#1 Mugabe now unopposed; violence continues in Zimbabwe
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:18 pm
BBC reports.
The idea of some sort of international dictator-toppling super turbo action squad is admittedly tempting given how terrible this situation is.
Awesome. A brief flicker of democratic reform and popular government in southern Africa fading back to darkness. Hopefully South Africa will be able to help calm things a little, but it seems like Mugabe will probably remain in power until the day he dies, utterly unconcerned with the collapse of his country, which was once considered one of the most likely success stories of post-colonialism. The people are starving? Let them eat cake (made from ground-up dollar bills, as it is cheaper than flour).Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is pulling out of Friday's presidential run-off, handing victory to President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Tsvangirai said there was no point running when elections would not be free and fair and "the outcome is determined by... Mugabe himself".
He called on the global community to step in to prevent "genocide".
But the ruling Zanu-PF said Mr Tsvangirai had taken the decision to avoid "humiliation" in the poll.
The opposition decision came after its supporters, heading to a rally in the capital Harare, came under attack.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says some 86 supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by ruling party militias.
At a press conference in Harare on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "We in the MDC cannot ask them to cast their vote on 27 June, when that vote could cost them their lives."
"We have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process."
"We will not play the game of Mugabe," he added.
He called on the United Nations, African Union and the southern African grouping SADC to intervene to prevent a "genocide" in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai pulled out the vote because he faced "humiliation and defeat" at the hands of President Mugabe, who he said would win "resoundingly".
"Unfortunately," he said, the opposition leader's decision was "depriving the people of Zimbabwe of a vote."
The idea of some sort of international dictator-toppling super turbo action squad is admittedly tempting given how terrible this situation is.