Australian Broadcasting Corporation
By Africa correspondent Andrew Geoghegan
23 June 2008
Zimbabwe’s Presidential run-off poll is in tatters after the chief challenger to dictator Robert Mugabe pulled out of the race in a move to protect the people of Zimbabwe from escalating violence.
Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangarai has called for international intervention in Zimbabwe after he says he realised that even if he won this week’s presidential run-off poll, he would be prevented from taking office by Mr Mugabe and his military backers.
Mr Tsvangarai says he decided to pull out of Friday’s poll because it would be rigged by Mr Mugabe and he feared that many of his supporters would die at the hands of Mugabe supporters and the army in a possible genocide.
Many observers thought Mr Tsvangirai was bluffing when he warned he may withdraw himself and his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), from the run-off election.
It is now clear he feels as though he has no other choice.
“We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate, sham of an election process,” he said.
“The courageous people of Zimbabwe and the people of the MDC have done everything humanly and democratically possible to deliver a new Zimbabwe under a new government.”
It is a decision that will have brought both relief and heartache to Morgan Tsvangirai’s supporters.
Relief because they will no longer have to put their lives at risk by going to vote, and heartache because Mr Mugabe looks set to be declared the victor and remain as President.
The Mugabe regime claims the Opposition is trying to avoid humiliation at the ballot box.
“It’s a sure case that President Mugabe will win resoundingly, now this is what Tsvangirai has been advised, rather than face humiliation and defeat of this magnitude, he has been advised not to stand for the run-off election and this is unfortunate,” Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said.
“It is depriving the people of Zimbabwe to vote, to exercise their franchise and to vote him out because the people have realised that he is just a stooge.”
International support
Mr Tsvangirai has urged international intervention in his country to prevent genocide and has received support from a host of international figures.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says he is very disappointed Robert Mugabe will claim victory by default and says the Government is now considering imposing more sanctions on Zimbabwe.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has labelled Mr Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe as tyrannical.
“I believe we have reached an absolutely critical moment in the drive by the people of Zimbabwe to rid themselves of the tyrannical rule of Robert Mugabe,” he said.
“It’s evident that the only people with democratic legitimacy are the Opposition because after all they won the first round of the parliamentary elections in March and the first round of the presidential elections.
“That’s why the violence is being meted out on such a scale by the Mugabe regime and that’s why I think that Mr Tsvangirai was left with no choice if he wanted to preserve the life and limb of his own people.”
Zimbabwe’s neighbour Zambia one was one of the first African countries to condemn the Mugabe regime’s violent tactics.
“It is unfortunate that they’ve pulled out of the run-off and I believe that they’ve been forced by circumstances,” Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande said.
Mr Pande also says the hundreds of observers sent to Zimbabwe to monitor the poll have reported the campaign was not free and fair.
“There’s been violence, there’s been intimidation in the country, particularly in the countryside which has made the campaign really not free and not a level playing field,” he said.
South African President Thabo Mbeki has repeated his call for negotiations between Zimbabwe’s Government and the Opposition.
However, that approach has been criticised by MDC Senator David Coltart who has described Mr Mbeki’s contribution to the crisis as “depressing”.
SADC divided
Senator Coltart says the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is divided over Zimbabwe, and has welcomed more positive statements from the Community’s chair Zambia.
“The only thing that has sustained Robert Mugabe and the cabal surrounding him is the diplomatic cover that they have been given by SADC,” he said.
“If that cover is now removed Robert Mugabe may find that he’s got no option but to negotiate with, not just SADC but with Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC.”
Senator Coltart says Mr Mugabe’s regime has waged a war against MDC supporters.
“Hundreds, if not thousands were being tortured and utterly brutalised, they had petrol poured over them, they burnt,” he said.
“There’s been a sort of low-grade war waged against our people in the last few weeks and it just seems to be intensifying, so it was a real fear of Morgan Tsvangirai.”
MDC’s Treasurer Roy Bennett says the Opposition has put people’s lives ahead of their quest for power.
“In last two days the level of violence, there’s a woman who had her arms, legs and breasts cut off in front of her family,” he said.
“Every single bit of democratic space has been closed down.”
Roy Bennett believes there is no hope of a negotiated settlement to Zimbabwe’s crisis.
“Absolutely no future for talks,” he said.
Morgan Tsvangirai has now gone to ground and he is expected to outline his plans later this week.