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Mr. Mugabe's cynical plan
New York Times
May 09, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/opinion/09fri3.html

There is little doubt that Morgan Tsvangirai was elected president of Zimbabwe in March. There is no doubt that President Robert Mugabe-s henchmen have used the weeks since to massage the count and terrorize Mr. Tsvangirai-s supporters and anyone who dares to criticize the government. Now Zimbabweans are being told there will have to be a runoff.

Mr. Tsvangirai has not yet said whether he will participate, and we understand why he would hesitate. But the unfortunate reality is that unless he runs again, Mr. Mugabe will automatically get another presidential term. Zimbabwe cannot afford five more years of incompetence and brutality. On Thursday, the government arrested two senior trade union leaders and the editor of one of the country-s few independent newspapers. The international community must step in quickly to insist that this next election is fair and transparent. Credible monitors from Africa and other regions must be allowed to supervise the voting and the ballot count. And they must certify the results. Bitter experience has shown that without that transparency — and pressure — Mr. Mugabe will do whatever is needed to stay in power.

Mr. Mugabe is also a master at feeding racial resentments and blaming "the West" for his own failures. That is why African leaders, particularly South Africa-s president, Thabo Mbeki, must take the lead.

Mr. Mbeki has refused to accept that responsibility. Thousands of terrorized Zimbabweans have been pouring across the South African border, and he still refuses to acknowledge that the chaos in Zimbabwe threatens the stability of his own country and the region. The only explanation is his misplaced sense of loyalty to Mr. Mugabe, who was once a hero for leading Zimbabwe to majority-rule. Those days are long past, and Mr. Mbeki cannot sacrifice an entire country for one man.

Mr. Mbeki and other African leaders should immediately send envoys to press Mr. Mugabe and his generals into accepting international supervision of the runoff vote. Mr. Mugabe and his cronies must be told that they will instantly become pariahs — with their foreign bank accounts blocked and their visa applications denied — if they make any further effort to rig the vote.

Mr. Mugabe-s supporters are feeling no pressure nor any need to hide their cynical plans. A top ruling party member recently declared: "We-re giving the people of Zimbabwe another opportunity to mend their ways" adding chillingly, "This is their last chance." It reminded us of Bertolt Brecht-s 1950s quip about the East German Communist regime: "Why doesn-t the government dismiss the people and elect another?" After years of enabling Mr. Mugabe, it is time for South Africa and all of Zimbabwe-s neighbors to enable democracy.

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