Zimbabwe takes stock after opposition pull-out
Zimbabweans wake up to an uncertain future today as they await the fall-out from opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision to pull out of the presidential run-off.
The MDC leader abandoned Friday’s planned election, saying he was no longer prepared to play President Robert Mugabe’s “game”.
UK foreign secretary David Miliband is pushing for a “full discussion” on the troubled country in a session of the UN security council.
He said yesterday: “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 has made, and his thugs have made an election impossible.”
He said Zimbabwe continued to be “bossed” by the 84-year-old and his henchmen even though it was clear the MDC and Mr Tsvangirai had won the election in March.
Speaking to reporters in the capital Harare, a tired-looking Mr Tsvangirai told reporters a credible election was “impossible”.
“We can’t ask the people to cast their vote on June 27 when that vote will cost their lives,” he said.
“We will no longer participate in this violent sham of an election.
“We will not play his game.”
His decision followed the blockade of a campaign rally by thousands of pro-government militants.
It was the latest disruption to a campaign dogged by violence.
Up to 85 MDC supporters were murdered, tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes, and thousands more were beaten and tortured.
MDC general secretary Tendai Biti was arrested and charged with treason and Mr Tsvangirai himself was detained several times.
The opposition leader called on the United Nations, the European Union and the Southern African regional bloc to intervene.
He said he would put forward new proposals by Wednesday on how take the country forward.
The future of the country looks bleak.
Some observers predict a violent back-lash from a desperate population.
However, the people are tired of violence and the security services have proved themselves adept at crushing dissent.
Mr Mugabe is yet to respond. But government ministers accused Mr Tsvangirai of “chickening out” and said the run-off would go ahead without him.
South Africa president Thabo Mbeki is thought to be pressing for further talks between the two parties, in the unlikely hope of encouraging a government of national unity.
The European Union on Friday threatened to step up sanctions against the regime, while UK prime minister Gordon Brown condemned Mr Mugabe’s “criminal cabal”.
Sanctions currently involve an asset freeze and travel ban for Mr Mugabe and members of his regime, but it is not clear what else could be done without heaping further misery on the beleaguered people.
UK shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the MDC’s withdrawal was “wholly understandable”.
“It is now clear beyond doubt that Zimbabwe is suffering under one of the world’s vilest and most despotic tyrannies,” he said.
He called for a swift response from the international community.
He said the Zanu-PF government should no longer be recognised.
He said a UN Commission of Inquiry should be set up to look into the “grotesque abuses of human rights, with a view to future action by the International Criminal Court”.
UK Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the decision must be a “catalyst for aggressive action against Zimbabwe, rather than the moment the world decided to forget the plight of this suffering nation”.
“We must liaise closely with Mozambique and South Africa to restrict electricity supplies into Zimbabwe, to impose a possible petrol embargo and a temporary halt of foreign currency remittances,” he said.
“While these measures will hit ordinary Zimbabweans too, they might, if implemented swiftly, succeed where all else has failed to force Mugabe’s regime out of power.”
