There's really nothing to comment on..

"Futility of the mind!"

Africa is a rough continent.Thugs defending thugs,not new but real.The AU is only a farce endorsing mugabe except for a handfull of African countries.Mr Mbeki how is your conscience treating you?

Wow! I'm reading this article from USA and THIS is not reporting, this is propaganda! The author fails to address the extreme intimidation and violence that has besieged this election!! While "All Africa" and it's editor condones this type of reporting, "All the World" perceives this election as total hypocracy and an extreme violation of the democratic process. The author of this article is a sham and disgrace to AllAfrica.com.

This isn't supposed to be reporting. It says "OPINION" right at the top of the column. This is one author's take on the situation, not a news article.

That being said, wow, what load of crap. You know it's crap from the first paragraph when he refers to Zimbabwe as one of sub-Sahara's most enlightened nations. Scary.

Im a Zimbabwean citizen and I'm offended by your remark on the enlightedness of Zimbabwe. He is referring to the fact that historically and still to a great extent, Zimbabwe has a great educational system by any standards, and the highest literacy rate in Africa never mind millions of talented, intellectual, hard working, driven people. Don't let the political players and global media smokescreen blind you from that fact- we are a great nation of people from centuries ago during the days of the Munhumutapa empire at Great Zimbabwe from the mid 13th-century. We are way bigger than just Mugabe and Tsvangirai. I don't know where you're from but if it were say America would it be fair to judge you as a citizen by the acts of George Bush; or if south africanm by those of Mbeki and Zuma? Bush; who by the way deserves a cell at the Hague next to Mugabe. rid the world of election riggers. Zimbabweans shall rise-

It is a pity that an article of this nature is condoned, despite the huge evidence of intimidation and violence from the Zanu PF camp. I, for one, will now really think twice about visiting AllAfrica from Google News, where I tend to get most of my news.

I'm reading this article from USA too.

It is important for candidates to be able to campaign freely without fear. It seems that Mugabe is abusing his position. But I have a hard time telling what is better for Zimbabwe: government stability under Mugabe or a re-org under Tsvangirai?

government stability, maybe, but certainly not economic or social stability. People live in a stable continuation of fear and hunger.

Shame on Namibia.Its one of those few countries that has not said anything on Zimbabwe and Mugabe's violence. This New era is actually a gorvenment mouth piece. When you visit Namibia and you want serious news you should try the Namibia. The Namibia also played a pivotal role in independent reporting during SWAPO'S fight to dislodge South African rule. Sam Nuyoma, who still pull the strings about policy in SWAPO, is a faithful supporter of Robert Mugabe. I love Namibia and sencirely hope they dont go the Zimbabwean way not only because of a proposed land distribution exercise similar to Zimbabwe's but more because of they way they are handling a new political party that was formed a few months ago. The party is called RDP for Rally for Democracy Party.This party was formed by unhappy SWAPO STEWALTS like Hidipo Hamutenya. In the final analysis of things SWAPO is very much like ZANU pf.And so the New Era is also so much like Zimbabwe,s Herald.

If yo are so primitive as to think the issue in Zimbabwe is race related and Morgan we play puppet to the west you mon fre belong to a generation that has shackled Africa to the ground, blood runs thick in Zimbabwe and the liberties you enjoy surfing on the net AND talking frivolously have made innocents fall victim to a clown with machetes and bullets in Zimbabwe the world will go on as people like you sit in their own misery and lack of intellectual capacity to comprehend whats going in Zimbabwe its with sadness and deep concern i inform you sir that Mugabe had virtues of a saint once but then the money the power it all went to his old head where you will find two brain cells fighting for space. His articulate smart and smart enough to make a whole Continent look like clowns as he parades around with his former secretary with whom he had an affair with while his wife was dying despicable. Zimbabweans remember Mrs Sally and we admired her zeal to serve and protect the innocent from her husbands deranged bloody hands Malawians have fallen victim to this man don't think he doesn't have a drop of blood of us all in this region his too ambitious such men are dangerous be wise and wish peace for the suffering because you never know why African leaders e.g Malawi Namibia etc stands mute he they think Mugabe's plan was ingenious and i dare watch as the rest of the barbaric leaders follow suite this man has to be stopped for the greater good of all don't you want to see a more prosperous Africa or do you think your neighbors problems are theirs don't forget we all live on small revolving ball spinning in mid air wait till some foreign force other than another race decides to take over the land where despotic leaders kill their own!!! Africa is not a waste land civilization began here and if people like mugabe prevail thats where our kind will die too Sir. Africa has a vast level of intellect's some of the worlds unsolved issues have answers here but no we kill the solution in the name of colonialism, tribalism and simply barbaric nature Mugabe and the rest of his pathetic bumbling idiots what country do you know of thats under a colonial regime you are clueless and have very questionable intellect i hope your IQ is higher than room temperature for your sake and your offspring they wont make it with genes like that. President Morgan Tsvangirai has decency and commonsense which means he listens and comprehends unlike Mugabe with all his degrees including those in violence he fails at understanding that the bullet will never be more powerful than the pen he should know this he was a teacher the bullet just stops people who are smarter than the monkey holding the gun ignorance is his companion for life. The pen will write about bob and his sad demise and his kids will grow up knowing their father was a killer and cynical old men he forgets that they will live in the world he has created and the pen will make sure they stay in Zimbabwe as he has made them not welcome anywhere else but Zimbabweans are forgiving people and will raise this barbarians kids and hope they don't have the same genetic disposition as their father which is likely given their mother has been lacks virtue on coffins don't lie people are under because she cant do the decent thing and close her legs

Live life don't dictate emulate.... p.s there are no colonies in the world if you haven't noticed we have gone past or primitive ways come join us theres freedom here...

I realize this is an editorial, but I am shocked at how little the author knows of the situation.

Does the author not recall last year, when Mugabe had Tsvangarai arrested and then beaten so badly that the man was crying when the judge released him to receive medical care? And Mugabe's response at the time: "He got what he deserved."

Now Mugabe and his military leaders have vowed to get revenge on those who do not vote for him.

And has the author of this "opinion" not seen the video coming out of Zim, showing the hunting down, beating and torture of opposition supporters. Or paid attention to the DOCUMENTED cases of rape, torture and death from around the country?

Given all of this, it is no wonder that the MDC is in hiding.

Shame on you, AllAfrica.com, for printing this biased and totally uninformed editorial. It's an absolute disgrace to your news organization and the people whom you should be serving.

it is sad that some of the readers and commentators in allafrica want to find and read anti mugabe articles/opinions which is far fetched because some people like us are pro. and at this moment in time, you can shout all inuendos about President Mugabe and Zimbabwe but the truth of the matter is that you are chasing a wild goose. shout all you want till you drop but that will not sway us. Yes Morgan has been politicking and still continues to do so. He plays to the gallery and everything he has done has always been at a strategic moment.The beatings last year were planned and this was a day before the the human rights forum of the united nations was to meet in Swiss. They met under the auspices of a church gathering and when in fact it was a political gathering which according to our constitution specifically public order and security act, section 23 was against the law at that time.they gathered knowing the full consequences of this and perpertated violence whic was met with harsh resistance by security forces.Same thing when he pulled out on sunday a day before security council was to meet.He states that they are people who want to kill him but he has been moving freely in Zimbabwe in and out of the embassy. We are not kids Morgan, i sympathise with your children for they happen to have a father who has a condomsized brain and will let his wife have sex with another man for the sake of money.

It doesnt work and our constitution will stand because zimbabwe is a sovereign state. Even his allies within NCA(LOVEMORE MADHUKU)told him that his pull out was unconstitutional. If he really pulled out because he was worried about the violence, how then can he start calling on negotiations based on march 29th,where he was the winner but NOT enough according to our constitution have him sworn in as the preisdent. Does it not follow that its all about getting into power rather than about the people because, the violence would exacerbate because they claim that people are being beaten for voting for MDC.Tell me what more if he is sworn in as president without having a run off.Political violence has been there but not only perpetrated by ZANU. Never in any of the media that is pushing for regime change have i heard a reporting that ZANU pf supporters have also been victims of violence and some have even died because of this violence.Those who are reporting on Zimbabwe are those bent on regime change but like Zimbabwe has said, shout all you want, you will not make us change because the election 0n the 27th is within the consitutional precincts of zimbabwe.

Never did i ever hear of the violence that mdc perpetrated soon after their leader was beaten up last year. The petrol bombs thrown at police stations in harare. the petrol bombs that were thrown into freedom trains/passenger trains by mdc activists. the arms cache found in Mutare and MDC MPs were part of this. the same way Roy Bennet decided to flee to South Africa because of the arms cache and trying to be mike tyson in an AUGUST house like the parliament. The law caught up with him and this is the same thing which is happening to Tendai Biti.Dont break the law in Zimbabwe and expect to be let off becuase you are into politics. We dont care what the world says becuase we are a sovereign state once again. The same way we shall guard against western machinations, is the same way we shall welcome those who are pro mugabe.Long live my president, long live Bob.They shall meet at the African Union summit and i bet my money on it, mighty bob shall speak. Some think that its balls to openly attack other African governments on media, the way Zambia,kenya and Botswana have done.And never have you had Bob or even Mbeki attack any African leader through the media. There are diplomatic channels which have to be followed and whether people like it or not its the way to go about things.Its protocol. But in the case of my President,Its called principle. This is why you have seen the Angolan President not attending the so called troika meeting in Mbabane and also Thabo Mbeki not attending. Tichamvotera bob(we shall vote for Bob). Even if we go without electricity, fuel and bread. there is no condition that is permanent and we will never sell our birthright.WORD OF ADVICE, BOB NEVER SAID THAT ONLY GOD COULD REMOVE HIM.THAT IS A BLANTANT LIE, He is very articulate, convincing and clever and not as dumb as Raila Odinga, who got into power through the back door. a mouth piece of USA. Since they had given him money it follows that he should a mouthpiece or disciple of America.Would rather die a pauper than be dictated by bullies. Now that is principle. and you do not compromise principle. Shout all you want but Bob is our hero.

This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

What else could be expected from a zanoid who calls himself greenbomber. You and your Zanu PF murderers might have benefited from the oppression of the masses over the years, but the party is slowly coming to an end. I can hear the music begin to slow down, and you shall all pay for the atrocities you have committed against the innocent people of Zimbabwe. What sin have Zimbabweans committed to endure such pain and hardship? Was it a mistake to be born Zimbabwean? Should they be killed and maimed just because all they did was to exercise their birthright to live a free and productive life, and to choose whoever they deem fit to be their leader. So tell me greenbomber, "Are you proud of what your Zanu PF is doing?" Clinging to power by all means when on March 29 the Zimbabweean people spoke loud and clear that they were tired of your bullshit. Shame on you and your God Mugabe, you can brown-nose him all you like, but the fact of the matter is that he is going down and I wouldn't be surprised judging by how much you worship him that he will leave you behind.

fact is MT is s flip flopper

About Mugabe revenging , well that will apply in mashonaland where most people have no balls and are just cowards.

If all Zimbabweans had balls like people in Mat and Bulawayo we could be making progress.

Zimbabweans are cowards PERIOD (mostly shonas who make 80 % of the pop) Truth hurts.

I am sooorry for you. Zimbabwe is actually 100% Shona.

akapfunde, you make yourself look stupid when you write blatant lies.

Zim population is: Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%

Hey! Hey! Mfana Don't forget in the west of Zimbabwe 95% of the people are SHONA. Among the Shona of the West I count KALANGAs, KARANGAs ... the original ROZVI and sons of the Royal house of all Shona, VENDAs who were the Levites of the Munhumutapa emperors and vaNHANZVAs, (wronly referred to as Nhambias)... the sons of HWENGERE wrongly called Hwange. Even today, no Shona can be made a ruler until a ROZVI (Kalanga) completes the rite of handing over some soil to the prospective chief. This leaves about 200 000 Ndiweni Ndebeles from kwaNDEBELE in the Transvaal and a couple of Makwerekwere from Zambia and Malawi.

Please explain to us the reasons why you are pro-Mugabe? From an outsider looking in, it seems like a curious decision. If I was to speculate, I would guess that you are one of the few people benefiting from Mugabe corruption.

l was born and bred in Rhodesia and l know what it is a RACIST environment.My family was moved three times between 1949 and 1960 an dforced to leave land which was classified CROWN LAND. We were moved 1949, 1953 and 1960. This destroyed my family. Mugabe was not allowed to vote or take part in so called freepress in Rhodesia. God Bless his excellency the president of the republic of Great Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

l was born and bred in Rhodesia and l know what it is a RACIST environment.My family was moved three times between 1949 and 1960 an dforced to leave land which was classified CROWN LAND. We were moved 1949, 1953 and 1960. This destroyed my family. Mugabe was not allowed to vote or take part in so called freepress in Rhodesia. God Bless his excellency the president of the republic of Great Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

l have never been and l am not now a member of ZANUpf.The politics of Great Zimbabwe are not ALL about Mugabe.

People like you are a disgrace to the African continent and I really feel for normal Africans that have to read your drivel. Heaven forbid if the world tarred all African with the same brush after reading this crap.

I am shocked at the level of ignorance and unqualified statements being made by some zimbabwean cowards just like Tsvangirai who ran away into the diaspora and make shameful comments on what they least understand and cannot stand to witness on the ground.Zimbabwe is a sovreign stae for zimbabeans and not an extension or part of any other country anywhere in the world. Tsvangirai apart from being uneducated and politically imature and incompetent does not have the spine to withstand extreme political pressures. Even within his party when he is critised , he ends up being a worse dictator than what some claim Mugabe to be. He has been a sell out since the days of our liberation struggle, when he was being used by Rhodesians to spy on the liberation army activities. So we in Zimbabwe and on the ground can not see any credibility in Tsvangirai's independence from manupulation by the western governments who have their agenda of restoring their lost control and influence in Zimbabwe and now seek to reverse the gains of independence. If these Westners had a genuine agenda to help Zimbabeans, they should have compensated us for colonialism. Yesterday they were marking and celebrating not the birthday of Nelson Mandela but their victory over him for they incacerated him for over 27 years and have never apologised for that. Why is it that they dont want to discuss why he was incacerated in the first place? Is this not the same they did to Mugabe and now realise the man is clever than most African leaders who have failed to stand upright and right through for total empowerment of their people who continue to be treated like second class citizens the world over? Any african who cannot see this is not only myopic but most brainwashed puppet.

AMEN Alleluya to Heaven !!! Now l can be at easy in my grave when l die in the very near future. You have made me happy.

I am intrigued to know who is "All the World" being alluded to here and being said to perceive the Zimbabwe presidential run-off as a total hypocracy and an extreme violation of the democratic process. Notably the writer of this comment is in the USA. I wonder how much she or he knows, let alone understand, of the Zimbabwean constitution and laws governing elections in Zimbabwe and also the politico-economic situation on the ground in Zimbabwe. The current situation in Zimbabwe is a product of a series of hitorical events that sadly, some people who comment on Zimbabwe today, have no clue about or simply refuse to acknowledge. Comments based on ignarance or refusal to acknowledge and accept reality, are not helpful to the Zimbabwe question. I am in Zimbabwe. I voted on June 27 together with many others who understand that our constitution and laws emanating from that constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be subverted to please peole who may or may not agree with the government or ruling party of the day. As for democracy, the way that word has been bandied around, in some cases with reckless abandon and cynical regard for peoples concieved to be lesser mortals to those throwing such words around, has rendered it meaningless. Democracy is contextual and comes with responsibility. To claim that there is no democracy in Zimbabwe without examining the strangulation of the Zimbabwean economy to "make it scream to separate the people of Zimbabwe from ZANU (PF)" as suggested by Chester Crocker when persuading the American Congress to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe and the manipulative politics from western governments (not people) particularly Zimbabwe's former coloniser Britain and the USA (who have on its statutes an Act, ZIDERA, that is specifically to cripple the Zimbabwean economy)is hypocracy of the highest order and anyone trumpeting such a grotesque caricature of democracy should be ignored for such unhelpful contributions towards helping the people of Zimbabwe attain the political and economic independence that the nation has been fighting for since Cecil John Rhodes hung the heroine Mbuya Nehanda and the hero Sekuru Kaguvi in 1896 for resisting colonisation and subsequent subjugation and dehumanisation and gave the land between the Limpopo River to the south and the Zambezi river to the north and inhabitated by the Shona, Kalanga, Venda, Sotho, Lozi, Tonga, Shangaan and Ndebele, the indigenous people of this land, his name - Rhodesia.

In American folklore, when America was being colonised and the indigenous people being extaminated, there was this cynical saying to those who opposed what was happening - dogs may bark but the caravan goes on. In Zimbabwe today, the fight for the indigenous people to be owners of Zimbabwe and all that it embodies, will not be sidetracked by politcal gimmicks and antics as exhibited by those that enjoy the support and sponsorship of the UK and the USA,the two powerful countries that want to dictate the political setup in Zimbabwe so that they can have unlimited access to our resources leaving the indegenes as drawers of water and hewers of wood. That era is gone, gone forever and never again to obtain in Zimbabwe. Going forward after the election, any country, nation or peoples that value freedom and uphold the principle of equality of peoples and nations, great and small, will find no reason not to trade fairly with Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe economy will rebound and true independence will reside in the indigenous people. I rest my case.

Madnidad, it is good to see that intelligent people like you, Greenbomber, Uncolonised, Selector and a few others post on these boards. It shows that there are still African people who have not given up on the struggle!

Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Congo and people like Mandela, Tutu and many blacks condemn the SHAM, it's not a USA, British, Australian or French arena alone.

CAre these Mugabe believers so blind that they don't see his policies are illegal, ommoral and unaacceptable by ALL civilized People's and not who they would have you believe - the Neo-Colonialists or whomever.

Zimbabwe needs a moderate, sensible, International and workable Government, not a tyranical, head-in-the-sand, Isolated and stubborn Dictatorship that only looks after it's Cronies, Army, Police and "Veterans" most of which were babies before the 70's-80's.

Get real Zimbabwe needs the International community, the World doesn't need Zimbabwe in it's present basket cast state.

The legacy of Ambuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi was certainly not for the dehumanisation and subjugation of the Zimbabwe's people which you voted for on June 27th 2008.

This article is breathtaking in it's hypocracy! Mugabe has said he was "appointed by god" and would ignore any vote against him and stay in power. He has systematically killed or maimed those who are against him - this has been proved to the world!! If he claims "victory" this time, he said he will "sort out" those who do not vote for him. Zimbabwe needs someone to sort out the country soon, or there will no be a Zimbabwe!

I agree with kufinda -- propaganda of the most blatant kind. Not a word about Mugabe's reign of terror.

Who is the FOOL of an editor that let this moron write an article that is meant to be read by people that have a three digit IQ? It must have been written by Mugabe's 44 year old wife or one of his minions that know they will perish if their "Mugabe Lifeline" has to step down from power. Anyone with a modicum of knowledge about the murders, terror and torture of MDC organizers understands that Tsvangirai walked away from this "Terrible Joke of an Election" because continuing would only yield death and terrible harm to his fellow countrymen. Mugabe is being propped up by military that know "when Mugabe goes, they go". When Mugabe drops dead the generals will step up and crown themselves the new KINGS that will never leave. Mugabe, and his young wife (along with the heads of the military), still live likes kings and queens while Zimbabwe starves and wallows in 80% unemployment and 2,000,000% inflation.

I was surprised by the tone of this article, if I was any kind of conspiracy theorist I would assume the the author of this piece had been commisioned to do a hatchet job on Tsvangerai. This kind of biased and insulting reportage has no place masquerading as a serious news article, and it brings shame on those who wrote it, and those who allowed it to be printed.

This article is well written, unbiased, and very accurate. Thank you for your excellent reporting!

I truly hope that this is sarcasm. Zimbabwe has been completely ruined by the policies and actions of the complete waste of flesh known as mugabe. May he rot in hell.

Didn't you notice the poster's name? Clearly that was a joke.

Please ask for assistance from any country to help and save what is left over from Zim. All the killings of innocent people are just added to the list when justice would be done one day, and this day is coming closer everyday!

I totally agree with you RM!

Obviously the author of this comment is a supporter of Robert Mugabe who is forcing himself to be blind to all the atrocities taking place in Zimbabwe. Morgan Tsvangirai was detained by police several times in the last month, his deputy Tendayi Biti was languishing in a filthy jail for two weeks,and many of the opposition MPs elected on March 9, who still have not been formally recognised as Mugabe is refusing to reconstitute parliament 3 months after the elections, are either in jail, in hiding or have left the country in fear of their lives. Morgan has done all that is humanly possible to defeat a brutal and ruthless regime, and the world continues to watch as Mugabe steals another election in Zimbabwe.

I like the article, but I am surprised that many people who cared to ccomment had a problem with it. I was just wondering if someone can dispute the factual accuracy of the article. Is it true that Mr T can be inconsistent at times? If so, then regardless of where the author stands, we can only commend him for a job well done.

Baba, USA

dispute the factual accuracy of the article???? are you a crackpot? does Mr T need to be shot to prove there are people hired by Magoo that want him and his people dead? If you dont know and understand that, there is no arguing "facts" with you!

stoakin

Baba, did you watch the news here in America last night? Did you see the pictures of all the MDC supporters beaten and terrorized? Robert Mugabe makes George Bush look like Jesus.

baba (bbjcoll)

I entirely agree with you and think the author makes some stolid observations. You can count the number of days on two hands that the absent-leader who is Morgan Tsvangirai has actually been in Zimbabwe since the elections at the end of March. And probably on one hand if you accept that the Dutch Embassy is not Zimbabwean territory.

Why should the bold and brave supporters of the opposition MDC, ready to vote and then denied, follow this apparently spineless leader (sic) and longer?

SEYIKO KUITA KUDERO. Of course, Mugabe has some supporters. You may diagree with them. But surely those who agree with the President are entitled to their views and should an equal access to the press. Lets put into pracyice our democracy ideals, vakomana! There is no need yekutukirira. Muno bureyiko? All those expletives and vulgarities only indicate the intolerance which is going to rule Tsvangi's Zim. Its frightening to think what you would do to the author of the article if you had the power and means to effect any changes in Great Zimbabwe. CALM DOWN.

frightening, huh? what could you possibly be frightened of if you're comfortable with such a violent dictator?

No one denies Mugabe supporters access to free press, but why do you deny his opponents the same curteousy? What Does Your Party need to Kill, Maim and imprison any one who expresses his views.

This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

Quite the article. My eyes have been open. Long live the tyrant!

I was surprised to read this "article" on AllAfrica that failed to report the news, but did succeed in espousing the party line of the current regime. Until today, I did not realize that AllAfrica was apparently a Zimbabwe state owned website that is "free" to report opinion and call it news. Should future stories be written and posted as news by this writer and site, I hope they take a more newsworthy perspective of the situation and consider reporting the documented arrests and abuses that Tsvangirai and his supporters have had to deal with which led to his temporary stay at the Dutch Embassy and the mass exodus and hiding of tens of thousands of Zimbabwe people.

Just to clarify to all those reading this crap, the New Era is a Namibian government sponsored rag that started in the early 90’s when I lived in Namibia. There is actually a street named after Robert Mugabe, unfortunately not posthumously like most named streets. Dr (honorary) Sam Nujoma, the first president of the newly independent Namibia was / is a close friend on Mugabe due to the support given SWAPO (his party) during their war with South Africa. Although a complete idiot, he did, credit where it is due, not seek too much revenge on the white population of Namibia after taking power, most of which fought for the SADF. All in all, Nujoma was not too bad of a guy for the country, however, Mugabe could eat live babies and no Namibian government sponsored paper will condemn him for it.

Put simply, this article is drivel. The author, if we should dignify him with this term, clearly feels that he knows and understands the heart of the issue. Everyone else's vision and understanding though is different: clear.

People of the world are not fooled by this bull_ _ _ _. We have all seen how Mr. Tsvangirai has been arrested for no reason time after time since his return to the country. Obviously to discourage his attempts to seek election. His number 2 man, Biti, arrested seconds after stepping off the plane! As for his supporters, they sit in fear of their lives, having seen the the extent Mugabe's evil henchmen will go to stop them from voting. This "election" is a farce, the whole world sees this and is disgusted and appalled. The writer of this article cannot believe his own words, surely. Or else he doesn't want to see the suffering Zimbabweans get the justice coming to them. But the world does. Everyone gets their fill of tyrants sooner or later.

This article lost any vestige of credibility when it dubbed Zimbabwe an 'enlightened nation'. This article was totally inaccurate, blatant propoganda designed to maintain a murderous regime, and generally despicable. The author has no right to call himself a decent journalist or human being.

I was in a complete state of shock when I began reading this article. Where in the world has this reporter been hiding for the 28 years of Mugabes reign at the helm of what used to be the most prosperous and promising country in the whole of Africa. Has he forgotten the subversive tactics used to steal the first election widely expected to be won by Joshua Nkomo - at the time Mugabes only opposition leader? Did he not hear about the 7 years of terror that followed in a country that was supposed to be at peace as Mugabes 5th Brigade tortured, raped and murdered 20000 Zimbabweans because they were supporters of the opposition. Where was this reporter when Mugabe created his one party state all the way back in 1987 giving him complete dictatorial control of Zimbabwe. Did this reporter have his head buried in the sand when farmers - black and white - were illegally evicted from their farms in 2000 causing the economy to free fall resulting in a currency that is worth less than the paper it is printed on and an inflation rate widely believed to be in the region of 2 million percent. And then I realised....he is from Namibia. A country with a president who not only supports Mugabe but is following in Mugabes footsteps with a single party state and land "reconciliation". I wonder what tune this reporter will be singing to when his country crumbles around him.

I was in the middle of reading this "article" and actually stopped to check the website again to see if I was only reading someone's personal blog. I have never read articles from this site before and doubt I will again. But tell me, anyone else know if this is typical reporting style of this site or an oversight?

Did Robert Mugabe's brother right this propaganda? It had to come directly from the Minister of Dis-Information in Zimbabwe. It could be no other than a tool of Zanu-PF writing something like this and it is astounding that it was posted here.

Wow. Just wow. I read the first sentence and then had to check the source. Oh, "All Africa"... that explains things. A hilarious attempt at journalism, and it may fool people there but in the rest of the world we are shocked and saddened by this sham of an election and Mugabe's continued reign of terror. People shouldn't live in fear, egocentric dictators need to be toppled, and I pray for all the innocent people in Africa.

I don't blame the author and editor of New Era for letting this piece of propaganda non-parel pass as news knowing who owns the pro-Mugabe outfit of a paper it is. they were obviously singing for their super. But what I find difficult to understand is how AllAfrica.com uncoerced could go on to give wider circulation to this irresponsible piece as news. Are you aware of the cost of such, in terms of African lives lost.

Who the Hell wrote this article... Clearly you have no idea what is happening in Zimbabwe and the abuse that is going on. The MDC leader is one of the bravest peole.I think if he were acting he would never have endured half the pain and danger he's been through. He was severly beaten not so long ago too, never mind facing treason charges...which carry the Death penalty in case you've forgotten! Thank God for the Dutch embassy protecting him from the inhumane militia. In 20 years he is the only one to stand up against Zanu PF and give hope to the zimbabwean people. Not even the rest of the world have the courage to stand up to that dictator for this violation of human rights! How dare you write this article not knowing what the average Zimbabwean has been through in the past 10 years!

"Who the hell.....blah blah blah " Tde answeris DEMOCRCY and the principle of free press which wouldbe surpressed by a Tsvangirai administration if the vulgarities coming from Tsvangi's supporters is any thing to go by. Ita machingiro akanaka. ano waka.

Hilarious..and extremely sad! This article had to be published if only to show the world how desperate these pathetic thugs are in the light of truth. The rest of us shake our heads in disbelief - and these ego-driven dillusional gangsters stand naked and pitiful before us. To think this might have been a beautiful world - and then there were those who began to think they could live forever.

Reading this, it sounds so bias. The author is focussed on Mr. Tsvangirai, not the people of Zimbabwe. Any human being with the love of the people will not in any way appreciate how the Mugabe govenment is treating the people of Zimbabwe. It shows that he is nolonger for the people but for himself and a few of his military people who are to keep him in power. If you are for the people what is the need to terrorising them? As an African, most of us are tired of rulers who come to power and cling to it thinking they are the God ordained for the job till death does them part. That is wrong!!! Its greediness which makes them not care for who will die, who will be tortured as long as it keeps us in power.

The author is saying Tsvangirai should get out of hiding. I think the author lives in another planet, unless is one of those Mugabe beneficiaries. The man was arrested recently, his supporters are being arrested and beaten left and right. And if you are for the well-being of the people and you see this kind of suffering, why continue.

We are concerned about the Zimbabwean people having peace and having a well-being. Mugabe started as a hero to the Africans but he ending up a disgrace with bad reputation. That is not success.

Firstly I would like to question the writer's understanding of bravery if that is the issue in question here. I do not see Mugabe being brave first and foremost look at the size of his bodyguards, then look at his campaign style were he literally imposes fear amoung his own fellow nationals by killing, and warning of a war if he does not win the election. I now even question his bravery in the liberation struggle did you ever a time where he literally picked up a gun and went into the bush to fight, but here we are there is evidence that Tsvangirayi has been persecuted by a system that is supposed to give him the freedom to campaign and also become a president. I say Tsvangirayi is braver than Mugabe for challenging the Zanu PF machinery and he is still standing

Mugabe's responsibility was to reassure all his fellow Zimbabweans that we also can be presidents in this nation.

My last personal question to the writer, if you are at war and your enemy is within range to shot you and your troop do you hide and try and shot him back or do you stand up in full view so that he can shot you so that you can be counted as brave. My friend the situation in Zimbabwe is about life and death.

I'm not surprised by this article at all - since it's from Namibia. I had the misfortune of networking with a few journalists from Nam a few months ago and must say they've hired a bunch of youngsters still stuck in their teens who think anything sensationalist sells. They have no limits no scruples so this definitely not news to me and comes as no surprise. They still have lots of maturing to do. Reporters and Editors alike. Take this article from whence it comes.

Firstly I would like to question the writer's understanding of bravery if that is the issue in question here. I do not see Mugabe being brave first and foremost look at the size of his bodyguards, then look at his campaign style were he literally imposes fear amoung his own fellow nationals by killing, and warning of a war if he does not win the election. I now even question his bravery in the liberation struggle did you ever a time where he literally picked up a gun and went into the bush to fight, but here we are there is evidence that Tsvangirayi has been persecuted by a system that is supposed to give him the freedom to campaign and also become a president. I say Tsvangirayi is braver than Mugabe for challenging the Zanu PF machinery and he is still standing

Mugabe's responsibility was to reassure all his fellow Zimbabweans that we also can be presidents in this nation.

My last personal question to the writer, if you are at war and your enemy is within range to shot you and your troop do you hide and try and shot him back or do you stand up in full view so that he can shot you so that you can be counted as brave. My friend the situation in Zimbabwe is about life and death.

The attribution is "New Era" a newspaper whose mission statement reads "To be a respected, credible and objective source of factual information and analysis on current, local, regional, national and international issues. Working with all stakeholders to achieve best practice in the promotion of a vibrant and democratic society in Namibia." Guess they only promote democratic society in Namibia, not in its neighbors. Too bad.

Namibia has aligned itself with Mugabe's regime and shows no signs of recognizing the horrors being perpetrated by ZANU-PF. This is precisely why Westerners become tired of Africa's struggle- too often, we see megalomaniacs like Mugabe insulated and defended by neighboring democracies.

What most posters here don't realize is that Nambia was politically dominated by whites, has a history of colonization (formerly occupied by South Africa) and is preparing a land redistrubtion scheme of its own. Tragically, it is still locked into anti-colonial thinking by leaping to the defense of Mugabe, much like Malawi's President or the British publication "New African". It's a mistake that will cost lives and international respect. Nambia would be well served to follow the example being set by Mwanawasa, Khama, and even Zuma and dos Santos. It's time to remove the racial blinders and see the truth behind the monster destroying Zimbabwe.

I can't believe that any reputable news source would post an article like this on their website...this isn't news. This is a political rant by an obvious Mugabe supporter.

Wow!!! the author of this article has to be one of Mugabe's thugs. How else could he claim that not hearing gunshots is proof that there is no assasination plot? In most political killings, one shot is fired, and at that point, it is too late. Has he missed the fact that people are dissapearing all over Zim who are not happy with Magoobe? Mr. Magoo.........I mean Mugabe has ruined a country that once was the envy of Africa. He stole the farms from the whites, and gave the land to blacks, who did not know farming..........it is not the blacks fault they were misled by this nut, I wouldnt turn down free land either, but if no one knows the means of production, you are doomed to ..............well, inflation, no food, and a country like Zim has now become. WAKE UP!! This article has been written by a fraud posing as a News reporter. Zim needs change, or it will die!

My dearest friend and her family is from Zimbabwe and I have heard the horror stories first hand of everything that has happened there since the "revolution" Mr. Mugabe led to present day. I agree with the person who made the first post: the article is nothing more than propaganda. Mr. Mugabe has been responsible for an untold number of deaths and torture over the years. He is also responsible for the dizzying plummet of Zimbabwe's overall economy, death rates from starvation, the lack of properly farmed lands previously lush with produce, and the critical situation and dim future Zimbabwe now faces. His utter lack of concern and disregard for the people of Zimbabwe astounds me to no end. My friend and her family, save for one family member, have lost *everything* their families worked generations for in Zimbabwe and have fled the country to find safe harbour elsewhere.

While Mr. Tsvangirai's actions to an outsider do seem erratic and that of an insecure person, he has had sound reasons; first and foremost that he is truly in danger of losing his life should he tread too closely to achieving his goal. The closer he gets to freeing Zimbabwe of her oppressor, the more often he is arrested, beaten, and his life, and the lives of his family threatened. Make no mistake; Mr. Mugabe will go to whatever ends he deems necessary to hold onto his fragile strangle hold on Zimbabwe. Even when he is gone from power (read dead), his loyal followers will continue to carry out his policies and the country will continue in its ruinous state without outside help.

I pray daily for the people of Zimbabwe that are struggling to make life as bearable as possible; that God will somehow deliver them from the misery Mr. Mugabe has created. I pray too for a peaceful and merciful end to this travesty.

This article was published by the New Era newspaper, which is funded by the SWAPO Government Of Namibia. It's reporting is biased and should be considered as propaganda. Rather go onto the Namibian Newspaper's website for unbiased reporting. http://www.namibian.com.na/ An article like this can only be written by an unenlightend individual.

Contrary to the blatant statements by this editor that border on outright lies, it's Mugabe who is the two faced political actor full of treachery. He promised to hold a free and fair election, then having realized the tide was turning against him, he resorted handily to maiming, starvation and murder of his own people to obtain a win at the polls in the most undemocratic manner possible.

The New Era is, unfortunately, nothing more than a SWAPO mouthpiece and you'll be hard pressed to find a newspaper with less journalistic integrity or a more blindly biased political agenda.

Even worse, though, is that this kind of rhetoric reflects poorly on other Namibian news outlets and citizens. That's not to say any of the other rags are unflawed or unbaised, but the New Era has always endeavoured to achieve new lows in political (and sometimes other) reporting.

Someone noted earlier that "The Namibian" is supposed to be the source for "real" local news. I see no point debating this kind of rhetoric either, as the only way to judge any news paper is by its content and I've yet to meet a journalist without an agenda that gets exploited on their soapbox.

To quote someone else:

"Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some assembly required."

Once again, allAfrica shows it's true colors as a venue for rabid, unsubstantiated claims and accusations - fits in well with the USA's National Enquirer, Weekly World News or LA Times, but not appropriate for true journalistic vehicles.

This is clearly a very good example of how unfair things are on the ground in Zimbabwe. I have never read anything so vividly bias as this article. Those that hail the wisdom in it are most definitely Mugabe's stoogies, core members of this execution regime. How can anyone pretend not to see the risks that Morgan Tsvangirai continues to face in a country where harassment of innocent citizens is the order of the day! Only one explanation fits the merits of this particular commentary: its partisan and certainly from a Mugabe insider. What a shame to all that appluade such a baseless allegation of cowardice to a man who is undoubtedly a maryter for the weak and downtrodden Zimbabweans. Mugabe is like a man that is cornered and trapped in his own waste and blames an innocent by stander for the source of the smell. Morgan has survived this far by the grace of god and the whole world knows this fact. Should you dispute this fact, you don't have to look far to see confirm this fact; Tandei Biti, has been strapped with treason, for doing what a prudent leader in his position is endowed to do; draft a plan of action for governance following elections. How does such prudence translate into treason? Mugabe has just reached a stage in his life when he knows very certainly that he has no friends left and the only peaceful way out for him is death. He is simply short of saying that himself, but dying in Zimbabwe than under the hands of Internation Court of Law for his atrosities is preferable. He knows what awaits him, and the quickest way for the world to get rid of him,is by granting him his wish. Give him the bullet he has now come to love so much as weapon of choice for his enemies. Yes Zimbabwe is indeed a country with "Failed Leadership", to borrow Mandela's words.

am ashamed of who ever wrote this post. thats why we africans have a long way to go. whats wrong with a leader who changes his mind for the sake of progress. this attitude of not taking a different stance is what has made mugabe a monster once he makes a decision he sticks with it whther it is having a negative effect or not e.g. murambatsvina, farm invasions etc. i suspect jonathan moyo has a hand in this paper, the level of progapanda is synonymous with jonathan moyo.

this is pure blatant, unprofessional, hogwash typical of the morons population ZBH and ZImpapers shame on you for being so subjective. Grow up man

From most commentators on this topic, it is clear that Zimbabwe election issue is not about Zimbabwe and its people. It is about Land in Southern Africa as a whole.Namibia is contemplating redistributing of land to give it to blacks. And hence it was not the opinion peice that was discussed here but the country called Namibia. It appears most commentators are a well organized propagandists not people of concerned citizens. If an opinion is written, it should be taken as opinion. What type of democrats are you fools to pretend support a democratic election in Zimbabew but insult an opinion peice writer? How do you expect those who elected Mugabe to be tolarated under MDC if this is what most MDC supporters opinion is!?

I agree with a lot that has been said here. No one wants to hear of violence under any circumstances, but certainly there is so much violence worldwide with far more numerous violent cases than that reported in the Zimbabwe elections. For example, one can read the newspapers to find out that in the United States, Britain,and possibly other places in Europe and the Middle East, some moderate-sized cities with less than 500,000 population have experienced more violent murders in the first six months of the year than what occurred in the reported election-related death toll in the country of Zimbabwe.

For sure, Mr. Tsvangirai does not exude valor and stamina to any degree if one follows his behavior and actions. He is not mindful of his constituents, but behaves in a selfish way, apparently only thinking of his own well-being. He seems to be confused, to lack a clear plan of direction or thought pattern, and he runs about here and there for no apparent strategic reason and without stopping to reflect on what the outcome will be or without thinking over his alternatives so as to achieve the optimum effects for his cause, if any. It's as though he is very nervous.

His actions and his demeanor do not engender a "majestic image", an image of fearlessness, "hope" or "charisma" for his constituents. This hope must come from within himself as their leader. Notice, that he ran to the Dutch embassy and his constituents have now run to the South African Embassy seeking leadership and direction. When there is a strong leader, the people will look to that person for the answers, nowhere else. A very serious question seems to be: Is Mr. Tsvangirai really competent to be a national leader anywhere?

"Can somebody please tell Tsvangirai to come out of hiding as his people need a leader and not a refugee who is holed up in a Dutch Embassy scared of his own shadow and making unsubstantiated claims."

To correctly finish this sentence, one would have to add: "So Mugabe's thugs can murder you". It doesn't take a university degree to realize that Mugabe has gone power mad and is destroying his country in the process.

This article is well written and exposes Mr Morgan T as a flipflop; an opportunist seeking to make money from his western donors. He does not have the interest of the people of Zimbabwe at heart. For those being bombarded by the western media; the stories are always biased-aimed at promoting imperialist interests: you are only presented with pictures and cleverly crafted videos that shows Mr Morgan T as the holy one, the sweet baby, the friend,the only righteous candidate, the lover of the west, the only one who should win elections (any other result is unacceptable). The one time adored Mugabe (bestowed honour by the queen of English) is always presented as the aggressor, the wrong doer; and because of that most ordinary westerners donot know both side of the stories; it is time you seek alternative perspectives-stop being an ostrich.

Mugabe is running scared as a little girl, like the little girls his army attack and beat like cowards.The Zimbabwe army will scream and cry like girls if real army men are given a chance to enter the Zimbabwe by the UN. I cant wait for the day the UN lets them in!

Mark my words, the real people know the names and faces of the cowardly army, militia and police and they will get revenge on them in a big way, very very soon.

Yeah isn't this the way of bullying cowards, joining together to attack a tiny country who doesn't have the arms to defend itself? Mr. Mugabe has been up against this before and I wouldn't bet against him not figuring out a way to put a hurting on the big guys even at 84 years old.

You mean like the bullying cowards that go around beating up unarmed MDC supporters for daring to vote "wrong"?

Can we get back to the FACTS of 80% unemployment, 1,000,000% inflation and 30% of the population of Zimbabwe living outside it's borders?

ZANU-PF/Mugabe has "achieved", in the words of Nelson Mandela, "A tragic failure of leadership"! Does anyone want to argue the wisdom of Nelson Mandela? Phiri? Kuba? Anyone? Does anyone doubt that Mr. Mandela would have been happy/ectstatic to inherit South Africa in the state that Mr. Mugabe found Zimbabwe in 19080?

A country once the breadbasket of Africa, a net-exporter relegated to a net-importer of foodstuffs, a country where a secrecy of the ballot-box no longer applies, a country where freedom of conscience no longer applies. What can ZANU-PF/Mugabe fear from a free election when they have so nobly served the people of Zimbabwe under their stewardship?

ZANU-PF/Mugabe has only delivered independence from white-rule, nothing else! It is one thing to lead a laberation, it is quite another to govern for the benefit of all liberated persons. ZANU-PF/Mugabe has failed in that and, to them, the PEOPLE of Zimbabwe, have had the temerity to renounce them!

Sadly, we are far from the end-game. Mugabe cannot rule Zimbabwe now with the MDC in control of parliament. His only option is too disband parliament, for which the people of Zimbabwe, and the world, will call him to account.

The game is being played into "injury-time", but even if Mugabe prevails in the travesty that is the "run-off" he will be unable to govern, and the MDC dominated parliament will continually "nip at the heels" of the ZANU-PF/Mugabe establishment until they are rendered feeble.

A change is going to come, just not within the timeframe we all hoped an prayed it would come within! The FACTS do not support the continuation of the current regime!

Read the article above from the uncolnised/.

Read the article above from the uncolnised/.

Julman, Mandela never REALLY fought did he? He was in jail for 27 years so how would he know what a strugle is!

this writer has got what we call myopic thinking,(thinking gaps), he so naive and lacks common sense approach .what wrong with tsvangirai seeking refugee when his life is in danger, tsvangirai is also a human being who is worried about his security jus like anybody else (you should get me right that security is a basic need )i don't know if the writer of this article is naturally stupid or he has chosen to be stupid .

WE HAVE SPOKEN AND THAT IS THAT. TAMVOTERA BOB."uzacapuka uze udubuke-uchatsamwa ukaputika-u shall get angry till you burst.As a staunch supporter of the revolution and having exercised my right to vote as a citizen of Zimbabwe and a born free, i wait anxiously for the results with only one outcome that is acceptable.MORGAN KU BRITIAIN, MUGABE KU STATE HOUSE NOT MORGAN KU STATE HOUSE MUGABE KUMUSHA.We do not subscribe to hero worshipping. would rather be a pauper than a hobo. those who harbour any ill feelings can go hang and those who will want to invade zimbabwe, we shall be waiting.but that is rather far fetched.pamberi nezanu pmaberi navamugabe. I worship the guy ,wish he was my father. to those who were ranting regime change, to bad your way was a way to hell and you might as well go hang because zimbabwe is not your personal tool. Before you can talk of Sending Robert to hague, you should consider doing the same to your mughty Bush considering the assault in IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN.there is no condition that is permanent once again. LONG LIVE MY PRESIDENT.

When it comes to political theatrics, one must ask whether Mugabe's abilities - performed for the world-wide audience - are a tragedy or a farce. Were it not for the suffering of Zimbabwe's people, the clown's raving pompous statements and actions would be a comedy

The following was posted elsewhere on the site. It's probably wasted on the ranting 'greenbomber' when he burbles on about being a staunch supporter of the 'revolution', but even mad dogs have days of clarity: ----------------- .

Well, this is my first visit to this site, and I am appalled at the hatred and racist comments that it contains. I am from the UK, so I realise that those with bitter, twisted, and closed minds will automatically reject my comments. Nevertheless:

1. Those who suggest the UK has colonial /imperial intentions should remember that the UK was in the forefront the sanctions against Ian Smith, and members of the present UK government were deeply involved in the fight against the apartheid regime of South Africa. .

2. Many wonder why South Africa has done so little to control Mugabe. Nelson Mandela has also been quiet on the issue; yet, when he did speak out - on the eve of his 90th birthday - it was with tears in his eyes. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7474561.stm . . Perhaps the emotions were stirred by the admission that the freedoms that Africans won have – in Zimbabwe at least – been suppressed more than ever they were… and by one of those who was a ‘freedom fighter’. What greater betrayal of Mandela’s and Mbeki’s ideals (and those of similar achievements), than that perpetrated by Mugabe. .

3. Mugabe knows that the UK will not intervene. Nor, probably, would any non-African country because of Mugabe’s accusations of ‘imperialism’, and his disgraceful playing of the ‘race’ card. Yet we in Europe have faced the same sort of tyranny, with Hitler, and then the Balkan genocides. With Hitler appeasement failed, and millions died as a consequence of his expansionist and racist policies. With Serbia, western public opinion finally forced Governments to act. When I read and see the suffering of Zimbabwe’s people, I wonder – and despair – of the inactivity of its neighbours. .

4. For evil to succeed, good men need do nothing. Thus do the good people of Mugabe’s neighbours encourage his tyranny. It is not worthy of them. -----------

You can worship the homicidal geriatric mugabe all you like Green when he is hanging from a tree.Colonialism would be 100000000000 times better than what Zimbabwe has know, but what Colonialist{if they are even still around} would want Zimbabwe!!!! It would be like a car thief wanting to steal a burned out wreck of a 1970 taxi!

the west

Who wants Zimbabwe now, you ask?

Well, for starters, the Zimbabwe stock exchange has outperformed "all" others on the "international" stage for Western investors for two years in a row.

That's just for starters. Contrary to your burnt out wreck analogy, serious investors continue to invest heavily in Zimbabwe.

http://www.gocurrency.com/international-investing/2007/04/11/the-best-perfo rming-stock-exchange-of-2007/

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200611/15/eng20061115_321655.html

So how come the ZSE is performing so well - outperforming all others on the international stage" whilst there is massive unemployment, economic collapse, and mind-boggling inflation? The simple reason (and consequence) is that a (largely unscrupulous)few are profiting at the expense of the many.

Let’s go back a couple of years to a report in the financial pages of the guardian when Zimbabwe’s inflation was a mere 2000% (now some 1 million %), and then come up to date with an article in the African Executive’ : From < http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/apr/25/Zimbabwenews.internationalne ws. >..... At one end of the stock exchange a man writes numbers on a whiteboard with a blue marker; at the other brokers tap sums into large calculators. Shares are bought and sold in crisp, verbal transactions; the deals noted on ledgers filled with carbon paper. In the corner a man with a laptop, the only computer in the room, keeps a record of the trading. It resembles a scene from another era, but this is one of the world's best-performing stock markets. In January (2006) alone it doubled in value and the bull run is set to continue. Welcome to the surreal world of Zimbabwean economics. Inside this exchange, on the fourth floor of one of the less dilapidated buildings on Nkwame Nkrumah Avenue, serious profits are being made while outside, businesses are collapsing, driving millions of people into penury. Zimbabwe has the fastest shrinking economy outside a war zone, with unemployment pushing 80% and inflation (2006) a rampant 913%. But amid the meltdown a small minority - some legitimate investors, others crooks - is thriving. "Where some see crisis others see opportunity," said Jonathan Waters, an economist and commentator. The winners in today's Zimbabwe are an eclectic group of share traders, currency dealers, estate agents, small-time entrepreneurs and cronies of Robert Mugabe's government, which is widely blamed for ruining what was once of Africa's most developed economies. The stock exchange, comprising 16 broking firms trading in the shares of 75 companies, including Barclays, British American Tobacco and First Mutual, is perhaps the most incongruous success. Distorted market "It's quite embarrassing because the exchange is supposed to mirror the reality of the economy," said Emmanuel Munyukwi, the institution's chief executive. "We have benefited from the distortion of the market." The stock market has stayed ahead of inflation and is worth $3bn (£1.68bn) according to the official exchange rate - a dramatic surge. Under the more realistic black market rate it is worth $1.5bn, still an impressive performance in a crumbling economy. Mr Munyukwi said negative interest rates and inflation had caused a stampede for assets, which had driven share prices to record highs, even in real terms. "Pension funds and other institutional investors have made a killing." He admitted that there was some insider trading but said most deals were legitimate. "The early bird catches the worm. You come in now and reap the benefit." However, the profits are on paper and could yet vanish because currency controls make it difficult to take money out of the country. Analysts say the stock market boom masks the fact that thousands of businesses have gone bankrupt, slashing exports and halving the size of the economy since 2000. "Those who are flourishing are finding ways to make money that is not productive," one western diplomat said. "Buying and selling in this way does nothing for the economy. The economy is being hollowed out." Printing money Critics say the fault lies with his Zanu-PF government, which gave land to loot-minded cronies and under-capitalised black peasants, frightened away investors and then printed money to cover budget deficits - triggering inflation which some say is close to 2,000%, more than double the official rate. The impact on living standards has been catastrophic. About 4.6 million people rely on food aid; children miss school because their parents cannot pay fees and hospitals lack basic equipment and medicine - handing a death sentence to those with Aids and other treatable diseases. Yet for some these are good times. "Property prices are steadily picking up," said Justin Machibaya, the director of Homelux, a Harare-based estate agency. A top-of-the-range house with four bedrooms, a swimming pool and maybe a tennis court cost $160,000, up from $100,000 a few years ago, he said. Institutional investors and individuals from South Africa and Britain were eyeing property in the belief that prices would soar if and when Mr Mugabe stepped down and investors regained confidence. "Everybody is waiting in anticipation," Mr Machibaya said. Some have already swooped, notably the controversial British tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten. In addition to the stock market, he has invested heavily in property and mines. Earlier this year he denied reports that he had given Mr Mugabe $10m but made no secret of his financial engagement. "I'm probably the sole supporter, up in the UK, of this country and I think I'm the sole major investor in this country," he said. Chinese and Indian firms have also snapped up mines and land at bargain prices, filling a gap left by western investors skittish about the risks. Some Zimbabweans welcome this investment as a lifeline, others condemn it as exploitation of a country's desperation. Perhaps the biggest winners are senior Zanu-PF officials who have helped themselves to the best farms and assets. Three cabinet ministers, Joseph Made, Christopher Mushowe and Didymus Mutasa, have been accused of looting Kondozi farm, a once thriving vegetable concern in Manicaland, which is now in ruins. Harare city council reportedly plans to buy 329 sedans and pick-up trucks for its managers and staff, while the capital's state-appointed mayor, Sekesai Makwavarara, has been accused of buying a plush house from the council for just 5% of its market value. The reserve bank governor, Gideon Gono, is said to be building a huge mansion. Some members of the elite are not ashamed to flaunt their wealth. Senior army and government officials knock back doubles of Chivas Regal whisky at the Big Mug, a Harare pub, running up tabs of the equivalent of several hundred US dollars in the space of an hour. With a soft drink costing Z$90,000 it takes bricks of notes to buy anything, spawning a boom in demand for electronic note counters. Sales of the Chinese-made devices are the one bright spot for the electronics industry. "Everybody is buying them - the university, the council, hotels," said Botho Chigwedere, a salesman at Arvee Wholesalers. "We've almost sold out." From : Dated 25th June 2008-06-29…….. ….The stocks rally may also be because there are very few investment options that can provide real returns in Zimbabwe. Most of the other investment options like mining and land ownership lost their value after most of the European investors moved out due to the turbulent political climate in the country. Hard-line policies by the Zimbabwe government created an inherent risk that most investors were left with the stocks market as the only viable investment. Investors know where good returns are, and the ZSE is one of them. This is why it’s performing above all markets in Africa. The ZSE’s future in the short run indicates a continued upside. Equities are the only other best form of investment in a hyperinflationary environment such as the one existing in Zimbabwe. At the moment, there is no reason for an immediate stop in the Bull Run. But as the demand for stocks continue to sore, the market capitalization will eventually reduce. Stocks which are absurdly overvalued will lose more than proportionately when normalcy returns and the market may even be faced with an eminent crash. The viability of the decision to invest in the future of Mugabe’s tenure in power is simply a wrong investment factor. It is not a good sign for the ZSE, especially for a country whose economy is indicating otherwise. It’s only a matter of time before the stocks market follows the downward trend that the Zimbabwe economy has taken, and when that happens there will be no redeeming of losses.

By Kevin Mwanza . (Mr. Mwanza is an African Executive Staff Writer)

All this selective history is negated by the fact that 300,000 Zimbabwean families have their land back on which to grow enough food to feed their families, including the extended parts. And a tiny African country has again maintained some semblance of sovereignty against the massive interference of the powerful western (white) world.

The farming has gone backwoods and is feeding very few.It will take a long time to fix the longer it is left in the state it is.The one good thing is that the paddocks a getting a very very long fallow.

ZSE performing well? Not at all. Measure the performance in HARD currency and the story is very different. A huge gain in Z$ is completely pointless when that translates to a huge loss in US$.

You are certifiably a FOOL. Any stock exchange would peform with 1,500,000% inflation and a currency that depreciates 1000% per week.

In the real world neither money nor investors care about why a stock market or their investments are growing. They simply care about returns on their investments and capital. The ZSE continues to outperform the world for good reasons or for bad.

The original argument is that international money was not being placed in Zimbabwe. This is a lie. The truth is international money continues to pour into Zimbabwe although, I agree, it is undoubtedly a shame that such massive investment does not impact ordinary Zimbabweans.

Come now selector it's time for you to be realistic about ZSE. Performance in Z$ is meaningless. Measure ZSE's "performace" in US$ and trading companies are making losses.

Come now, mindpower. With a name like yours I somehow expect so much more...

You and I have been down this road before; it is undeniable that brave and bold international investors do very well for themselves, in real money, from the ZSE:

'Investing in the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is not for widows and orphans, says BoE Stockbrokers director Chris Cornell, "but there are opportunities for those with an appetite for risk"'.

High risks equates to high returns, 'tis the nature of the beast and there is no denying Zimbabwe is high risk.

In case you cannot locate the link that I posted the last time this subject came up, I have reposted it now.

http://zimbabwe-news.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html

Yes we have been down this road and you keep failing to recognize that these "gains" actually represent LOSSES in hard currency. Practically every business in Zim needs forex since so little is manufactured there.

Saying ZSE is the best performing stock exchange is like saying that Zim has the most billionaires. It's meaningless!

That's simply not true. I have provided two links to reports from 'foreign' stockbrokers as well as news reports from foreign websites that confirm the ZSE outperformed all others, two years in a row.

From the link above; "Yet the stock exchange, with 80 firms listed, rose 12% last year in US dollar terms, adjusted for inflation and exchange rate distortions. For the average investor, options for investing in Zimbabwe are limited. "The most important thing is to put your money in the country in a legal manner - so that you can repatriate your capital and profits,"

Allow me to point out the most relevant bits in case you miss them, " adjusted for inflation and exchange rate distortions" and "put your money in the country in a legal manner - so that you can repatriate your capital and profits,"

It's foreign investors using foreign money, which continues to flow into the ZSE, who are making more money than on any other exchange in the world.

It shows your typical and obvious bias and prejudice that you are able to unquestioning accept inflation figures of a gazillion percent, or whatever, (cos that's a negative, right), but you refuse to accept the provable fact that ZSE is the top performing stock exchange in the world (cos whilst that's not a positive for ordinary Zims, it's still a positive for foriegn investors - and you simply cannot stomach anything positive about Zimbabwe, right)

"Political Actor rather than a Shrewd Politician" - when the ZANU-PF thugs and subsidized War Veterans insist on beating, harassing, imprisoning, threatening and bringing false charges against the guy! How insulting.....

How can anyone stand by after comments like "The MDC will never rule, even if they Win", or "God annointed me, not the British or the AU", or "5 weeks to get the First Poll and 5 Hours to get the Sham Poll".

This person Mugabe is a Menace, a Two-penny Dictator and will go to his (hopefully very soon) grave as having Destroyed a once Jewel in Africa's Crown and reduced it to a Fourth World (new category) basket case.

Anyone who call Tsvangirai an Actor after all he's been through to defeat this Tyrant maybe is not a shrewd Politician but a Truly Dedicated Zimbabwean. Go Morgan!!!!

The reality of the situation is that the MDC won the first election outright and it took 4 weeks for the official votes to be manipulated in order to force a runoff. This time the same amount of people voted and it took 48 hours to get the results.

The situation in Zimbabwe is ridiculous and the fact that other Africa Nation still talk to this dictator is also outrageous. South Africa should be ashamed of its role in this whole matter. The world and the African Union looked for leadership and all they got was silence. This whole situation is plunging Africa back into a 4th world statis after all the gains that have been made.

Shame on Africa!

Concerned

I read the “opinion” & have read all the posts. At first I was outraged that this insane opinion had been published, but then I realised just how incredibly useful it is, because it shows those of us that live in the free world what it must be like living in Zimbabwe. This is an example of Zimbabwe’s daily news. Black Africa fought for & got black rule & many of us in the West supported them in their fight & as such many of us are ashamed of the fact that we supported “heroes” that have now turned into mass murderers who are far worse than the whites they replaced. Zimbabwe has now got the freedom to starve, to be raped, tortured & murdered by their own people, white rule was bad, but it was never this bad. Part of me wants to abandon Africa as a hopeless case, they have taken what could have been & turned it in a living hell for the ordinary people. And it is those people, the ordinary people, that I find it hard to give up on. They are the victims of madmen & those madmen support each other because they fear not supporting each other will bring their own end that much closer. Most people in the West just want Africa to get it’s own house in order so that we don’t need to keep bailing them out when their “leaders” mess things up again. We have better things to do with our taxes than constantly help badly run African countries. And don’t blame history & the whites, Africa’s current mess is all of it’s own making. Hide behind the lie if it helps you sleep at night, but that doesn’t make it the truth. You got what you wanted now make it work & if you can’t then that is your failing. I do not want a single Western soldier sent into any African country to help clean up the mess that has been made. In future be careful what you wish for, you might get it, again. You wanted black rule, you got it.

Outsider, your post is typical of the kind of crass ignorance and gullibility that so many white posters present on these boards. All this talk about living in the free world, supporting the fight for black rule, etc., is nothing but fodder for fools. Seemingly fools like yourself who buy hook, line and sinker any lie told by western media and their sponsoring governments against anyone the West cannot control. You are unable to see or admit the contradictions in what is portrayed in western media and what is actually happening in Zimbabwe. For example, we are now being told, almost hourly, that Mugabe is murdering and torturing his own people, yet we see that over 2 million of them just voted for him to be their president for the next 5 years. We're told by western media that it was a one man race, but what western country would stop an election because a candidate who believes that he's going to lose based on pre-election data from his supporters pulled out 5 days before the election? One would have to be pretty stupid to fall for that trick, yet the Slick West think Africans should do what they wouldn't do themselves. As for as you and those like you who want "abandon Africa", if it wasn't for the resources of Africa that the West needs so badly, I'm sure that you would. And the reason that Africa is "a hopeless case" today is precisely because of the West's years of slavery, colonialism and interference (overt and covert) in Africa over hundreds of years, right up to this day (Zimbabwe 2008 is a prime example). And Africa will never develop its potential until it totally weans itself of dependence on the West to solve its problems. So for all the people like you, the best thing that you could do would be to "abandon" Africa. Africa needs your help like it needs another drought. The fact is Zimbabwe is an African problem to resolve their own way and until Africa becomes involved in solving the problems of the West,(i.e., economics, war, poverty, disease, crime, stolen elections, police brutality, torture, high gas prices, home foreclosures, high unemployment, corruption, racism, crumbling infrastructure, etc., etc.), western countries should be minding their own business.

Outsider, very well said.

Academics agree that Western press is neither free nor fair. Indeed, what so-called free competition has done to media representation in the West is little more than create a small number of global, monolithic businesses who are unified in the news and views they 'choose' to represent.

Moreover, investgative journalism of the likes seen from Woodward and Berstein is long dead. Nowadays, the media simply report and represent the views of government and big business and, being big businesses themselves, become little more than loud-hailers of popular opinion, not driven/motivated to question the news they report or publish unpopular views. There's no profit in that, you see.

http://mcs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/28/6/907.pdf

Are you a big business? I am not a big business & I doubt that anybody else posting here is a big business.

We are free to give our opinion, have you read them? Or have you just blindly ignored them?

What a strange post. Of course I have read the comments on this read. Why would you think otherwise?

In fact, my own reply was in response to your very own, "At first I was outraged that this insane opinion had been published, but then I realised just how incredibly useful it is, because it shows those of us that live in the free world what it must be like living in Zimbabwe. This is an example of Zimbabwe’s daily news".

You suggested that those living in the so-called "free world" had less biased or more impartial news than in Zimbabwe and I pointed out, citing a reputable source, that this is known not to be the case. The so-called, free world reporting is equally if not more partial than Zimbabwe because the media in the so-called free world is controlled by monolithic big business and is better able and experienced at manipulating news. (??)

Have you read my reply to yours? In fact, have you even read your own post?

Lmao what Academics?Hahaha Money is what drives everything not the governments in the free world.mugabe and his puppet masters/regime arrest or close down any paper that says a bad word about the dictatorship in zimbabwe, like to see it happen in the west, the government would be out on its ear in a flash! Freedom of speech is what its about, i can walk up to my country's leader and tell him he is an idiot and he would prob laugh,smile,acknowledge or frown at my view , you would be dead in Zimbabwe if you said it to mugabe!There is no freedom of speech in Zimbabwe at all, full stop.

Oh dear, there you go, shooting yourself in the foot again.

I said academics agree that big business runs the media and your attempt at a witty retort and counter-argument is that, "Money is what drives everything not the governments in the free world". Not only have you completely agreed with my assertion but you appear to have somehow overlooked that few organisations have more money than governments.

The battle for Zimbabwe is one for land, aka property, aka money. Mugabe is taking it away from minority white Zimbabwean who obtained it injudiciously and giving it to majority black Zimbabweans in a much more judicious and equitable process.

Why the UK in particular with its allies the EU and the US and Australia are all opposed to Zimbabwe's redistribution of land model is because they, ALL of them, have injudiciously STOLEN land from others over centuries and continue to profit on the proceeds to this day.

When Mugabe wins the day, the world can rest assured that there will be refreshed land claims from, newly inspired, ex-colonial countries in Africa, South America, from the native Americans in the US and from the aboriginal peoples in Australia. It is no suprise and not perchance that those opposing ZImbabwe are the aforementioned governments; they have much to lose if Mugabe succeeds.

You're right, it is ALL about money.

Think you need to read my post again, because if you agree with me you agree mugabe and regime is stealing all Zimbabwe's money, no one else is! The president position in Zimbabwe will soon go and the country will be served solely by fairly elected Prime minister and parliament!

You are RIGHT, brother, and correct to the core!!! They are making an example of Great Zimbabwe to make sure no one would dare go along the route the brave one, His Excellency, President Robert Mugabe, has taken his people. Even the ancient Britons had their own Tsvangrais .... remember how some of them sent a delegation to the Romans to ask them to return and rule them. Veni vidi et vinci!!!!

I am wondering if you are dyslexic and only seeing the words you like to hear? If you are dyslexic just say so and ill find the way to put it in a way you understand! I care for the good people of Zimbabwe and there suffering and to stop there suffering, you obviously care only for yourself and could not care less about the people of Zimbabwe starving and dieing!

if you care so much about the good people of Zimbabwe, why not broaden your mind and accept, just as I do that Mugabe is responsible for a degree of mis-management, not least of which is failing diplomatically in international arenas and allowing himself and his ruling party to become pariahs to the West, that the West is equally, if not moreso, guilty of deliberately trying to cripple Mugabe, the ruling Zanu-PF government and, by consequence, ordinary Zimbabweans beacuse of their stated aims and policies to redistribute the country's land in a more equitable fashion and in favour of the black majority?

Oh yeah it's not Mugabe's fault all those farms went to ZANU-PF bigwigs, it's the west's fault. LOL, you crack me up selector.

Mugabe is already a cripple and does not need the West to do that. His brain is warped, and everything is in backward motion. He looks at his once beautiful country, but he only sees it as his own killing fields. His fingers are too long, so long that they have left Zimbabwe flat broke. Will any of you ever smell that money? He makes you believe that you are flying, but look close enough and you will see that you are actually walking on land which the whites did not pack into their suitcases when they left Zimbabwe. He eats the meat and throws you the bones and like fools you grapple for those bones. He thinks he is a god unto himself and again like fools you worship the devil in him. He takes all the best pieces of land for his comrades and himself and again like fools you shout "the West". Who is in charge of Zimbabwe? The devil himself.

Ha!Ha!

Tell me, who amongst us, be honest now, who amongst us, if must be oppressed would not rather be oppressed by one of our own. Throughout all history, the oppressed have fought not just against oppression but most vehmently and with resolve, agaisnt foreign oppressors.

Not for a moment am I conceding that Mugabe is an oppressor of his people but, even if he were as some of you try to claim with no eveidence, let me re-iterate and explain why Africans support him:

Like the Chinese, the Indians, the Israelis, the Scandavians and peoples the world over, if Africans are gone be oppressed, they'd rather it be one of there own. Simple really.

Will all non-Africans leaving Zimbabwe please remember to close the door behind them. Whilst I'm on a roll, there are a number of Brits living in Zimbabwe with substantial business and land interests - has anyone ever asked themselves why 'not a single one of them' has 'ever' spoken out against Mugabe or Zanu-PF? RAOFLMAO

mindpower, the UK, the EU and the US are not demonising Mugabe because of land he is threatening to take from blacks, they're demonising him for land he is threatening to take from whites.

Indeed, the UK, the EU and the US are all backing the MDC whose stated aim is to take land from blacks but who have no intention of taking land from whites.

http://www.mdc.co.zw/landandagriculture.asp

whats wrong with the farms going to ZANUpf bigwigs???Those who got land from William the conqueror,in 1066, still hold the land and they were French bigwigs, eg the Gascoyne clan to which Lord Salisbury belongs. Bigwigs own land all over the world, eg in Texas george Bush family