The British should keep out of Africa! Let them sort this mess out themselves, they may then value what they could well achieved.

WD Bowden, Sheffield, Yorkshire

Mugabe will never leave, but at the end of a rope or feet first.

It is unlikely that this will happen anytime soon. Mugabe will be in Zimbabwe for many years to come butchering and oppressing his own people.

The International Community will do what it does best, that is to watch and do nothing. The sad thing is that the “Community” will, at a later date, claim the victory of “patience and diplomacy” and all of us will feel good about ourselves.

M, Milwaukee, USA

I am a Zimbabwean living in the UK, with my family, after the grant of asylum. Life was unbearable, under the Dictatoral regime of R.G. Mugabe& Zanu P.F. I remember having a discussion with a die hard supporter of Mugabe. The statement he made was that "yes we had been colanised before & we liberated ourselves,Zimbabeans would never again be colanized". In reply to him, was " yes take care that Mugabes' invited guests namely the Chinies dont colanzise you again. Thier colanization could be quite a considerable time longer than the British imperialists ".

Keith, Peterbourgh, UK

Mr Phiri states that Britain and others are attempting to make Mr Tsvangirai a puppet. Mr Phiri is as deluded as Zimbabwe's despot leader: Mr Tsvangirai is the opposition leader in Zimbabwe, a position he acquired through a democratic process. That he is an ex-union leader and uneducated has nothing to do with the debate. Mr Phiri should be reminded about who Mr Makoni’s boss was for many years.

I am a white South African, and could say the same about Jacob Zuma, who holds only a GCSE-equivalent, is a unionist, and still awaits legal proceedings surrounding a corruption case. But he was voted in as ANC leader through a democratic process; the people have had their say so I cannot complain too much.

Interestingly, Mr Zuma has made Zimbabwe a key policy priority, and I would be delighted if he were now to start flexing the muscles granted to him by his current position. It would do much to alleviate doubts about his future leadership capabilities.

Ian Booth, Dorset, United Kingdom

I think The Digger has something here . Last week Peter Carrington ( Lord no less ) of Lancaster House fame wrote an artice in which he said the people of Zimbabwe were a flexible people , well now he's finding out just how flexible . I suggest we appoint him to head a deputation to sort this business out once and for all after all he was one of the instigators and he's on nodding terms with Bob ( I'd pay a kings ransom to be at that table )and he cannot possibly be as naive as he was28 years ago ,,,, Na! maybe not.

Ed Allen, Whitby, Canada

If only they had oil = Chris, Hong Kong, SAR

What, like Bosnia? Oops, i forgot, Bosnia had no oil but the US still helped. Guess that puts a spanner into your silly logic.

sam, Birmingham,

What on earth makes anyone think that Tsvangirai will behave any differently? To have suffered all the threats, beatings and torture that he has been through over the years, he must be expecting a significant reward at the end of all this. It would take a very naive observer to believe that greater freedom of expression for the Zimbabwean people will be reward enough. "Politician" means something slightly different in southern Africa, and anyone who expects either MDC or Zanu (or anyone else in the region, for that matter) to employ any of the processes, checks and balances of a developed, Western democracy is massively deluding themselves.

Johnny, London,

Why does everyone's solution to this issue seem to be a return to quasi-imperialism ("send in the troops to throw out Mugabe"; "establish a government in exile from London")? The fact that we meddled where we weren't wanted in Iraq (sparking valid accusations of an imperialist agenda in the process) is hardly justification, as some suggest, for doing it again in Zim. As much as we seem unable to relinquish our delusions of empire, Zimbabwe is an independent sovereign nation and has been for 3 decades. The Zimbabwean people chose their destiny, and the fact that it has not turned out so well is no reason to reoccupy their territory and impose on them a leader of our choosing, without reference to cultural precedents. We tried that in Iraq and Afghanistan, and left those countries with toothless and unpopular governments where once they had strong and stable (albeit flawed and brutal) leadership. Who's next? Who else's leadership style clashes with that of the US and UK? China? Iran?

Marc, London,

@ Marion

Send and email to President Mbeki expressing your support for a positive resolution tomorrow?

His email address is on Sokwanele.

Jo, Olney, Uk

This whole situation angers me to my core. How dare Mugabe think he has the right to this sort of action, or any of the militia cells and its leaders. Why doesn't the UN step in? Zanu needs to understand that the outside world is not oblivious to its campaign of sickening violence, and will take action accordingly if it persists.

So again I will ask; where are the peacekeepers when the peace needs to be kept?

Adam Watson, Belfast, UK

I cannot believe that the spineless UK & International governments cannot do something to alleviate the plight of those poor people in Zimbabwe.
The UK media has already dropped Zimbabwe from their radar as has the government, the pressure is off and clearly nothing will be done - I am ashamed right now of being British

Ben Curtis, Newbury, Berkshire

That African leaders are trying to find a way forward is refreshing and commendable. Diplomacy by all of Zambia's Presidents has helped to bring peace to the region in the past in Angola, Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe itself and South Africa. Zambia was a home for all the liberation groups in Southern Africa as they wrestled to gain freedom.
It is hoped that once again Zambia will again lead the way in showing how quiet, intelligent diplomacy is conducted, in an African context, not the posturing and intimidation we see bandied about by former colonial masters!
It also would have helped if the real contender in Zimbabwe was Simba Makoni tan educated economist with vast experience in public service. SADC leaders will be wary of being seen to be helping coronate an ill-educated puppet. It is this Tsivangirai question that may see many averse to seeing the departure of Mugabe. They will think Britain will see the installation of Tsivangirai as licence to impose puppets across the region.

Gilbert Phiri, Swindon, UK

Isn't it amazing.
"Alex Samson, Chester " calling for British military intervention in Zimbabwe. Some people never learn - even from recent strategic and human catastrophes in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Permanent change for the better in Zimbabwe will only come from within. To intervene militarily would be crass stupidity. Remember, the British government installed Mugabe when they forcibly ejected Ian Smith!!

Oxford Don, Oxford, UK

The only people who can change the situation are the Zimbabweans themselves. There is no greater power than that of the people. The trouble is the people are not educated, they dont know that they have the power to remove the tyrant, if not through the votes then through whatever it takes. People have suffered so long they now think its normal. Somebody needs to tell them its not and there is life after Mugabe. A better life. We need to rise up and stand together for the future of our children.!

Rumbidzayi Kampira, Leicester , UK

Mugabe is not the real problem now. It is the rest of his gang who have wealth, power and luxuries that they have no intention of giving up. Great comment from Peter Faux by the way. The solution can only be found in Africa by Africans. Thankfully President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia has taken the lead from the ineffectual Mbeki of SA. He knows that atrocities in Zim will destabilise the whole of southern and central Africa.

Chris D, Edinburgh, Scotland

Maybe if oil was discovered in great enough quantity, Messrs Bush and Brown would get off their upholstered backsides and do something about this animal. How can a man who burns farms and throws people off moving trucks be allowed to continue enjoying his freedom, let alone his office. It's outrageous; our military resources would surely be better spent dealing with this monster.

Alex Samson, Chester, Cheshire

I am a South African, I am so dissapointed that our government has not loudly condemned what is happening in Zimbabwe. What a disgrace.

Marion, Cape Town, South Africa

What can ordinary citizens in the UK do to assist Zimbabwe residents living in this abomniable situation?

Luke, Poole, Dorset

@ Kenneth

You ask a good question. I've tried to use the comments sections on these blogs to alert people to a peaceful email compaign organised by activists inside Zimbabwe to wish well the SADC meeting of tomorrow.

These messages appear to have been blocked.

If you would like to publish something incendiary, inflammatory, perjorative or derogatory, it is likely to be allowed.

I am disappointed but perhaps more worldly than I was earlier this morning.

Just in case I was wrong, and I am being blocked because I provided urls, anyone interested can google Sokwanele and go to their blog to see the campaign

scotchcart, Olney, UK

Black Rhodesia wanted to be free, to govern themselves.
Just like every other african state that had european rule.
Now you have it, there is no-one left to blame your troubles on, take the responsiblitly of self determination and create a better Zimbabawe than the Rhodesia you inherited.
Lesser sons of greater sires, your own racism ( towards whites ) has led you to chaos, death, disease and starvation.
You are free now enjoy your independence from the yoke of prosperity, functioning hospitials, government infrastructure programs, a legal and voting system free of government interference, agricultural and meat industries, an efficent police force dedicated to the law not public suppression.
How Zim rebuilds its self now is up to africa, for the only way the west can help is stay out of africa totally and completely. Africa must learn to grow up and help themselves, national values instead of tribal, humanitarian values instead of self gain.

peter faux, burrum heads , australia , queensland

So why havent we done something to this despot the same as we have done to Sadam?
Ooooh I forgot- hes got no oil, we are such a bunch of hypocrites.

Alex Lee, carshalton, surrey / UK

Why isn't somebody doing someting about this?!?! For pity's sake....the UN should just go in and through Mugabe out. What is the problem?

Kris, Bristol,

Mugabe may be ordering this brutatlity, but he is , in reality, only an old man with an ugly mind. Why don't the people around him gather their courage and stand up to him in a united front?

Kim Domnick, Torquay, UK

Since Britain & the EU want to assist significantly in rebuilding Zimbabwe, I suggest that it is opportune for them to now seriously consider supporting Mr. Tsvangirai (MDC) to set up a government in exile in a stable environment (e.g. London). From there the MDC could liaise with supportive countries on such matters as the reconstruction/reinvestment process, amnesty/prosecution for the usurpers of power, etc.

Keith Cantrell, Johannesburg, South Africa

You Brits organized their independance in1980.

Fix it. What ever it takes.

The Digger, Sydney, Australia

Mugabe give up power? - did you honestly expect that? How naive and stupid the world is!

Bob Brown, Carlsbad, USA/California

I can't belive things like this are still happening in our world today, not after all the wars for democracy and freedom.

Unbelievable.

C Young, London,

Mugabe will not go easily - he sees himself as a demi-god and no one is to challenge him. The fact that no one, not only from the commonwealth but world around has done anything is due to the fact that (as Chris puts it rightly) there is little political/economic interests there. White farms have been repossesed by force and there is reverse discrimination taken to the max...

Howcome no one is doing anything about this is just beyond me, there is more than enough reason for SA or whoever to move in and do something about it!

Kenneth, Hong Kong,

If only they had oil

Chris, Hong Kong, SAR

What an absolute mess.It is not possible for many reasons now but it is indeed unfortunate that all that once would have been required was 250 mercenaries of the right calibre to overthrow this drunken rabble . They are great at terrorising women and children and a generally starved population but against trained military they would not last a weekend , where are the Selous Scouts when you need them.

Ed Allen, Whitby, Canada