbabwe. Doesn't that say it all.
George, Sutton, UK
The tragic irony of this situation is that right next door in Botswana, the country's president, Frestus Mogae, voluntarily stepped down last week in favour of a younger man. After ten years in office he realised that at 69 years old it was time to move on. He leaves office with the honour of building a strong economy and introducing anti-HIV/AIDS programmes that are showing promising results throughout the country. Above all, he leaves with the admiration and love of his people. It is deeply depressing for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa to see how
Robert Mugabe has perpetuated the perception of African leaders as being a bunch of incompetent, avarcious thugs when men like Mogae create such a vastly different image.
Christopher Reader, Cape Town, South Africa
If the election results have not been released yet how can ZANU PF demand a recount? Does this imply that they have illegally accessed the results prior to official release? That might imply some sort of criminal action against them is in order.
Bernie, Toowoomba, Queensland Australia
Why is everyone saying "if they only had oil, the US would intervene"?
It's not the US's problem.
Remember, the UK government put Mugabe in power 28 years ago. Under the Colin Powell/Pottery Barn rule, you broke it, you own it.
Everyone in the UK shares the responsibility for what has happened to Zimbabwe. If you had left it alone, it would still be a prosperous country.
Jim, Memhpis, US / TN
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK - I was born and lived in Zimbabwe for seventeen years of my life. To say that 'whites have never acted in the interest of Any African Country.' is dangerous and insulting ignorance.
Mwana Wevhu do you realise that the majority of your war veterans are in fact to young to have even fought in the war. The war which started 44 years ago would make them on average 55 to 65 years old today. I see boys of 20 and 30 claiming the title of 'War Veteran' collecting the 'war veteran' money and forcibly and violently taking the land from Farmers, many of who did not claim a piece of land and evict the Blacks from it but bought that land, employed hundreds who along with their families were paid and housed and fed on those farms alone.
Claire, Brisbane,
Interesting approach, Daphne Kenward. But, don't worry, the Brown government will soon be asking you to leave your home and hand it over to some immigrant worker who we 'oppressed' in the past. You won't mind, will you, because its all our fault anyway!
Get real and look at the facts will you?
David L, London,
To: Ronald, Dartford, Kent.
You imply that its only the West that wants to see Mugabe go and not the people of Zimbabwe? You clearly have no clue whats going on in Zimbabwe. The fact that people people went to vote in their millions against Mugabe the tyrant is a testament of the will of the people. Blaming the West is just Mugabe's propaganda, a way of diverting people's attention (like you), from the real problems at home.
Mugabe never took any responsibility for the economic decline of Zimbabwe, its all the west's fault. Is Mugabe God that he never does anything wrong? The farms he took, ostensibly for the landless peasants lie idle and there is no food, we have the same incompetent ministers recycled all the time despite massive failure in their departments, yet in a real democracy, one foul up, ministers resign or are fired.
Mugabe must go NOW, in digrace, no face saving. Its time to wake up, in the words of Barack Obama, change is possible, Yes We Can!
Zack Tondoro, Hartpury,
What can the USA do?
Gary Schroeder, Azle, Texas
@steve, staffs, UK...
Great idea. It certainly worked in Iraq, didn't it?
iain, glasgow, UK
@Eric Meijer
How nice to meet you here, Eric.
Of course what you say is correct but little has changed locally with respect to the way Mugabe is seen, and of course the ANC are supporting him to the end, terrified of any spontaneous change emanating from voters.
Paul Whelan, Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal
John Symon is, sadly, correct. However, we need to remember that we helped Mugabe into power.
The west has a never-ending history of causing disaster when it interferes. However, it would not do any harm if the U.S.A. and Europe were to suggest to Mr Mugabe that he must leave now, or the consequences will be servere. That said, history decrees that it would do immense harm if the "West" were to interfere in any future elections.
If Mr Mugabe were not allowed to live the rest of his life out in luxurious retirement, this might, also, be a lesson to others.
Marc, Paris, France
Daphne in Cambridge,
I am 52 years old, and since I was eight, I have helped to raise money for many countries on the African continent, I remember the old Rhodesia and how when we went to the supermarket in England and on the best quality fruit and vegetables, there was a label, 'produce of Rhodesia'. I really do not understand that a continent, so rich in resources of all kinds, cannot and will not prosper.
It is really easy to blame the old colonialist countries for all of Africa's problems, Zimbabwe has now been independent for 28 years, the rest of the world has developed and progressed, Zimbabwe has gone back to the stone age under Mugabwe's leadership. Africa is a shambles with Zimbabwe at the bottom of a rotten compost heap.
How hard can it be? Think how much food a small country like Israel exports all over the world. Zimbabwe has the climate, rich soil, but not the knowhow, the people with that, have been dispossessed by a tyrant. I will no longer donate to Africa.
Nick, Silkeborg, Denmark
As Stalin said, it's not who votes that counts, it's who counts the votes. This vile man will never voluntarily give up power as long as he has a breath left in him. Thinking he'd respect election results was a fantasy.
R M, London, UK
It is disgrace to the reputation of the British Commonwealth.Send in a battalion of Marines and Red Berets. Mugabe,s thugs would run away at a first sighting,and democracy would then be resumed
Brouillac, Bradenton, Florida
African governments fear an upwelling of popular grassroots opposition to their rule.
They turn a blind eye to the use of thuggery by others to put down such opposition in case they resort such tactics themselves in future.
RogerP, Pretoria, South Africa
Why don't we go in, kick Mugabe and his appalling cronies out and take the place back temporarily until a proper government can be installed? The people couldn't possibly be any worse off than they are now.
Steve, Staffs, UK
To: Mwana Wevhu, London, UK
If things are so well for your beloved country, free from white influence, why are you not over there defending your country. Instead, you sit back and feast in the UK and no doubt exploiting all the benefits the country can offer. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Tony Freeman, Milan, Italy
Mugabe has made one mistake, that is not making good use of the land to produce food, but Britain has had santions on Zimbabwe for many years which has distroyed the Zimbabwean economy. That is why Mugabe has not wanted nothing to do with the British, because they are a part of the problem, but that is never published, santions is what has crippled the Zimbabwean economy, because the British feels that The whites should control Zimbabwe. And Mugarbe feels that Africans should be in charge of their own countries, they have had several hundreds of years of black people being killed by whites, and want no more of it. Like the Jews want their land the Africans feels the same way, Tsvangirai is a guy in the pockets of the west and it is a danger for the Zimbabwean people they do not see it now, but that is why the British are so interested in putting this guy in place, what Mugarbe wants is to pass the batton on to some one who has the same views, such as what happend in Russia recently.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
Mr mugabe looks after one person HIMSELF,he will go the same way as all the dictators in history ,shot/hung/beaten by the very people he is supposed to serve,,,,,,,,keep looking over your shoulder Mr Mugabe your time is very soon to come!!!!!
pete gregory, sheffield, uk
African nations have a long way to go. For too long they have blamed their imperial past, but given the chance they are worse to their people than the colonialist ever where. This will continue for decades.
Richard, Portsmouth,
Well, we citizens of the World allowed America (Bush/Gore fiasco) and more recently, Russia to get away with it. Why all the worldwide condemnation about the way Zimbabwe is doing things? They are only following in the footsteps of greater "Democracies". Ah, yes, money & energy...that's probably why we allowed America and Russia to get away with it. Bunch of cowards the lot of us.
Mark Humphrey, Peterborough, UK
Why doesn't Nelson Mandela say something?
Rahul, London, UK
The time is right for Mbeki to act, especially if he wishes to safeguard SA's reputation as a force for democratic progress on the continent
Mugabe must be given a clear ultimatum to respect the will of the people or else face an ever tightening squueze culminating if necessary in a military intervention to liquidate the current junta destroying the country
The Zimbabwean armed forces exist only to terrorise their own unarmed people and will collapse in the face of a real army. It would all be over in a few days. Do it now, Mbeki or else face the severest censure.
James, Leicester, UK
I agree with you (Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK). That is what is going on in Africa. The problem is when an African leader such as Mugabe opposes the western domination of Africa, that leader is labelled a dictator. Yes, Mugabe has been President for too long, and it is time for him to go, but at the same time, the need for him to go should come from the Zimbabwean themselves, not from foreign countries. This is why he labels the MDC a puppet of the west, because it is true, the MDC was not the brainchild of Zimbabweans, its birth can be traced back to the UK. Dispite this, i personally think Mugabe should make tracks. His stubborness on stepping down is only making life difficult for ordinary Zimbabweans. Even if the MDC does make it into power, its leader (Tsvangirai) should not be given absolute support. From the moment he enters the State House, a close eye should be kept on him. They can't afford another Mugabe. Freedom of speech and expression should be guarded at all costs
Ronald, Dartford, Kent
Why is the western media so surprised at what has taken place in Zimbabwe? The sham called election was rigged from the start by Mugabe and his thugs. We are acting as if these were real elections and not the fraud that they really are. No difference than the "elections" in Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and Saddam's Iraq. Are we so stupid to realize this????
John Richardson, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Mwana Wevhu, your so-called freedom fighters were, and are, nothing but murderous thugs, preying on the helpless and the weak. During the war they killed farmworkers in the most brutal fashion. They also raped and murdered missionaries - Remember the Elim massacre? - including a 3-week-old baby. Knomo's bunch shot down two civilian airliners and butchers the survivers of the one (mercifully, all died in the second atrocity).
And that is only a few of their many atrocities.
So, please, don't try to mention your so-called freedom fighters and imply some sort of honour in the same sentence.
Rod Baker, Cape Town, South Africa
There is no suffering in Zimbabwe. There is no persecution in Tibet, nor is there any murder or rape in South Africa.
In French-occupied, neo-colonial West Africa (Chad, Guinee,
Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, etc,) all of the citizens are happy, prosperous , well-fed and thriving, nor are there any slums in Brazil. The only suffering victims on this planet are the "Palestinians". Only the "Palestinans" are deserving of our sympathy and lamentations. Right?
Mike Cato, vestal, USA/NEW YORK
Mwana
I can understand Mugabe woas popular for liberating the blacks, but that is no excuse for the way he and his cronies have grown so rich at the expense of the country. He should still respect the democratic right of ordinary Zimbabeweans to elect a leader of their choice....which after all was the whole point of freeing the country from white minority rule!
Luke, London, UK
Like Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, and now South Africa is going the same way, Is there any intelligence and common sense with these African leaders who put the interest of their people and country first. All they are interested in is lining theirs and their crone's pockets. The people need to understand that if they are not on the payroll they are going to come unstuck. SAVE AFRICA FROM THESE SELF STYLED HITLERS.
Gary Monori, London, UK
I am a Kenyan. I am tired of African leaders blaming the West for their greed; corruption, cronyism and savageness. They plunder the country; kill their citizens as individuals and cronies & blame others. It is not the duty of US to effect governance in African countries period. As for Mugabe, that buffoon must go; African Union must play its role and drive that savage and his cronies out of the country all the way to grave or the Hague. Museveni; Gedi, Gaddafi and the rest of African despot I hope you are watching, African voters are becoming wiser. We need a new dawn in Africa. African sorting out African problem; not bringing calamities unto themseves and blaming others for not helping period.
Joshu Wanjala, Bridgetown, Barbados
I still think Black people have a struggle on their hands, many of White Europeans have no respect for the people of Africa, or Black People Generally. These people who have confidence in white intervention in Africa, I have none, all Europeans want from Africa is their Minerals for nothing, whites have never acted in the interest of Any African Country. They have exploited these people under colonialism. British past and present has never been interested in Africa only for their Minirals which they have never paid for, they have rings around African leaders good & bad alike to exploit them, they have only sold guns land mines and every distructive instrument, for them to kill one another. They have never offered nothing positive. When White South Africans slaughtered Black people in Soweto, when they were shooting kids who refused to speak Afrikaans, were massacred. The British Government was silent, Europe said nothing America said nothing. Santions has been placed on Zimbabwe.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
Mugabe is an evil man he has destroyed a country -where are the south africans???
john murphy, ryde, uk
If there are any adults in southern Africa, when are they going to act to put an end to such rubbish. Mugabe and this thugs are such retro jerks!
Jed, Jacksonville,
What are other African countries doing to ensure democracy rules - it appears absolutely nothing!
Mike, Gravesend, England
Mwana, you talk like that whilst sitting comfortably in London. Why aren't you in Zimbabwe, enjoying the lack of food, lack of fuel and 100,000% inflation?
This is not about the liberation war 28 years ago, or about the Rhodies. This is about Zimbabweans, living in Zimbabwe, trying through peaceful means to rid their country of a leader who has brought it to ruin!
Richard, Guildford, UK
Did we really expect anything different from this regime? The future is quite predictable; pliant judges will now overturn enough of the contested 16 parliamentary seats to see Zanu-PF regain its lost majority. The questionnable Presidential run-off will buy enought time for Zanu-PF to intimidate voters with brutal violence, not to mention setting the stage for just enough rigging of the results to ensure that Mugabe and his thugs have another 5 years to accelerate the descent of country and its people into oblivion. It would seem that the real power brokers - senior police and military officers - aren't ready to give up their patronage perks and multiple hobby farms just yet. And all the while, the western world will wring its hands at being powerless. And South Africa, which could lead in ending this sham, has already stated its intention to play the ostrich and look the other way. Shame on Mbeki.
Grant, Cincinnati,
The war vets are not thugs but they are the true liberators of Zimbabwe, I really concerned about this hatred against our fredom fighters. How come there no comments from Zimbabwe itself, all the pressure is coming out from Rhodies in Aussie, Uk and western world.
Leave Zimbabwe alone, no-one will ever force Zimbabwe to serve their foreign interest, the true causes of Zimbabwe crises is the land reform programme that benefited black people. This land will be defended at all cost, lets this be known to cruisaders we still think that they can still rule Zimbabwe indirect.
50,000 black zimbabweans were killed by the Rhodies in order for black people to have the right to vote, now the same Rhodies and their agents wants to rule on country indirectly, this will not be allowed. I appeal for all Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe to be very carefully about the influence of outsiders to govern our country, yes life is hard you should work together as Zimbabweans to solve the key issues of economic
Mwana Wevhu, London, UK
South Africans should hang their heads in shame.
Richard, Manchester,
I feel that it about time that the world got rid of this useless Mugabe johnny once and for all. Africa deserves better than a return to the stone age.
John, kenilworth,
NO to sir tsvangirai
Benny, Harare, Zim
Mugabe must be removed now before the bloodshed begins.
LIke dictators before him, the press will be kept at bay and revenge taken against those suspected of voting against him.
The west and in particular South Africa cannot just stand by whilst Mugabe's thugs, murder and torture innocent civilians.
If they do, they are as guilty as Mugabe himself.
Dennis, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Surely this strips away the last vestige of the fig leaf ,that Mugabe was ever even slightly inclined to accept any election result that saw him removed from power?
Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia
Even today, the rules of democracy we adhere to in the West, seem to remain an alien concept for many African countries
Ray Massart, Hombeek, Belgium
M beki can and will do nothing. He is a broken man himself. The thugs within the ANC will not allow SA to appear anything other than fully supportive of Mugabe. In fact the hardliners within the ANC are quite looking forward to applying some of Bobs wilder laws in SA. People of the caliber of Mandela & Tutu do not come along very often.
john, Guildford, UK
Poor America - if they invade countries they are imperialist or it's for oil; if they don't invade it's becasue there's no oil! Can't win. Actually, Zimbabwe has nothing to do with the USA - it's not the American's duty to go round engineering 'regime change'. All of you anti-Americans (probably liberal-left) should look at Africa. I heard a very interesting program on the Beeb which commented that many governments in Africa did not want the MDC to win - how dare the ordinary people kick out the corrupt politicians? In other words if the MDC were successful how many other African presidents would be threatened? Think about it - not many African Presidents have condemned Mugabe - ever wondered why?
Ian Burgess, Bristol,
Sir Mugabe please...
C Bodin, Plymouth, Devon
There is no oil in Zimbabwe but it is an important producer of metals including lithium, platinum and nickel. Maybe BHP Billiton should just inavde on the West's behalf...
South Africa already has millions of Zimbabweans living there with more arriving all the time. If Mugabe and Zanu-PF prevail the neighbours will eventually have to liberate Zimbabwe as Tanzania liberated Uganda from Idi Amin -- a process that impoverished them both tremendously.
For Mugabe elections are just a way to stay in power. Western leaders may urge him to accept the legitimate result but they know he would rather go to war.
Eric Meijer, Sydney, Australia
Why do the media even bother covering this election which was obviously doomed to fail from the beginning...
I feel sorry for the people of Zimbabwe who are insulted by this dictator...
Isabelle, Hull, England
Mugabe lives in fear, that is why he uses fear as his main weapon. His power drunkenness over the years shows that he cares more about clinging to power than the welfare and expressed interest of his people. He is a disgrace to Africa and human-kind.
Gary Young, London, UK
We already have an energy crisis and have to deal with 'power shedding' as they call it. Hundreds of businesses are going under because they simply cannot operate without electricity. Tons of food going to waste because of freezers defrosting... While in the same continent, people are starving because they have none. Imagine the devastation when we start running out of water?
Lisa, Durban, South Africa
What does it take for another country to step in? How come we'll go to war against a country which represents no threat whatsoever, but one which is clearly committing mass genocide is allowed to rule itself.
Oh yeah, there's not enough oil there.
Rob, Winchester, UK
It took the death of Franco for that country (Spain) to get back to normal. Mugabe is, was, and will always be a fascist thug - until he's rotting in his grave. And until then, Zimbabwe will never be free. And yeah, if my country actually cared about human rights and democracy, we would be there instead of that dead end country of Iraq.
Kevin, San Francisco, USA
Please drop the sarcasm about the USA, etc. intervening if Zimbabwe had oil. Grow up. If there was oil in Zimbabwe there wouldn't even be sanctions on the evil regime because China would be covering their back at the UN just like they do for Sudan. Mugabe is an unspeakable thug but so far he only threatens his own people. While he's driving a formerly rich country into the dust and robbing it, he's not going to have the cash to start making trouble elsewhere. That means that there will be no "intervention". It's up to the Zimbabwe population to get rid of this thug, and so far they're doing all the right things. Too bad South Africa isn't trying to act constructively. Thabo Mbeki is the one guy Mugabe might listen to.
Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Dear Steven S Africa already has 3m Zim refugees. Imagine how the vote would have been if they were still in Zim? Mugabe and his thugs will selfishly play the race card distorting their greed and destruction of what is left of Zim. Mbeki will support Mugabe, watch.
George Townsend, Elk Grove, CA USA
Well, Comrade Bob has taken the low road. Many hoped he would finally show some class and bow out in deference to the will of the people who voted. Not so! Now his ugly past, thugs and all, are on display for all to see. Let us all hope that this is just one brief interlude.
Rick Friedl, Edwards, USA/California
If there was oil in Zimbabwe, the USA and other Western Powers would be there by now, doing an Iraq style 'liberation' of the people!
John Symon, Sydney, NSW
South Africa and the other nations should fear the result if Mugabe gets back in because there will be only one result - A massive refugee crisis as millions of Zimbabweans flee their country and all the problems that will cause. Can South Africa handle 2-3 million refugees?
Stephen, St. Ives, England
Best of three?
Dan, Middesbrough,