Zimbabwe runoff election in — a year?
posted at 9:01 am on May 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Observers claim that Zimbabwe has become too violent to conduct the run-off election Robert Mugabe’s election commission says will be needed to determine the next president. They recommend that the country wait a full year to resolve the election standoff, under the government that perpetrates the violence. Unfortunately, Zimbabweans will not see any relief from the oppression from international organizations, who continue their impotence:
Zimbabwe is too violent to hold a presidential run-off, the head of a South African observer mission says.
“We have seen it, there are people in hospital who said they have been tortured,” said Kingsley Mamabolo.
The head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has reportedly said the run-off could be delayed by up to a year. …
“You cannot have the next round taking place in this atmosphere; it will not be helpful,” he said.
Doesn’t that seem rather convenient? After all, the violence comes from the government that doesn’t want to acknowledge defeat. In a very real sense, this kind of declaration endorses that violence and guarantees that it will continue. If violence keeps Mugabe in power, he has no incentives to end it.
The delay period comes directly from the Mugabe regime. The Zimbabwe Elections Commission told the Pan-African Parliament observers that the ZEC could not possibly organize a run-off election within the 21 days required by national law. Instead, they won’t commit to anything shorter than a year while the government and Mugabe-sponsored vigilantes continue to terrorize and torture those who supported the MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai. They want to soften up the electorate so that even with observers present, most will be intimidating into not voting at all or supporting Mugabe.
Where is the UN? Where is the SADC? Where are any of the standing multilateral organizations that supposedly exist to end human-rights abuses and oppression? None of them have taken any action at all to penalize the Mugabe regime for its election fraud and tyrannical hold on power, let alone for its criminal mismanagement that transformed Zimbabwe from an agricultural powerhouse to pauper status. Presumably, all of them will stand idly by for the next year while Mugabe beats his nation back into submission. It demonstrates again the uselessness and spinelessness of these organizations.
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Why is there even a runoff? I thought the opposition party had won outright.
aunursa on May 8, 2008 at 9:07 AM
This is Africa. Black People are in Africa. Black People can do no wrong! To say otherwise is RAAAAACIST!
If that logic is good enough for the Obama campaign, a campaign comprised of Marxist Eurocrats and spineless fascists. In other word’s, it’s a microcosm of the kind of incompetence and corruption of the UN.
Come to Africa, Permanent Third World Status since 1 B.C.
BKennedy on May 8, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Pretty blatant. I can think of only one man in the whole world who could oversee these elections and make this thing right. He has a history of doing good wherever he goes, plus he carries the honor of being a Nobel prize winner and ex-president. He recently restored peace in the Middle East and might be willing to act with his fellow elder statesmen to square this thing away, once and for all.
a capella on May 8, 2008 at 9:16 AM
I’m sure Jimmy Carter is on the plane heading there right now. He’s solve the whole mess. just like he cleared up the Middle East!
Wineaholic on May 8, 2008 at 9:16 AM
You are right send Jimmy Carter.
Wade on May 8, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Wow, Africa just keeps getting better and better.
One of the most politically incorrect thoughts is also one of the most true.
The horrible evil of the black slave trade ended in one of the greatest results. I am sure that deep down, militant black people in the U.S everywhere are glad they weren’t born in Africa.
Grafted on May 8, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Send Jimmah to oversee the election and make sure it’s fair, and send Jeremiah Wright to give Mugabe his personal humanitarian award.
whitetop on May 8, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Takes about a year to round up the opposition so they can’t run again.
Krydor on May 8, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Maybe Ray Nagin could clear it up for them.
Dawnsblood on May 8, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Here’s a thought: not a penny of foreign aid or business with anyone who does business with or supports that festering boil of a nation.
Jaibones on May 8, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Yeah it’d be such a shame if some tragedy were to occur to the opposition over the course of that year.
Brad on May 8, 2008 at 9:53 AM
Carter’s Mugabe isn’t going to go without a fight.
tarpon on May 8, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Here’s a thought: not a penny of foreign aid or business with anyone who does business with or supports that festering boil of a nation.
Jaibones
Yes, because that, traditionally, works like a charm. The best part about stuff like that? The actual people who pay the price of the sanctions don’t even feel the pinch whilst the dictator has a sudden change of heart. In, like 4 weeks, the country becomes a thriving Jeffersonian democracy.
Wait, no, that never happens. The dictator survives and consolidates his power at the expense of the citizens.
Krydor on May 8, 2008 at 10:01 AM
The solution is some unilateral action to eliminate mugabe and his cronies, or we could supply Zimbabweans with guns, so they can guarantee their republic.
dogsoldier on May 8, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Ah,,Ed,
I do hope that the HotAir situation is working well for your situation. From this reader’s point of view, the change of venue has not been positive. HotAir is more of a tabloid than the front page of Fox News now, and I’m finding that slowly but surely it isn’t worth visiting-except for your posts at the start of the day. It would be interesting to take a poll of your former readers to see how they feel now about the change, now that’s we’ve had a while to see the new regime. It’s nice to have a paying job, though, I understand that. :-)
Click on May 8, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Isn’t Iceland planning to become independent the moment Global Warming is proven? I think that’s a perfectly reasonable time frame: “20 to 200 years or so - maybe.”
Why not? Let’s face it, the UN will have its hands too full in the meantime to do anything anyway.
logis on May 8, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Freedom of choice to decide which blogs to read is a wonderful thing.
a capella on May 8, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I very much doubt they are capable of thinking things through to that degree.
LimeyGeek on May 8, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Don’t you just love those Black run African countries? They all run about like Haiti; which is a trainwreck. I look forward to the day we can see a Black dominated government somewhere do something other than fail miserably.
I guess some parts of the world just were not cut out to produce quality leaders, managers, or executives. (Or responsible populations for that matter). Africa remains the worst of the worst in producing non-functional third world governments. What will it take to change the tide.
saiga on May 8, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Because some don’t follow links, here is the opening para from this link.
Now there is a campaign issue, looks like Obama wants a “chocolate” cabinet.
right2bright on May 8, 2008 at 11:39 AM
send Jimma Carter - by golly
Onager on May 8, 2008 at 11:49 AM
I’m sure Obama, his wife, and his pastor won’t be happy until the USA government looks like the Detroit government.
Black communities seem to have a high tollerance for inept leadership. I’m confident the Obama possy suffers from the same ailment.
saiga on May 8, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I think you are right. Dare to dream, I guess.
Grafted on May 8, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Robert, take your time. Think this one through.
awake on May 8, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Hey, I think that was Sean Penn’s argument in Iraq, wasn’t it?
But, my actual point was the irony of black South Africa’s support for Mugabe, and the fact that they are not an apartheid country controlled by white Afrikaners largely because of international outcry. Or do I have that wrong?
Jaibones on May 8, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Is Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Michael Steele et al, part of your “they” group?
“They” are black, so I guess “they” must be. Right?
RMR on May 8, 2008 at 1:30 PM
“They” are not militant. Stop looking for insult where none is remotely intended.
RushBaby on May 8, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Jailbones,
I’m just saying sanctions generally don’t work. If you want to depose a dictator, you have to pluck him off his throne.
The really, really, really, REALLY annoying thing about this? Zimbabwe is a country rich in natural resources and at one time (recently) was able to feed, house and clothe its people quite well. Jewel of the continent.
This has everything to do with Marxism and little to do with anything else. BBC did a fascinating documentary showing the theft of farmland and how it is now no longer used for farming.
Krydor on May 8, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Democrats are even now taking notes.
JellyToast on May 8, 2008 at 5:54 PM
If it was not so tragic it would have been funny !
SIJ6141 on May 8, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Yes, but you can’t read a blog which is no longer there.
.
I’m not sure that a writer of Ed’s maturity and interest has ended up in the right crowd, but that’s for him to decide.
Click on May 8, 2008 at 9:36 PM