The notion that the elections were unlikely to be free and fair was proved wrong. Zimbabweans reported that they were free to vote for the candidate of their choice. These were the most peaceful election in Africa. It is now up to Robert Mugabe to accept the results. Also the SADC and AU observers do not agree with the statement that the these were not free elections. Election results do not depend on EU or American observers. Most Africans are at easy with fellow African observers and this is going to be the standard. The UK and others had an interest with the oppossition and this would have been unfair for Mugabe. Anywere! who said elections were fair in the western world? You only have to look at the USA. They have the worst elctions than some African countries like Botswana or Zambia or South Africa or even Ghana. I'm sorry they is no confidency in western observers anymore in Africa.

I agree that US and other Western elections haven't been very fair. But what I want to know is how we can support the elections, to stop violence and intimidation? How are people going to vote freely? Would a multinational force to observe and protect the election observers be useful?

I don't want to hear more reports of Zimbabweans starving. I know people who have lived there, black and white, and I want it to go back to being a strong part of Africa, as its people deserve. Jenny (UK)