Pity Zimbabwe does not have oil. Otherwise Mr. Bush and the US Army might have intervened to help bring democracy to this troubled land!

R Marcley, albany ny, USA

Mr Tsvangirai was detained no FEWER than five times, for heaven's sake, subs.

kc123, London,

The world did nothing about Cambodia.

Nor Burma.

And too little, too late in Yugoslavia.

Only in Iraq & Afghanistan was anything done, and THAT went pear-shaped....

Zimbabwe is our current "chance" - and again, too little, too late.

Robin Clay, BLANDFORD FORUM, Dorset, UK

MDC Red rags and huge 'V' signs in defiance of Mugabe, appeared over night all over Zimbabwe. The people have no weapons to fight back but they have a steely resolve not to be beaten into submission. These people are very brave and deserve our respect and admiration.

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

I suspect there is no real political will to bring about change by countries in the west and elsewhere - not only in ZImbabwe but also in other places there is tyranny. For there to be the political will there has to also be economic or strategic advantage in taking action. It is a very sad.

Chris Fowler, Wakefield, West Yorks

"There is no oil but minerals". Zimbabwe is in ruins with farms gone etc according to some posters. What about the mineral mines. Are they still around? Surely alot of minerals were taken away during colonial rule? What's left is what the Zims are fighting for? They do not want more to go.
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Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

I may sound cruel but I am realistic. The World evolve & countries change. People change. Kampuchea had changed and will continue to change, so will you and I. Kampuchea is alive & kicking towards better days. I strongly believe Zimbabwe will also change in/by their own way

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

America has invaded countries who had better human rights.

Keith, France,

So how come its a sham there and a re vote is democracy in Ireland

Len, Oban, Scotland

What?! No "enduring freedom"/"regime change" for Zimbabwe? Whats wrong with? What does Zimbabwe lack to be denied such a privilege? People of Iraq are enjoying it!
Guess mining just doesn't reap the rewards fast enough-after all mining is a very long term investment, turn over takes longer no?

Brundi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Bill Norway -"coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals" are listed as Zimbabwe's natural resources"

No worries, Mugabe will be dead in about 10 -15 years. Its all yours then!

Brundi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Lim in Malaysia, said.

'Surely Mr Mugabe can't kill half the population. Can he?'

Oh yes he can and has already said so. This is another Cambodia. Zimbabwe is now at the starvation stage. Surely that is obvious.

Colin , Carmarthen, UK

If Mbeki cannot be presuaded to act then perhaps the unions can be. They acted to stop a Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe - it is their hands to cut of the electricity supply now.

Chris, Ashford, Middx, England

The west talks tough - is this a joke? I guess Mugabe is quaking in his boots. One thing Mugabe has learnt the hard way is that rights and freedoms are fought for, need to be won and need to be defended. The way we in the UK are throwing away our rights has me very worried.

Andy, Mablethorpe, UK

The laws of Zimbabwe say if a Presidental candidate has to give at least 21 days notice if he wants to pull out of the race. I am afraid to say Mr Tsvangirayi pulled-out 6 days before the Presidental election. Legally he didn`t abide by the constitution of the land. Zimbabwe has it`s own law.

Rusununguko, London, UK

The MDC have made a strategic error in not fighting the election.Despite the tragic death of their supporters who have lost their lives now, thousands have lost their lives due to lack of medicines and food in the past and will do so in the future. Zimbabweans would have voted for change.
Dr JAB

Dr J A Bartlett, Johannesburg, South Africa

SA, enjoy your seat on the UNSC. It is not going to happen again. Nobody in the world is going to trust you for a long time after allowing this to happen in your backyard.

Are we still going to hold the World Cup in SA, just a stones throw away from where people are being starved and murdered?

Dave, Seattle, US

A combination of the neocolonialism of the west and the corruption of once revolutionary ideals have dragged Zimbabwe down. Mugabe was right to liberate the land, unfortunately, it was not the masses who benefited. If Carter had gotten re-elected, maybe the West would've kept their promise.

Reginald James, Oakland, USA

Didn't Tsvangari spy for apartheid South Africa. If I was Mugage, I'd be paranoid too. I wouldn't trust y'all either. In fact, from most of the coverage, I think that most Western papers are spewing of liberal zionist propaganda. However, after talking to Africans, I know there is some truth.

Reginald James, Oakland, USA

This is the 2nd time mugabe has been challenged, he killed the last guy, showing contempt for proper process of law, but also re,member its different tribal areas, against each other its same, as before, except, now no western overlord, as mugabe now holds that position !

jon rose, torrington, uk

Zimbabweans have the same choice that we had with our Prime Minister, or with the Lisbon Treaty.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

I dont think there is any point in wondering what will happen if Morgan wins despite everything. This is an election that has had absolutely no rules apart from the ones made to suit Comrade Mugabe. If Morgan wins Mugabe will simply declare victory on the basis Tsvangirai withdrew.

Jay, London , UK

We all must stand against this, if this continues then our children will have no future.

olayemi buraimoh, Lagos, Nigeria

British establishment foreign policy in Zimbabwe: Diamond (and Platinum) are forever ! Mugabe is not. Bill, Stavanger, below wrote: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals" are listed as Zimbabwe's natural resources.

John, Atlanta, GA

What will happen if Mr Mugabe lost? I think people are still going to vote for Tsvangirai anyway because the suffering is too much to bear.

Gary, London, United Kingdom

All elections are sham - except in Africa everything is larger than life. Just bear in mind when you denigrate Mugabe you also denigrate half of the Zimbabwe population who vote for him.

haralambos, joburg,

South Africa needs to take the lead on this to give any international attempt to oust Mugabe legitimacy.

Kevin, Topeka, KS, USA

Once again an unarmed (disarmed) people are murdered, maimed, tortured, beaten and endlessly harried by a corrupt regime desperate to stay in power. The latest outrage is to chop off opponents' hands or arms so they cannot vote at all....
Gun control (civil disarmament) please ponder this....

F J Stearns, Carlisle, UK

What difference would intervention make, getting rid of Mugabe and pumping hundred of millions in aid to restructure would only see the same level of corruption return within a couple of years.

Problem is every minute we procrastinate the crisis worsens and we diminish ourselves.

JR, B,ham, UK

Following on from Rob, if we start marrying more, demand for diamonds goes up and before you know it a liberation invasion of Zimbabwe becomes crucial for the safety and security of our nation...

Farrukh, Woking,

"Nothing will change because there's no oil (plenty of diamonds though)" - Rob, Brum, UK

And all of those plundered from the DCR

"coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals" are listed as Zimbabwe's natural resources.

Bill, Stavanger, Norway

...and don't forget all that platinum. The ZANU PF top dogs will continue to live a life of luxury, but hey who can blame them - prison, or perhaps capital punishment awaits them under a legitimate government, much better to brutalise the masses and trawl around in their Humvees and Mercs.

Sean Connery, Bulawayo, Ireland

and platinum but only the chinese want that so of course no UN resolution will really attack Zanu. With reports of limbs being cut off it seems another Rwanda genocide is in the beginning stages, a pity that the west didn't mean what they said about never letting another Rwanda occur again.

Simon, London,

How can the world allow this situation to continue?Mugabe has repeatedly proved his inhumanity and lack of recognition of what is ``right``. Always it is the innocent who suffer, but the elected governments of the world appear to tread water whilst these poor souls drown in oppression.God help them.

Keith Turner , Stockport, England

True Rob, unfortunately stealth bombers cannot run on diamonds.

jayil, london, uk

I agree. Zimbabwe has nothing to offer the west - talk, talk, talk. Nobody cares about the people.

Catherine, London,

Its more than just about oil - if we do too much we'll get accused of attempting to recolonise them. This is Africa's problem, history makes it impossible for Britain to do very much at all.

Chris, Newcastle,

Nothing will change because there's no oil (plenty of diamonds though)

Rob, Brum, UK

At d end of d day, d world do not know who voted for Mr.Mugabe & who did not b'cos Mr.Morgan's supporters were urged to vote for Mr.Mugabe out of fear. Clearly this is not d way forward. Mr.Morgan should have stood & voters left to vote. Surely Mr.Mugabe can't kill half d population.Can he?
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Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Words and cleverly spun phrases...it is no better than appeasement

Tony, London,

The last thing the people of Zimbabwe need is for Western politicians to start talking tough. What they really need is for African leaders to stand up and be counted. The silence that eminates from the contintents so called "respected and distinguished " leaders is shameful and disgraceful.

John Bull, England,