Whatever your political stripes, it’s hard not to be hopeful that Robert Mugabe’s long and more recently disastrous reign as President of Zimbabwe is finally over. While the electoral commission in Zimbabwe takes a disturbingly and worryingly long time to announce the defeat that practically all other observers have already suggested is the case, reports suggest that behind the scenes talks are progressing with Mugabe himself to facilitate an orderly transition. It would be a brave soul to suggest at this early stage that this troubled African nation has finally made a transition back towards open and transparent democracy, but we realistically could have some good news from the country at any time. One just hopes that the election result does not turn into another excuse for Mugabe to exert his brutal political will on the public.
I for one will be going to sleep tonight hoping for a new and peaceful political dawn for Zimbabwe.
ELSEWHERE: Larvatus Prodeo have an open thread on developments in Zimbabwe. Mark’s comment on international aid is a prescient one; if the MDC manage to successfully oust Mugabe, it will be a wonderful opportunity for the international community to give the country a hand-up so that it can get back on its feet again.
Michael McKenna also has an excellent piece in the Australian on trade unionist, father of six children and Harvard graduate Morgan Tsvangirai. Will he prove to be the inspirational Nelson Mandela-like figure that so many in Zimbabwe have needed to break free of the Mugabe era?
Tags: Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe