Thursday, February 03, 2005
Zimbabwe opposition agrees to contest elections...
The Movement for Democratic Change will participate under protest in Zimbabwe's March 31 parliamentary elections. They will probably make a poor showing, since efforts to campaign are hampered by repressive laws on public campaigning, use of media, and flat out violent intimidation of voters.
But hey, Robert Mugabe appointed some people to an electoral commission to make sure things are "fair"! And to South Africa, which once inspired the world by peacefully transferring power in a highly turbulent time, thinks that's a pretty good step forward.
Currently, Mugabe bars Zimbabweans living outside the country from voting, which makes sense, because the people who left the country because Mugabe was a brutal repressive kleptocrat are unlikely to support the current President, especially when they live out of reach of ZANU-PF good squads. (They're trying to press the case in court. Call it a longshot.)
And, in other shining news, Mugabe has announced that foreign observers will not be needed, since the election will be policed by a wholly impartial, highly reliable group of civil servants who depend upon Mugabe for their livelihood.
Worst case scenario - MDC supporters stay home, opting out of the violence and fraud, and Mugabe's supporters win big. This gets reported worldwide as "Mugabe wins elections", and since the militias will do their part to prevent any Ukraining from going on, nobody sees any reason to complain abroad, and Mugabe retains power while presenting himself as "democratically elected", as the reasons people should doubt him fade from memory. Which is kind of what happened in Iran not too long ago.
Best case scenario - Voters wear orange, and dye their fingers blue, and cause the world to finally look past Mugabe's ability to talk like an Ann Arbor Poli-Sci professor and see him for what he truly is.
But hey, Robert Mugabe appointed some people to an electoral commission to make sure things are "fair"! And to South Africa, which once inspired the world by peacefully transferring power in a highly turbulent time, thinks that's a pretty good step forward.
Currently, Mugabe bars Zimbabweans living outside the country from voting, which makes sense, because the people who left the country because Mugabe was a brutal repressive kleptocrat are unlikely to support the current President, especially when they live out of reach of ZANU-PF good squads. (They're trying to press the case in court. Call it a longshot.)
And, in other shining news, Mugabe has announced that foreign observers will not be needed, since the election will be policed by a wholly impartial, highly reliable group of civil servants who depend upon Mugabe for their livelihood.
Worst case scenario - MDC supporters stay home, opting out of the violence and fraud, and Mugabe's supporters win big. This gets reported worldwide as "Mugabe wins elections", and since the militias will do their part to prevent any Ukraining from going on, nobody sees any reason to complain abroad, and Mugabe retains power while presenting himself as "democratically elected", as the reasons people should doubt him fade from memory. Which is kind of what happened in Iran not too long ago.
Best case scenario - Voters wear orange, and dye their fingers blue, and cause the world to finally look past Mugabe's ability to talk like an Ann Arbor Poli-Sci professor and see him for what he truly is.
