The Robert Mugabe dictatorship has suddenly realized that the departure of Morgan Tsvangirai from the run-off election in Zimbabwe leaves Mugabe without a fig leaf of legitimacy.  They now want Tsvangirai to change his mind “for the good of the country”, a week after Mugabe pledged never to allow power to leave his hands:

A Zimbabwe government spokesman Monday urged opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai not to withdraw from a presidential run-off, saying this would “not be good” for the people or the country.

“It would be very regrettable if Tsvangirai indeed decides to pull out of this election,” Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said on SABC radio.

“I will urge him or his party to think twice so that they take part in this democratic process.”

Matonga insisted that the government had tried to curtail violence.  However, the entire government seems to have missed how its supporting militias occupied the stadium in which the MDC was to hold a rally yesterday and beat thousands of opposition supporters to prevent the demonstration from taking place.  Thousands of people have been chased out of their homes, dozens murdered for their support of the MDC, some of whom were burned alive.

Mugabe wants Tsvangirai in the race for one reason: to give Mugabe cover for his brutal dictatorship.  It’s the reason the police forces have never detained Tsvangirai for more than a few hours on the multiple occasions he’s been arrested.  They detained him long enough each time to keep him from making planned appearances, but always released him afterwards.   Tendai Biti hasn’t been so lucky; the secretary-general of the MDC faces treason charges for opposing Mugabe and the Zanu-PF.

In a sense, Tsvangirai has played a stooge just long enough to get the world’s attention.  Now he has taken a rather risky step in refusing to play that role any longer.  If Tsvangirai won’t provide Mugabe with his fig leaf, the next time Tsvangirai gets arrested may be his last.