God help the people of Zimbabwe, as it seems the world will not. I hope one day that african nations will see that the true test of democracy is not the elections of governments, but that governments may be beaten in elections by opposition parties and power is handed over in an orderly fashion.

Kaye, Semaphore, Australia

The People of Zimbabwe don't deserve this cowardly/selfish act of Mugabe. To me, Muagabe's intentions to stay in power is...well, just to stay in power. He has no legimiate goals or plans for its people- he is solely interested in continuing to rule "his" country by his own ways and rules.

Brian, Farmington, CT, USA

How can you compare Ian Smith to Mugabe? Smith handed a fantastic country, that fed all its people plus its neighbouring countries. Mugabe has totally destroyed it. The whites never treated the africans as this criminal is doing. The west should forget about Mbeki. Only military force will work.

Gil, Funchal, Portugal

What negotiations when all members of the opposition are either jailed or on the run. Mbeki should open up his mind and use common sense. Mugabe cannot be a competitor and a refree at the same time. He must be told what to do and negotiations must start in earnest on equal terms

Mujuru, Auckland, New Zealand

Joe, you really do Ian Smith a dis-service. I guarantee you that if you spoke to the rank and file in Zim, they would welcome Smith back with open arms.

I've asked locals all around Zim and even those who have lived through the worst of Smiths era still prefer it to the best of the Mugabe era.

Dale, Australia,

Mugabe is just the pharoah of our time. He says only God can remove him, surely the battle is now between him and God. We shall see the end

Emma, Akabe,

We are sick and tired of this see-saw game. The ordinary Zimbabwean is suffering. Mugabe have mercy on your people like Joshua Nkomo had. Don't let he people suffer. Swallow your pride and give someone else a chance. The future of all Zimbabweans is being ruined by selfishness.

Lewis, Bindura, Zimbabwe

I find it shocking that nothing is being said about Morgan Tsvangirai's 'on record' calls for the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe. These sanctions are directly and indirectly responsible for the death of thousands in Zimbabwe where is the condemnation for that?

Makesure, Harare, Zimbabwe

Mbeki could with a few simple words end the carnage, he could free the people of the region, southern Africa could be the light that brings light to the dark continent, if only he had the courage of Mandella.Mbeki legacy, death, aids starvation weakness. Stand up be counted amongst the great leaders

Andy, Riyadh, Saudi

Both Mbeki and Mugabe just look like devils in black skin and if they were the only reason for saving humanity, I'd rather be dead!!

Elijah Osiro, Nairobi, Kenya

I think Mugabe has gone completely insane. Sometimes it comes with age. If we are to face the reality on ground, the only solution to massacre in Zimbabwe is to force the Insane Mugabe out of office. South Africa has lost so much respect with people Mbeki. It's high time world leaders come together.

Olu, Lagos, Nigeria

mbeki imhata yemunhu for god sake people are dying in zimbabwe mbeki is like mugabe look at xenophobia what did he do nothing UN please intervene this selfish old president
dboy capetown

tapera kufa, jhb, sa

Mbeki seems to refuse to face reality. His abysmal handling of the AIDS crises and violence in South Africa and his inability to lead an African solution to Zimbabwe beggers belief. He will ignore Mandela on Zimbabwe as he did when he spoke out on AIDS. The sooner he goes the better.

Marita, Sevenoaks, United Kingdom

Mbeki seems to refuse to face reality. His abysmal handling of the AIDS crises and violence in South Africa and his inability to lead an African solution to Zimbabwe beggers belief. He will ignore Mandela on Zimbabwe as he did when he spoke out on AIDS. The sooner he goes the better.

Marita, Sevenoaks, United Kingdom

Thabo Mbeki has thrown everything SA stood for from 1994out the window. That "quiet diplomacy" by the West on apartheid SA we condemned so feverishly we now think is OK. Save Zimbabwe, find that guy called Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia.

Zakes, Jwaneng, Botswana

Talking to many black S. Africans, you get a general sense that they feel they were denied their chance to get back at Whites and revenge against the injusticies of the apatheid regime. As a result they see Mugabe as a hero and those sentiments are what Mbeki is simply reflecting. Its sad.

Black Zimbabwean, Johannesburg, South Africa

Alan, London..."Let's assume that President Mbeki is not a total fool". You're on your own, mate! Most of his country does, the rest of the world does, Zimbabwe does, Africa is beginning to. Look at his views on Aids. An expert at shooting himself (and his country) in the foot.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

Not to excuse Mbeki's pitiful behavior but a major reason why the response from Mbeki and large parts of the leadership of southern Africa is virtually non-existent is this: A lot of ANC members and other freedom fighters were given refuge or aid by Zimbabwe. Mugabe is surviving on past favours.

Vidar Hokstad, London, UK

I heard Mbeki's brother being interviewed yesterday who summed up the fact that Mugabe is playing him for a fool. Whether Mbeki is simply naive or Mugabe has some other hold on him is unclear but something is fundamentally wrong with his unwillingness to condemn. What's Mandella's view?

duncan carter, Preston, England

Let's assume that President Mbeki is not a total fool. So, what is he trying to achieve? Clearly "Quiet Diplomacy" failed years ago; indeed, his pro-Mugabe policies are severely damaging his own country and have been for some time.

All this makes me wonder whether he has some other aim....

Alan, London, UK

The UN will never work, as long as countries like Russia and China are allowed to put their own economic interests before the rights and wrongs of this world.

Arthur, Newcastle,

Mr Mugabe is trying to legitimize his actions of murder and terrorism by claiming God appointed him alone to rule. Only God could remove him! He was lead to this by Rev' Deuschle, Bishops Mananga and Kunongo. Can they still believe this after the brutality, murder and mayhem Mugabe has caused?

Rev. Gary Strrong, Petaluma , USA

South Africa stands to lose most from the spiraling anarchy in Zimbabwe. With millions of refugees flooding across the borders South Africa will feel the pinch . South Africa and the UN should invade Zimbabwe and restore legitimate democracy to this once proud country, to restore peace and justice.

Stu Wilson, Cape Town, South Africa

Mugabe and anyone who support him and/or make excuses for him, such as Thabo Mbeki, are a joke to the rest of us. Half these people are the same ones who look for any excuse to condemn the United States and the UK at every turn.

Rob, Alexandria, Virginia, United States of America

Zimbarbwe can Never have peace and Democracy as long as Mugabe is in power and everyone knows it. This will be a test to see if the UN has any credibility in helping these brutality abused people for such a long period of time. We had Hitler .Pol Pot ,Amin ,Sadim Assain,Milosovic and now Megabe

David Dean, Canberra, Australia

We now welcome Africa's latest, "President for LIfe".

This pressure via the UN etc is pointless. Hain had to convince his officials that Diplomacy wouldn't work on this guy but here we are trying the same failed route again.

SA can cut off Mugabe's electricity tomorrow. That would be a start.

Ted, Cheshire,

Cut off foreign currency and travel. Their wives do not get to shop with blood money on Rodeo Drive and their kiddies come home from their expensive overseas schools and get the same education the average Zim child gets. You live in the country you created.

Angela, Epping, Australia

Mbeki is trying to do the same as Neville Chamberlain did with Hitler in 1938, and the result would be the same. Mugabe has already declared war. The only way forward is to force Mugabe into elections that are guaranteed free and fair by international monitors, and hold him to the result.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

Carl,Lexington.Response by Zims outside Zim is because access to the net is the last thing on any Zim in Zim's mind.They need to get WATER,which is not available.

Madlabutha, Birmingham, England

"Meanwhile Patrick Chinamasa, the Zimbabwean justice minister, claimed that Friday's presidential voting would go ahead, as MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai was "too late" in deciding to withdraw." its never too late!!!!They just want him to participate and legitimize this illegitimate government.

tatenda, Epping, UK

Robert Mugabe came to power in the same year that Pol Pot was overthrown. In Democratic Kampuchea a ruling elite in a pitifully poor agrarian society was indifferent to the suffering of its people, used terror and tyranny to impose its will and had the tacit support of China. So there are certain parallels with the Zimbabwe of today. Pol Pot, or his chosen successor, would probably still be in power had the Vietnamese not invaded. International pressure, whatever that means, is by no means unified over Zimbabwe and sanctions won’t work as there are plenty of companies and some countries who will certainly supply Mugabe with what he needs to survive. Only military force will bring an end to the ZANU PF backed regime and that means South African military power supported by a well resourced UN force. Any chance of this? Not a hope. Plenty of shouting of course, but in a few weeks Zimbabwe will settle down again and ebb off the front pages.

Alan Wilson, Bristol, UK

Please, look for oil !!!

Johan, Weybridge, UK

Unfortunately when people are given too much power and allowed to test the boundary and seems endless they become comfortable with their position. This is evident all through history and today in several countries. He'll have to be removed from power or he'll choose his successor; another problem.

Richard, Bristol, UK

Negotiations may be going on in Harare but these must not be used by the South African Government as an excuse to refuse to condemn the state sponsored violence that is continuing in Zimbabwe. Does SA really think that this is the way an election should be run. If so there is no hope left for us.

Jeff Fenwick, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Odd, the only Zims responding are not in Zimbabwe!. Maybe they are too busy trying to find a few trillion to buy some Mealie Meal. Having been to the land, Zim people are great, but zanu-pf is the devil run amok. The international community will do nothing, you are as doom as the Czechs in '39.

Carl, Lexington, USA

I am anti-imperialist. Mugabe is (this is hard to say) Ian Smith resurrected. What a travesty. What sacrifices to put this Oligarch in power-for what?
Joe Morrissey, California, usa

Joe Morrissey, Sacramento, USA

We are watching the final acts of a regime that now believes in its own lies. The tragedy of the last 8 years is how Mbeki has been fooled by Mugabe on a Pan African vision that is nothing more then racist. Mugabe has put the final nails on Mbeki's legacy who will be remembered as the last emperor

John Catsicas, Johannesburg, South Africa