A Travesty of Democracy in Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe was once a man to be respected and admired. He was a revolutionary who led the people of Zimbabwe to overthrow white minority rule, and opposed transnational capitalism. Unfortunately, Mugabe has degenerated into yet another violent tyrant, confirmed by the process leading up to the presidential runoff election held yesterday. Mugabe's thugs attempted to terrorize the population into turning out to vote, and to vote for Mugabe. In an incredible act of courage, the people have defied Mugabe, and stayed home in droves. The outcome of the election is not in doubt, and has not been since the unconscionable delay in releasing the results of the first round of the presidential elections in May, that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai should have won outright, and yet still the ZEC (the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) can't manage to release the results of this staged farce within one day. They need more time to falsify the results.

The people of Zimbabwe are entitled to much better than this. They have the right to a vote and a result that expresses their collective will, not some ridiculous vaudeville act masquerading as an election. The people of Zimbabwe, as do all citizens of the world, have a right to government of the people by the people for the people, and that is not what they are getting. I will not call for an armed intervention in Zimbabwe. War doesn't fix anything, and only leads to more suffering. However, the United Nations must impose carefully targeted sanctions, such as travel restrictions and bank account seizures, aimed only at Mugabe and his chief thugs in what is mockingly called a cabinet. The UN must also be sure that the sanctions imposed do not hurt the people of Zimbabwe. This is not their fault, and they should not have to suffer any further for Mugabe's despotic brutality.

Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa, ought to be ashamed of himself for the stance he has taken during this crisis. He has refused to criticize Mugabe, and has tacitly lent him support. That is unbelievable in the leader of a democratic state, as South Africa is. Letting Mugabe escape without criticism is unbelievable. Frankly, this type of "quiet diplomacy" is a crock.

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