After all the suffering and turmoil in S.Africa through racial inequality and apartheid you would think that Mbeki would take a stronger stance with Mugabe.
Yes, Zimbabwe has to sort out its own problems and yes, change can only come from within, but the great Nelson Mandela must be tearing his hair out at the tolerant attitude Mbeki is taking towards Mugabe and destruction of a once thriving nation.

Oxford Don, Oxford, UK

I am so tired of reading about Mr. Mugabe. Why can't he retire, after all he is a very old grandfather by now and way past his best-before date.

Per from Norway, Oslo, Norway

What is Mandela saying and doing in all of this? If he is not going to speak out on this can we please take down the statue to him in London and stop talking as though he is some sort of saint.

Paul, London, UK

So Winston, getting freedom from the colonial "antagonists" leaves you free to brutalise your own people because they have the same coloured skin as you? Viva African democracy...

Clive, Barcelona,

Isn't the "African solutions to African problems" line not racist in itself? When I last looked we were all still human beings with human rights (though clearly those rights are not recognised by the likes of Mugabe, Mbeki and their Chinese backers). I am not sure why skin colour should be a factor in assessing the validity in condemnation of oppression.

Anders, London , UK

As Mr Mugabe didn't win the election, (he obviously didn't or he would have announced the results long ago), he is a private citizen of Zimbabwe. In which case the weapons were ordered three days after the election by a private citizen, not a President. He must therefore be regarded as a militant, possible terrorist and as such detained by the local police / army. The weapons and munitions siezed and confiscated by South Africa.

John Buckley, Hounslow, Middlesex

Winston in Johannesburg. You are right. Mugabe was a hero. He guided Zimbabwe out of Ian Smith's regime, but he's now selling your beloved 'Afrika' to the highest bidder in order to fund his army. You might not realise it, but Zimbabwe is being colonised by some of the biggest companies in Asia. Zimbabwe has been destroyed by its hero.

Alex, London,

Why is that the most vociferous commentators are from the UK or USA. Zimbabwe is a sovereign country and not a colony of either country. Let Zimbabweans determine their own destiny without outside interference. Zimbabweans want peace and not war. Most of these armchair critics of Zimbabwe have never been to the country and where were they when Zimbabweans were fighting for the right to vote and for their dignity? As for this vicious attack on President Mbeki, is there now an element of racism here. If I were Mbeki, I would throw out that ungrateful and undiplomatic Tsvangirai out of South Africa. The guy is a disgrace. How can he be a saviour OF Zimbabwe when he is the one who called for sanctions against his own country in the first place that has caused untold suffering to his own countrymen. If that is democracy, then let Zimbabwe find an alternative way of governing!!

chenzira, London,

If I was white and especially a farmer I would be getting out of South Africa as quick as I possibly could. Mbeki's attitude to Mugabe shows he is fully in tune with the Zambian despot. It won't be long before South Africa goes the same way.

George Sign, Nice, France

Why this concern over the release of the election results when we all know what the (official, fixed) result will be: a landslide victory for Mugabe?

Tony Jones, Grantham, Lincs

Under colonial rule the cry from the African oppressed was "freedom". Now they have got the freedom. Zimbabwe is an example.

Alan, Wycombe, UK

Children of Mother Afrika –stand firm in the face of so much foreign antagonism. Afrika will never again be colonized nor shall South Africa return to apartheid (have you forgotten Apartheid? Have you forgotten Ian Smith’s illegal regime? ). Have you forgotten the sacrifices made by Comrades Mbeki and Mugabe in the armed struggle for freedom?

Winston Nkomo-Mason, Johannesburg, South Africa

Tsvangirai can't even get Mugabe to quit, so he won't have much luck trying to get Mbeki removed.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

to be honest it is too much to expect african leaders to rein in mugabe. to them he is a liberation war hero mugabe has managed to hoodwink them into believing that zimbabwe is under siege from the 'imperialist' western world. but ask any zimbabwean - international military intervention is long overdue zimbabweans as shown on march 29 2008 do not buy mugabe's rhetoric anymore. the ballot has failed to remove the tyrant from power, maybe what got him into to power (the barrel of the gun) in the first place will liberate zimbabweans. many in zimbabwe now have a reminiscence of the good old days of the 60s and 70s. to use one labour peer's words mugabe was put on earth to remind zimbabweans how good smith was - this just goes to show how terribly bad things have gone

winston chocks matemadombo, coventry, uk

when will the international community show some courage and start applying significant economic pressure on South Africa? Who would want to invest there if Mbeki is so supportive of Mugabe? He obviously has sympathy with the "comrade"...who is to say therefore that he may not try similar policies in SA?!

Disgusting behaviour and SA should be ashamed, it alone could stop this nonsense/killing of opposition/economic meltdown in Zim.

adrian, Surrey, UK

How would the views of the Western World be conveyed to Mugabe if it was not for the Mbeki Channel. Would the results of the parliamentary election be known if not for him. It may fast be approaching the time for complete isolation of Mugabe and at that time it is right to for Mbeki to say what he really thinks.

Gordon, Johannesburg,

These retired freedom fighters are all part of the same game.
They cannot bear the idea of admitting they are wrong

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

Africa wins again ... and let it happen by allowing Carrington to dictate terms 30 years ago.

Steve, Horsham, UK / West Sussex

Don't muddy the waters! The most important issue now is

Stop the Chinese supplied munitions reaching Zimbabwe.

This can be done.
a) Support for the SA Transport & Allied Workers Union
b) Pressure on the SA government who are bringing their weapons company to complete the shipment
c) Pressure on China - the weapons are supplied by Poly Technologies - this is a state owned company
d) Pressure on the SADC countries who are meeting in Mauritius this weekend
e) Pressure on the Commonwealth who will be attending the SADC meeting.

We can stop the ammunition reaching Zimbabwe.
We can stop 3 000 000 bullets reaching Zimbabwe.

Make own phone or send one email. I hope The Timesonline will do its bit by asking the right questions to the right people: the SA High Commission, the Chinese Ambassador, the Zimbabwe High Commission, President Mwanawasa of SADC.

Jo, Olney, UK

Another day passes and nothing happens

Those of us living in countries of the former colonial powers were useful when protesting against apartheid but now when the chips are down and power is in the hands of the rightful indiginous populations you can't blame us!

Step up to the plate and sort it then unless you want the continent of Africa as a whole to be known as a cosy home for appeasers and corruption

Chris Jay, Whitchurch,

These retired freedom fighters are all part of the same game.
They cannot bear the idea of admitting they are wrong and will hang on to whatever they have grabbed for themselves until the very last minute. Playtime is over for Mugabe. He has drunk all of the school milk and will now be expelled by the headmaster.

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

One key player who has been overlooked in this crises is Zambia's Mwanawasa. At least he is the only president from the region who has openly spoken against the Mugabe regime. He has differed with Mugabe on so many occassions and as such stands to be the best person to directly rally regional support for change in Zimbabwe. Let's echo Tsvangirai's call and have Mbeki replaced with Mwanawasa. As much as South Africa might be the economic power house of the region, Mbeki's leadership lacks the power to influence regional affairs. The misconception is that Mbeki welds power in South Africa yet it is the South African private business community that has made South Africa what it is hence Mbeki's seemingly reluctanancy to exect infulence. He just doesn't have the power.

Kaela Musonda, Lusaka, Zambia

Take him out. He is wasting our time withholding results, wasting our country and our lives

Easy, Rutenga, Zimbabwe

Well, yes, lets blame Mbeki and use him and the whole South African Government as scapegoats. This time we may be partly right, but Mugabe hs committed his atrocities in front of the rest of Africa and in fact the rest of the civilised world - and is continuing to do so. International human rights determine that some kind of international force is sent in Zimbabwe. Clearly Mugabe lost the election otherwise he would have declared it by now

Rodney Barker, Gainsborough, England UK

This is in every way an abomination. Mugabe is the equivalent of a tyrant. For those in power in South Africa and the U.N. (by the way, those who have power in the monthly exchange of power in the securities department are ZANU's) to say there is no crisis, is criminal at best. Zimbabwe has my prayers...all of them.

Tim , Denver, CO

Thabo Mbeki is no stranger to ignoring the excess's of Robert Mugabe and he is a disgrace to S. Africa after taking over from Nelson Mandela. His apparent ignorance & platitudes over the dictatorship of Mugabe has allowed tens of thousands of Zimbabweans to starve to death, die from AIDs and live a short 40 year life. Whilst under white rule, the population was one of the best looked after in the African continent, it was the bread basket of that continent and no one starved to death. Many aparteid apologists need to start asking themselves a simple question, is the right to vote really worth being beaten up or killed, dying at 40 from AIDs or malnutrition and living a miserable existence under Robert Mugabe. The world isn't perfect but many that interfere (or don't) make bad situations much worse.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

Hey, when the Brits get mad at appeasement, you know something is tremendously wrong.

Dan, Houston, USA

Get rid of the dictator now!

Stop the Chinese arms now!

The time for soft talk is over; free the Zimbabwe nation from the tyranny of Mugabe.

Stand up and be counted leaders of Africa and the free world.

David H, London, UK

Of course, Patrick Chinamasa is not the Justice Minister, since cabinet was dissolved prior to the election, and no new government has been announced.

I'm not sure what that makes him now, but it's not the Justice Minister. There isn't one.

Ben, Ithaca, USA