Zimbabwe Election Countdown
In five days Zimbabweans who are not too afraid to do so will go to the polls to cast a vote that won’t much matter unless the polling goes in President Robert Mugabe’s favor in what is almost guaranteed to be, according to the International Crisis Group, a “flawed election.” Mugabe is undeterred by economic bad tidings or increased traction for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s candidacy. Instead he has responded with his usual onslaught indiscreet threats in the fiery rhetoric he has aimed at his opponents, bribes in the form of largesse for potential supporters, and the usual strong-arming of potentially hostile elements, including banning South Africa’s e.tv from covering the elections.
[From The Mail & Guardian: “Vote for change: A supporter of Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai brandishes an anti-Robert Mugabe red card as he arrives for a rally in Harare on Sunday. Tsvangirai called on his suppoterrs [sic] to go and vote in their thousands to ensure victory for his Movement for Democratic Change.” (Desmond Kwande, AFP)]
Basically, it’s business as usual in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. Some frustrated observers have decided to take a lighthearted look at the election. But in the end it is likely that Zimbabweans are no closer to a post-Mugabe future in Zimbabwe today than they were last time around.