Zimbabwean elections - Results are due

[removeduser_487563287433]

In the Zimbabwean elections it seems that Mugabe's ruling party has suffered massive defeats. He faced imense oppostion not only from the traditional source - the movement for democratic change, but from his own former finance minister, who ran against him. Zimbabwe has massive HIV rates, its people are starving, refugees flee en masse and it has the highest inflation rate in the world, about 15,000%.

Mugabe blames the country's problems on a western plot.

Now it seems that he has suffered almost total defeat in the elections. The Vice-President has lost his seat and rumours aboud - so has Mugabe himself.

So it is incredibly ominous that the government has declared that if the opposition party declares it has won the election it will be considered a coup d'etat. The chairman of the electoral commission has not been seen in public since journalists ambused him earlier on, and the army has ordered him not to release the results.

Mugabe has been alleged to have rigged the past three elections. There are very valid fears he is attempting to do the same.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7321751.stm

I would hope that there is more than rhetoric in support of democracy in the case of Zimbabwe. Mugabe is nothing more than a personification of the question, "what were Hitler black?"

[The Super Pope]

Mugabe will not stand down. Bullets are worth more than ballots in dictatorships

[removeduser_487563287433]

I don't expect him to stand down willingly either.

[Yorkshireman]

What's the betting it's a Mugabe victory with, lets say, 99% of the vote? (I think thats his usual winning margin)

[nemgod]

Of course the bastard won't step down although I somehow feel that his days are numbered and hopefully Zimbabwe with a new regime can be brought back up on to it's feet and build itself up to the bread basket it once was.

[King Edward III]

Aye. He won't go. Base case scenario is that after all the votes his fixed the opposition win but only just and have to form a coalition with him as President. With the leader of the opposition as prime minister or something.

Or he just proclaims himself the winner and Zimbarbwe breaks up.

Rhodesia was always a better name anyhow.

[The Super Pope]

If South Africa still had some teeth then maybe Mugabe wouldn't be in power. As it is, no Africans are strong enough to deal with it and if Europe or the US intervened they would be crucified for 'colonialism'

It's tragic given what a wealthy country Rhodesia used to be, the 'Breadbasket of Africa'

[King Edward III]

If South Africa still had some teeth then maybe Mugabe wouldn't be in power. As it is, no Africans are strong enough to deal with it and if Europe or the US intervened they would be crucified for 'colonialism'

Imperialism. Colonialism would come later.

[nemgod]

If South Africa still had some teeth then maybe Mugabe wouldn't be in power. As it is, no Africans are strong enough to deal with it and if Europe or the US intervened they would be crucified for 'colonialism'

It's tragic given what a wealthy country Rhodesia used to be, the 'Breadbasket of Africa'

The problem is that there are many in South Africa and in the neighbouring countries that are quite caught up in the "Sticking it to the evil British" Rhetoric that he sprouts out that there is no danger of ANY african countries taking action against him as they seem to think he is doing nothing wrong and it is all the wests fault.

[Farnan]

What happened to simply hitting him with a cruise missile launched from a predator drone?

[removeduser_487563287433]

Might give credibility to the western plot propaganda.

[Heinz Guderian]

These elections are one of the few opportunities for a nation to vote how well its tyrannical dictator is doing (at least they have a vote c.f. saudi, syria, n korea etc). If they say no, then the dictator should accept this and stand down. If he doesnt, then he should be asked nicely and petitioned and shown how his own people dont want him. He should be invited to London and Washington and urged to step down and given interviews with the world's press.

If he still doesnt. Then kill him.

[Farnan]

True, but when he is dead then the opposition can take control. So we may lose some public opinion in Africa, is that much worse from letting him stay in power?

I'm not a big fan of cruise missile diplomacy, but sometimes the alternative is worse.

[The Super Pope]

True, but when he is dead then the opposition can take control. So we may lose some public opinion in Africa, is that much worse from letting him stay in power?

I'm not a big fan of cruise missile diplomacy, but sometimes the alternative is worse.

No, it's much worse. Someone worse than him will come along and say "See he was right, the West killed our glorious leader. We must have revenge!"

I say the West, Mr Mugabe usually blames Britain alone.

[Farnan]

No, it's much worse. Someone worse than him will come along and say "See he was right, the West killed our glorious leader. We must have revenge!"

I say the West, Mr Mugabe usually blames Britain alone.

Perhaps. Not much knowledgeable of the situation, just from what I hear of him he deserves a bullet in the back of the head. Whether that is a politically viable solution is different.

[Yorkshireman]

I say the West, Mr Mugabe usually blames Britain alone.

Britain and homosexuals! For some strange reason he has a fixation on British government homosexual plots! It could be since Peter Tatchell (of Outrage) tried to make a citizens arrest on him in Brussells and got bashed by his bodyguards for his trouble.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

Britain and homosexuals!

:hmmm:Well....the two DO go together like a horse and carriage...:hmmm:

[removeduser_487563287433]

True, but when he is dead then the opposition can take control. So we may lose some public opinion in Africa, is that much worse from letting him stay in power?

I'm not a big fan of cruise missile diplomacy, but sometimes the alternative is worse.

Having Mugabe's deputies vie for control is perhaps the only thing worse than Mugabe being in control himself. Democratic process must be given at least the opportunity to work through.

[mongrel]

Too early I think, I will reserve judgment for a day or two . You never know, the MDC may pull a Kenya.

[Farnan]

Having Mugabe's deputies vie for control is perhaps the only thing worse than Mugabe being in control himself. Democratic process must be given at least the opportunity to work through.

I was assuming Mugabe decided to stay in power after losing.