Elections are over in Zim and please get some sleep. The regime change crusade has been defeated this time for good.

Not by a long shot! mugabe prepares for it before the result because as he and the world knows, he rigged it. Mugabe and his regime will be out in the near future and this i can promise you. Very funny that mugabe is now just a puppet with the army and police chiefs firmly having there hands up the end that does not shine.He is that much a puppet for them i wonder if he is actually still alive or if he has under gone taxidermy so there hand up his you know what makes his mouth move and his wife throws her voice to make him speak!

"The world knows" only the lies that have been created by western propaganda. BTW, you're in no position to promise anything to anybody, as you know the West (the real one, not some pseudonym) have been trying to overthrow Mr. Mugabe since he started his land reform program around 2000.

OK - I'm from the "West" and have no economic, family or social ties to Zimbabwe, so lets talk about lies......

Here's the first of several "lies", the "Sanctions" constantly being bleated about by Mugabe and his "flock" of ZANU-PF cronies are directed at a total of 130 people..... Is Zimbabwe's economy so weak that it cannot provide for it's people when only 130 of them are targeted by such "Sanctions"? Only if the 130 ZANU-PF cronies control ALL of Zimbabwe's economy...... if a country cannot withstand economic "sanctions" and travel restrictions against only 130 of their citizens, then there is something seriously wrong with the distribution of wealth in that country!

(Oh, I forgot, ZANU-PF "restored" the "legitimate owners" of the land in Zimbabwe - one would think that if so many ordinary Zimbabweans were "Empowered" by ZANU-PF/Mugabe's policies, then Zimbabwe's economy should have posted record increases in the people's standard of living - right?). Oh yes, Zimbabwe is "totally empowered" (Mugabe claimed it was so), but for some reason, no one wants to do business there............

So yes, Zimbabweans can now feel "empowered" while they are starving because the one-time breadbasket of Africa can no longer feed itself! This has absolutely no reflection of ANY effect of any "Sanctions" supposedly in place against Zimbabwe.........

Here's one such "lie"........ The ZBC has announced the "official" rate of inflation is "only" 165,000% - yes, the 165 number would be bad enough, but to add another 3 zeroes after it? Although, the ZBC has not pronounced an "official" rate of inflation in a while and many commentators from Africa, not the U.K. or U.S., have indicated the actual rate of inflation is over 1,000,000% and can be expected to get as bad as 4,000,000 in the next 6 months.

The "Sanctions" imposed by the U.S. and U.K. certainly aren't powerful enough to cause that sort of inflation. Only the further printing of worthless currency by the ZBC could cause anything close to 100% inflation, but 1,000,000% inflation?

Here's another "lie"....... 80% of the people of Zimbabwe are unemployed. "Sanctions" by the U.S. and U.K. CANNOT cause that sort of economic malaise.

Here's another "lie"....... at least 30% of the population of Zimbabwe has left the country! Yes, people are literate, and they're leaving the country. These are educated professionals who are leaving, they are just the sort of people a country like Zimbabwe needs right now. Why are they leaving in such ridiculous numbers?

The "West" doesn't make up these "lies" - they merely report these FACTS. I previously posted the actual text of the "Sanctions" which are freely available to all on the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury's website. You obviously didn't read them......

The "West" did not "create" the FACTS of 1,000,000% inflation, 80% unemployment and 30% of the population fleeing their homes to other countries. The policies of ZANU-PF/Mugabe did! I think even Nelson Mandela mentioned the "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe, didn't he? What does Mandela owe to anyone? Why would he make such a statement? I find it hard to believe that such a man could be pressured by the "West" to spout such a lie......

If these conditions in Zimbabwe did not exist, if inflation was only 10%, if unemployment was only 10%, if only 10% if Zimbabwe's population had left the country, do you think the "West" would even care about Zimbabwe? What does trade with Zimbabwe mean to the U.S.? NOTHING! What does the U.S. have to gain from a "regime change" in Harare? NOTHING! We're far more interested in the price of oil than anything Zimbabwe has to offer us.

It is only the complete and abject failure of ZANU-PF/Mugabe's policies and the resulting economic devastation being wrought there that makes the "West" even care about Zimbabwe! Answer me these following questions:

1) How much better fed are the people of Zimbabwe now as compared to when Ian Smith's racist government ruled Rhodesia?

2) How much better is the medical and public health infrastructure of Zimbabwe now as compared to when Ian Smith's racist government ruled Rhodesia?

3) How many "re-education/rehabilitation camps are there in Zimbabwe now as compared to when Ian Smith's racist government ruled Rhodesia?

4) How much better off is the educational infrastructure of Zimbabwe under ZANU-PF now as compared to when the racist Ian Smith ruled Rhodesia?

Over 28 years of ZANU-PF rule, Zimbabwe has managed to piss away any of the positive infrastructure left behind by the racist government of Ian Smith! It is the poor stewardship of Zimbabwe's resources under the rule of ZANU-PF/Mugabe that has caused this fiasco. When a people of ANY nation are so poorly served by their leaders, it is ANY people's right to seek new representation - and not at the point of a gun or under threat of a beating or amputation.

People like you, who continue to blame the "West" for the shortcomings of your own government, are what cause Africa's problems - instead of looking forward, you are always looking to the past to blame the "white man".

Judge ANY government by it's record, ZANU-PF's is 80% unemployment, 1,000,000% inflation and 30% of the population "voting with their feet" and leaving Zimbabwe. Their record is indictment enough for not just the rest of the world, but for the people of Zimbabwe to DEMAND regime change!

You too, are such a "tool"!

People like Mugabe, actually make us ashamed to be Africans. I am disgusted with African politics and the ostentatious African leaders including the west. At 84 Mugabe should be counting his days on earth. If he survives another 2 years in power, they'll have to be changing his diapers every hour. Shame.

The world knows for sure that elections are over. UN secretariat expresses deep regret; Security Council says Tsvangirai has no legitimacy to be recognised. AU says Mugabe is legitimate up till next elections. The world condemns violence as tool to gain political mileage and agree that Mugabe has that authority (legitimacy) through violent intimidations, no one is disputing that Mugabe has power now according to the laws of the country. Political leadership is gained by many ways; wars, violent topples, elections, appointments, coercion, pressure and bullying, anointment, accidents, aggressions, oppressions, etc. Queen Liz of England has global political power through both anointment and subjugation, Gordon Brown has power through appointment, Daft Bush through accident initially and then terrorist trepidation, and this trio wanted Zimbabwe to have a leader from economic and military coercion that failed. UK/US now wants to apportion blame of its regime change ambition that failed to AU as if AU shared its scheme.

This same news outlet celebrated with Tsvangirai when he had the birthday cake resembling state house before results were announced in 2002.

you can put as much spin on events as you like, however, the fact of the matter is that Morgan Tsvangerai won more votes than Robert Mugabe in the last election that the two actually contested. The fact that Mugabe's thugs killed and maimed dozens, if not hundreds, of people and as a result of the escalating violence Tsvangerai felt himself compelled to withdraw from the run-off, does not alter this situation.

One Soul:

I don't believe the UN Secretariat has actually expressed "regret" except for the way in which this sham of an election run-off was run. I don't believe the Security Council has actually said Tsvangirai lacks legitimacy and I don't think the "world" has agreed that Mugabe has any legitimacy at the present time.....

These are issues still to be decided at the present time. If you have some sort of different information that isn't from the Herald or Mr. Chinamasa, please post it, because it's not here on this board!

I think it curious that the ZEC couldn't release election results in March when it was clear Mugabe had lost for 5 weeks when they were able to release the results of the June election just in the nick of time for Mugabe to inaugurate himself and take off for Cairo - don't you?

This matter isn't over yet, Mugabe won a travesty of an election, yet MDC's "support" mysteriously fell - to what do you attribute such a massive erosion of his support as compared to the March 27th elections? How would you explain the massive number of "spoiled" ballots collected?

Mugabe has yet to face a parliamentary majority owned by the opposition. If Mugabe disbands parliament to rule by decree do you think this will enhance his "legitimacy"? In what way do you expect the MDC-controlled Parliament to affirm his policies?

Until ZANU-PF/Mugabe start arresting MDC MP's to eliminate their majority, ZANU-PF/Mugabe is NOT going to be able to govern without Tsvangirai's assent!

The legitimacy of Zimbabwe's government as of today's "inauguration" of "Comrade Bob" rests with MDC's parliamentary majority which was won through the will of the people, not with the government's figurehead who "won" his run-off through intimidation, beatings, rape, amputations and murder.

Just what "us" are you talking about Dingana? I'm African and I'm proud of people like Mugabe, Mbeki and other African leaders who have the guts not to become pawns for white domination in Africa. It's the spineless sell-outs who should make you ashamed!

Your proud of them for either two reasons 1.You a complete imbecile or 2.You enjoy watching the misery of the Zimbabwe people in some sick twisted way!

I feel like alot of Africans can't really see the ambitions of Mr Mugambe, i'm a Namibian by nationallity, i was raised in a society were everybody was preaching national reconciliation,but reconciliation only exist in Africa. a black male cannot walk alone in Moscow city of Russia in the evening, he'll get killed, look at Etto in Spain, These Europeans are not real to us, how can they talk of peace when their own streets are threats to a black man? African let's stop being cowards, and have a revolutionary Mugambe is right but. Britain should rule Britain, America should rule America, and AFrica Africa

I feel like alot of Africans can't really see the ambitions of Mr Mugambe, i'm a amibian by nationallity, i was raised in a society were everybody was preaching national reconciliation,but reconciliation only exist in Africa. a black male cannot walk alone in Moscow city of Russia in the evening, he'll get killed, look at Etto in Spain, These Europeans are not real to us, how can they talk of peace when their own streets are threats to a black man? African let's stop being cowards, and have a revolutionary Mugambe is right but. Britain should rule Britain, America should rule America, and AFrica Africa

how insane one can be! Mugabe talking of a sweeping majority when he was the only candidate in the field!!what a contrast declaring the results 2nd time round in such record time contrary to the previous credible elections. we will watch his perfomancy and arrogancy at the Egypt meeting but is he so sure that he will be able to go back to Zimbabwe????

Gee that was close!42% turnout to vote ,so where 's the more than 50%?A rigged one horse race and still cant win HA HA HA HA HO HO ooh stop it it hurts.

Gee that was close!42% turnout to vote ,so where 's the more than 50%?A rigged one horse race and still cant win HA HA HA HA HO HO ooh stop it it hurts.