Mugabe “in shock” over scope of loss
posted at 7:10 am on April 1, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Send to a Friend |
printer-friendly
The results of the election in Zimbabwe shocked dictator Robert Mugabe so badly that he opted not to declare outright victory for fear of a rebellion. Instead, his aides have convinced Mugabe to slowly roll out rigged numbers that appear at first to favor the opposition MDC but that later put Mugabe’s ZanuPF in control. However, the MDC has already collected evidence for that event:
A crisis meeting of Robert Mugabe’s security cabinet decided to block the opposition from taking power after what appears to have been a comprehensive victory in Zimbabwe’s elections but was divided between using a military takeover to annul the vote and falsifying the results.
Diplomatic and Zimbabwean sources who heard first-hand accounts of the Joint Operations Command meeting of senior military and intelligence officers and top party officials on Sunday night said Mugabe favoured immediately declaring himself president again but was persuaded to use the country’s electoral commission to keep the opposition from power. ….
If the government does attempt to fix the result it will not go unchallenged. The election commission will have to substantially alter a large number of polling booth returns in order to overturn Tsvangirai’s significant lead. But the MDC has photographed results declarations pinned to the doors of more than 8,000 polling stations. If the numbers announced by the election commission are different, the party says it will have indisputable evidence of fraud.
“Unlike previous elections no one can privatise the result as it is posted outside the stations,” said the MDC’s secretary general, Tendai Biti. “This country stands on a precipice. We still express our great misgivings about [the election commission’s] failure to announce the results. It raises tension among the people that is fertilising an atmosphere of suspicion.”
The MDC saw one election disappear into the corruption of the Mugabe government in 2005. This time, they took no chances with his election commission. The photographs of the ballot-station declarations will provide plenty of embarrassment for Mugabe when his numbers bear no relation to the local counts, and the anger over vote rigging will erupt in demonstrations — and probably worse.
Will the military remain with Mugabe? The MDC has tried reaching out to senior commanders, including a well-respected former army chief who is currently out of favor with Mugabe’s clique. They hope that Solomon Mujuru can convince current military leadership to either back the actual results of the election, or at least not interfere on Mugabe’s behalf with an MDC seizure of power.
The international community needs to increase its pressure on the situation as well. The West has no influence with Mugabe, but it does on his African associates. South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki has been one of Mugabes’ closest allies, to the shame of Mbeki’s own nation. Britain and the US should make clear to Mbeki his responsibility in convincing Mugabe to abide by the actual will of his people and depart forthwith.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
He is a horrible man. I hope for the sake of his people that they are able to finally get rid of him.
USBB on April 1, 2008 at 7:38 AM
I wonder how the people of Zimbabwe would feel about our 2nd Amendment about now?
orlandocajun on April 1, 2008 at 7:47 AM
Mugabe’s a parasite and won’t let go until he kills Zimbabwe. If he’s smart he’ll go into retirement overseas and live off the billions he stole from the country.
Don Carne on April 1, 2008 at 7:53 AM
Here’s a liveblog from Zim on the election.
One comment from “Energizer Bunny” says it all..
Thanks, Ed for staying on the Zim story.
BacaDog on April 1, 2008 at 8:13 AM
I think they should award this murdering b–tard the highest office in the land. That would be at the end of a noose 30 feet in the air.
leanright on April 1, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Here’s hope Mugabe meets the same justice as his peers, Ceaucescu and Saddam.
irishspy on April 1, 2008 at 8:46 AM
He’s already killed it and many people in it. He is as bad as Idi Amin. Shows how totally worthless are the UN, African coalition forces, Jimmah Cotta, and liberals in general. Remember, they wanted the “oppressive” Rhodesian government driven out and supported the open slaughter of many whites. A lot of blood on many left hands.
wepeople on April 1, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Mugabe’s legacy is carved in stone. The party’s over. The place has been trashed. He’ll be lucky to leave with his noggin attached.
perroviejo on April 1, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Robert Mugabe will remain in power until he dies. After that, a bloodbath of mythic proportions will encompass the country as one Warlord after another will seize power in the various states.
The sad thing is no one will step in to fix the problem.
SeniorD on April 1, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Mugabe’s regime needs to join the ash heap of history. And then he should be shot.
CP on April 1, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Then he should be stood up and shot again…
GeneSmith on April 1, 2008 at 9:50 AM
I’m sure someone will find a way to blame it all on George W. Bush. Maybe Rev. Wright will call him a CIA plant, designed to kill Africans.
How does he stay in power? Maybe his inner clique is still rich, but doesn’t the average soldier see what’s happening to the country?
rbj on April 1, 2008 at 9:52 AM
The only hope is for some military leader to ‘escort’ Mugabe from power (preferably at room temperature as a warning to others), then work with the new leadership, letting them know they’re next if they start acting the same way.
michaelo on April 1, 2008 at 9:55 AM
I love the title of this write-up, where Mugabe’s pary is ‘considering defeat’. I’m sure General Custer did likewise when the first arrow perforated his pompous hide.
It does suggest how Mugabe’s thugs are planning to get out of this; by declaring a runoff is needed, one they’ll be sure does not have the same unfortunate honesty of this election. For one thing, they’ll make sure the local results are not posted on the doors.
michaelo on April 1, 2008 at 10:25 AM
These soft diplomatic measures being suggested are for fools. He should be assassinated immediately, and all who support or tolerate him in neighboring countries, like the corrupt nitwit Mbeki, should be put on notice.
Jaibones on April 1, 2008 at 10:27 AM
This is the kind of vicious, murdering tyrannical, tin-pot dictator, commie scum that the United Nations loves. The UN’s Commission on Sustainable Development gave Mugabe a STANDING OVATION not too long ago. Democrats, lefties of all sorts and the UN just love this guy. Have a look for yourself.
Maxx on April 1, 2008 at 10:32 AM
President Obama would do the same thing to the US if given free reign. Wipe out the winners and prop up the loosers. Kind of like the cultural revolution in China.
It sure worked well for them.
saiga on April 1, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Colin Powell was Sec of State, not Defense
bernzright777 on April 1, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Good catch… I didn’t notice that. But the article was written by a Brit, probably got confused because Powell was in the Joint Chiefs of Staff for so long. You will also notice “defence” is spelled the British way.
Maxx on April 1, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Hey, I just got an email from him saying that he had 227 million dollars and needed a foreign partner to help him get it out of the country. He even said I’ld get 10 percent for helping him!
PatriotPete on April 1, 2008 at 1:59 PM
It wasn’t so long ago that a guy like this would be lead to the chopping block and the people would get on with things. Things were so much more civilized back then.
crosspatch on April 1, 2008 at 2:01 PM
I’m surprised that Jimmy Carter wasn’t there to certify Mugabe’s win.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 1, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Mugabe’s campaign slogan: “I kept inflation below 100,000%*”
|
*(but just barely)
Think_b4_speaking on April 1, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Hey, I just got an email from him saying that he had 227 million dollars and needed a foreign partner to help him get it out of the country. He even said I’ld get 10 percent for helping him!
PatriotPete on April 1, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Are those Zimbabwean dollars? I’m up for the deal if you’ll send me the info. I need it to buy a candy bar to go with my lunch today….
cs89 on April 1, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Just sayin’
- The Cat
MirCat on April 1, 2008 at 2:52 PM