Nelson Mandela doesn't say anything because the poor man is as old as the hills and I understand has dementia. If he could, I am sure he would but mugabe doesn't listen to anyone. Anyway, I don't think he's really in charge anymore, the military mob is.

Susan, Texas, USA

Billions of pounds & dollars in aid and grants have been heaped on the Zim government and guess where most of it ended up. Certainly not for the benefit of the country nor the people. If you think it couldn't be worse, just look at Sierra Leone et al.

Susan, Texas, USA

The exchange rate is now Z$8 billion= US$1 for bank transfer or Z$5 billion= US$1 for cash. The reason a better rate for cash is if your money goes into a bank it gets stuck in a bank, you cant get it out other than Z$25billion per day (US$3-4). But sanctions will hurt the poor not the elite.

G M Thomson, Serborne UK,

Africa should ask Britain to butt out. There is no way South Africa will agree to sanctions against Zimbabwe irrespective of what happens in the election. The west has no understanding of African politics.

Winston Nkomo-Mason, Johannesburg, South Africa

Sanctions will not work as Mugabe's allies such as Mbeki will ensure he, personally, does not go short. What is needed is for it to be made 100% clear that unless the violence and the killing stop, Mugabe himself, all those responsible, will face the same penalty as Saddam Hussein. And then do it!

Rod Baker, Cape Town, South Africa

Y d blame game?It is easy to blame SA, UN, US, Mandela etc but none has a solution to this "problem". In those days when White farmers owned the farm in Zim, did most benefits go to Britain or to the Zims? Pls be truthful. Is it purely nationalism that the whites were forced out?

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

To: Colin, Cambridge,
Is this the reason why you want to get rid of Mr.Mugabe and the Zanu PF? Surely Zim is big enough and still have land to accommodate British buyers too. Why not have a joint venture to developed Zim for the Zims and not just shout and blame and threaten. Peace
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Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

What happened to democracy? What happened to letting Zimbabweans choose and not we must find a way to get rid of their choice if its Mugabe.
We as Britons should avoid treating Iraqis or Zimbabweans as somehow subservient, for our images are only tarnished in so doing.

david, ipswich, uk

Scott Hawkins, Oceanside, USA
How in Gods name did the British have any hand in evicting white farmers and, as a result, destroying Zimbabwes food supply and economy?

Phill, Heswall, England

Why doesn't Zimbabwe suffer the same pressure as Rhodesia did under White Rule? Ask any black Zimbabwean and they will tell you it was better under White minority rule. Just as most Carribean islanders will tell you life was better under British rule.

Keith bentham, wigan, uk

Regrettably , nothing is going to work. Mugabe will be kept in power by his army of sycophants, it is they who stand to lose everything. Africa will do absolutely nothing, nor will the U.N..

Dave, Knysna, South Africa

It is outrageous how long it has taken the west to act over Zimbabwe, surely something has to be done to stop mUgabe?where is the UN? Hiding as usual whilst people die....pathetic

john, englnad,

Only the actions of the black goverments are put to question, zimbabwean need economic aid not more sanctions, all this talk will just make it worse for the ordinary zimabwean

jason van mwoyo, luton,

Where is MANDELLA during this terrible situation in Zimbabwe
Why is he not speaking out against such atrocities?Why is the BBC or CNN not seeking his opinion.?Mandella's views are worth a lot not only in Africa but also the rest of the world probably still more so than any other African leader.

Barry Clough, willington, durham

Consering that Nazi europe has failed to do anything about mugabe when he comes here, how does attacking the people help anything? There was plenty of opportunity to deal with him at the UN meeting, up to an including shotting down his airplane, yet nothing happened.

Chris, Derby,

Mugabe and Bush are the same. One should not be punished without the other. Guantanemo Bay is just as bad a crime as what is happening in Zimbabwe; human rights are taken away using abuse and force. When will the world open it's eyes to what white regimes do and not only black ones.

alicia, london, uk

The country needs the economic funding. However the leader is presenting himself as a madman. What the people need is peace. Threatening with sanctions might not work because this man clearly is not thinking of what the country needs and is probably not bothered by it. Suspend instead.

Kadia, Waterloo, Canada

Why is MANDELA silent on the situation within Zimbabwe? Why do the BBC or CNN not go and ask him for his opinion?Mandela's views are probably still worth more than any other African Leader and provided he is not in agreement with Mugabe his words could help solve the problem.

Barry Clough, willington, durham

Lim, Malaysia.

Zimbabwean farmland cannot be sold back to the whites because large swathes of sovereign territory have already been sold by Zanu PF to China/ Beijing. But as a maoist I guess you already know that.

Colin, Cambridge, United Kingdom

bit rich for mr brown and his government to have a go at mugabe for locking up people without charge while using bribes threats and intimedation to get a law pushed through parliment that means they can do the same thing here talk about pot calling kettle

brian rice, halifax, england

The hurt that a blockade could cause could not be worse than the hurt inflicted by Mugabe. Indeed, it might give some hope to the the Zimbabweans if they could see that the world cared for their plight.

After 28 years of Mugabe thuggery are we still blaming the British?

leila , manchester, uk

Scott Hawkins, Oceanside, USA

Mr. Mugabe hates certain blacks only. Yes, the blacks in MDC. He believed that these blacks are being supported and funded by the West. He feared that these blacks would sell Zim back to the whites. Umm, I share his fears.
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Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Bugsy, Burley-in-Wharfedale, England

I agree. Beijing is heavily involved here. The political scene has a strong whiff of maoism. The pattern of Cambodia is being repeated. The population have been reduced to subsistance peasants. Now the starvation is underway. Mugabe was a friend of Pol Pot.

Colin, Cambridge, United Kingdom

This is absolute madness by the British, they are not punishing Mugabe, they are punishing the population of Zimbabwe!!!!!

Chris, Ashford, UK

It's pathetic. For decades Mugabe has, literally, got away with murder and all the rest of the world has done is tut-tutted and bleated. Until the UN adopts the idea that enforced Regime Change can sometimes be a GOOD THING we'll live in a world where despots and tyrants thrive.

John Lock, East Harling, UK

Mugabe is getting orders from his ruling military Junta and they inturn from Beijing, China pays the bills and owns swathes of the country. Democracy was last used in Zimbabwe when Ian Smith and Bishop Abel Muzorewa were in power for the short year. Sadly tribal loyalty means starvation for non ZANU

Bugsy, Burley-in-Wharfedale, England

Why does nobody ever public ask Mr.Mugabe why he has destroyed the productive farms during his period in office?

alanconnell, wilmslow, england

I hate everybody in position, who by action or innaction have perpertuated situations similar these; An automechanical engineer from Zimbabwe asking for a peace job from me; I like myself bcause unlike those I hate, my conscience bars me form exploiting hissituation in the drive for cheap labour

reginald, Lagos, Nigeria

If the UN got off its backside, maybe, just maybe, it could step in.
How can we watch this loser Mugabe trampling over a whole country and not do something to help its helpless citizens?
War, deplorable as it is, is sometimes necessary, and this is one of those times.
Get this man out!

Nick, London, UK

Given that this weekend the un-elected Political Elite of Euroland have shown the same respect of the people as Magabe does for those in Zimbabwe, it is surprising that they have not stood up and praised his endeavours.

Ian, Reading, UK

Africans leaders; What if this man is an 84 year old psycho, who is paranoid and deluded. What if he believes that everybody who disagrees with him including more than 50% of zimbabweans are enemies of his country and democracy, a war to liberate his country. Your eventual intervention will be late.

reginald, Lagos, Nigeria

I fail to see any logic in Scott Hawkins blaming Britain. Mugabe only cites Britian when something has gone wrong and he will not admit his own policies are to blame. The main fault lies with the other African countries who should have seen the danger much earler and done something about it.

George Steele, Keighley, England

If all international aid was withheld from the SADC members; the International trade organisation put pressure on the transport unions to blockade the Zimbabwe borders and, cancel the Soccer World Cup in 2010 in South Africa the world would soon see some action.

Patrick Christianson, Cape Town, Exiled Zimbabwean

Perhaps it would be kinder for the international community to accept more Zimbabwean refugees rather than make the few remaining ones suffer even more. If you want to put on Sanctions then look at Zimplats or the other big mines. Don't make the povo suffer even more.

alex stevenson, harare, zimnbabwe

Rhodesia; once a leading food supplier with a stable economy is now in ruins thanks to the British. The solution proffered hurts the people. Mugabee has already proven that he hates blacks and whites and is the worst of all bigots hiding his bigotry behind political rhetoric. He must be removed!

Scott Hawkins, Oceanside, USA