Why on earth is anyone waiting anxiously for the result of the run-off “election” in Zimbabwe? If people there are brave enough to dare to vote for the MDC (and resourceful enough to get round all the barriers Mugabe will put in their way), and the MDC actually wins, then of course I’ll be delighted. But I don’t remotely expect, even if they do, that the Zimbabwe Election Commission will actually say that’s the result; and even if it did, I don’t expect Mugabe actually to go anywhere. Sure, like everyome else I hope for a miracle – but I don’t really believe in them.
I agree with what Peter Hain said at PMQs today. It’s no good insisting on election monitors to ensure a free and fair election – that’s what we did last time. What Britain and the international community should really do is insist on acceptance of the result of the first election, and (and her I think I’m going further than what Peter Hain said, though perhaps not further than what he thinks) recognise the legitimate MDC government it produced.
Well said,spot on. Once again the disgraced and ineffectual United Nations stands by doing nothing.
Mugabe has said today that he will only ‘retire’ once all the land is owned by black Zimbabweans. Sounds like he’s les interested in the election than ever. Really, only other African countries can solve this, as once the white West gets involved Mugabe simply plays the racist/colonialist card and circles the wagons. Now, if only South Africa could discover oil or something, George W could send in the troops to secure the territory. I’m old enough to remember when Joshua Nkomo was marginalised by Mugabe back in the day: they got the wrong man all right.