And it came to pass. The election-which was meant to humiliate the opposition as usual, and give the maximum leader for 28 years another five years, turned the other way. Mugabe lost, Tsvangirai won. Like a drama, Mugabe cannot believe the verdict of the people and that it is time for him to step aside.
Even when the opposition went to court to ask for the release of the votes, the judge acted as if he was reading a script drafted by Mugabe forces, saying there was no urgency to warrant early release.
Surprisingly, while the court did not see anything wrong in still keeping the result under wrap, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission began a recount of the parliamentary results in 23 constituencies without being prompted by anyone. At the end of the recount, which has not boosted Mugabe's electoral standing, the ZEC has merely released results from 13 out of the 23 constituencies, which show that the MDC still won by more than two seats. But there is fear that the remaining ten may be added to Mugabe to upturn the victory of the MDC.
One can easily understand why the police immediately raided the six-storey building headquarters of the MDC and arrested no fewer than 215 supporters of the party and independent election monitors and took them into detention. They are to be charged for committing 'political violence'.
The coast is even clearer for Mugabe and his allies to inflict more assaults on the opposition as the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has fled Zimbabwe, fearing for his safety.
It is heart-warming however, that the United States has already declared the opposition won the polls while the United Kingdom has called for >arms embargo on Zimbabwe. Gordon Brown on Saturday deplored the climate of fear in the country and called for a concerted effort by the international community to halt it. But will that force Mugabe to beat a retreat, as his tactics just don’t add up?
Even when the opposition went to court to ask for the release of the votes, the judge acted as if he was reading a script drafted by Mugabe forces, saying there was no urgency to warrant early release.
Surprisingly, while the court did not see anything wrong in still keeping the result under wrap, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission began a recount of the parliamentary results in 23 constituencies without being prompted by anyone. At the end of the recount, which has not boosted Mugabe's electoral standing, the ZEC has merely released results from 13 out of the 23 constituencies, which show that the MDC still won by more than two seats. But there is fear that the remaining ten may be added to Mugabe to upturn the victory of the MDC.
One can easily understand why the police immediately raided the six-storey building headquarters of the MDC and arrested no fewer than 215 supporters of the party and independent election monitors and took them into detention. They are to be charged for committing 'political violence'.
The coast is even clearer for Mugabe and his allies to inflict more assaults on the opposition as the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has fled Zimbabwe, fearing for his safety.
It is heart-warming however, that the United States has already declared the opposition won the polls while the United Kingdom has called for >arms embargo on Zimbabwe. Gordon Brown on Saturday deplored the climate of fear in the country and called for a concerted effort by the international community to halt it. But will that force Mugabe to beat a retreat, as his tactics just don’t add up?
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