By Sky News undercover reporter in Harare

Every day this week the streets of Harare have been bustling with people. Most are queuing to withdraw money but wherever there is food or fuel there is a queue. The mood in Zimbabwe’s capitol is muted. No Rose revolution here, at least not yet. Queuing for four hours in the heat of the day for money that is almost worthless would sap anyone’s will.

Most people who want change have lost any faith in the system. Many fear change because they know they will pay a heavy price for it. There is a sense of impending violence in the background that is only heightened by the veneer of calm. Robert Mugabe himself has threatened blood on the streets if he is not reinstated as president and he is a man of his word. So far, though, he has only really threatened the expected clampdown. Riot police flood the streets and are gone the next day. A few foreign journalists are arrested and everyone scatters. Mugabe’s thugs start to roam the countryside to remind everyone of the violence they are capable of.

The lack of information here doesn’t help. Rumour becomes news as there is little else to go on. Intentionally or not, it’s a master-stroke from Mugabe. With nothing to rally around, people can only expect the worst, and have no choice but to try and get on with their lives as best they can. With each day that passes, the prospect of change becomes more unlikely.

It is hard to understand why the few who still have a job bother to show up. The hyper-inflation here means salaries become worthless much more quickly than they can be renegotiated. If they are not working they are generally waiting for something to spend their money on while they can afford it.

Those with enough money however, can still spend it. A local restaurant I went to was heaving. The food was pretty good and at 400 million Zimbabwean dollars, the chicken and chips was pretty good value too.

The scale of the inflation takes a bit of getting used to. As we left the restaurant I asked my driver how much I should tip the parking attendant. "Fifty should do it," he told me. Rummaging through the thick wad in my hand I pulled out a note with a lot of zeros on it. "Not 50,000," he said despairingly. "That is worthless. I meant 50 million." A far cry from the days when one Zimbabwean dollar was worth three US dollars.

Comments

[John C Zimbabwean In Exile 18 Apr 2008 15:48:46]

We would like to wish Our duly elected President of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai and his party. The MDC, chosen by his people
our people of Zimbabwe, to lead and rule Zimbabwe into its future , a very happy 28th independence.

The 4th Chimurenga is here and will see our people free once again

The evil will falter and fall and Our president will have his day once the dictator looses his control over his military state.

Zimbabwean will once again direct and own their destiny , their future and that of their children and their children's children

We will help our President rebuild our country, we will do it together, we will bury the greed , the hatred, the division as created
by the evil and build yet another new, powerful, prosperous Zimbabwe.

We have done it before and we shall do it again !!!

John C

Proud Zimbabwean in Exile

[John C Zimbabwean In Exile 18 Apr 2008 15:20:39]

I wish our official government of Zimbabwe the MDC and Our Honourable President of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai a wonderful 28th Independance day as the new official peoples Government of Zimbabwe. May the evil be overcome and may the 4th chimuranga soon see the people free once again

[norman spain 14 Apr 2008 17:39:13]

warvets on farm 100km south of harare
i am an ex zimbabwean, i have been on the phone sice friday 11th april to my family, they are one of the very few white farmers left in zimbabwe, warvets arrived on the farm some 100km south of harare, three of them armed with firearms telling my broter his wife and 3 children that they the warvets had come to take the farm, the local police were called and went out to the farm and removed the warvets, the warvets have been back on the farm all weekend and today monday they have started building houses on the farm ( or shacks )the family have been helped by the local police and are very thankfull of that,
when will this all end ?????

norman spain

[Carol. Durban, South Africa 14 Apr 2008 10:51:52]

I am a deeply ashamed South African, when I see Mbeki HOLDING HANDS with Magabe. Mbeki will go down in history as an impotent leader who watched the citizens of a neighbouring country starve and be killed whilst he sat on his hands like a school child, trying to play "best friends" to a thug.
Mbeki DOES NOT represent the feelings of South Africans towards the violation of human rights in Zimbabwe.
The 5M Zimbebweans who have taken refuge in South Africa are watching Mbeki fail them and their countrymen back home. Black South Africans here, listen to their stories of life back in Zim and are beginning to see a pattern emerge where greedy African leaders sytematically bleed their country's dry under the guise of "liberation".
Lack of intelligent leadership threatens to engulf the last food producing sources of Africa.
If the last remaining farms in Zimbabwe are invaded by the so-called "vets" to rape and pillage, how prepared are we (and the rest of the world) for the mass starvation and migration which may follow due to a lack of food and ongoing violence?
Will anybody, other than Gordon brown stand up and be counted? He is the only voice of hope for millions. For a moment the Brits should lay off criticising Brown for a while over issues at home. This is the time for Brits to get behind Brown and encourage him to rally world support to remove Mugabe ASAP and thereby make a difference to the human rights of millions of Africans.

[Michael Hardman 13 Apr 2008 12:08:13]

Shame I feel sorry for the likes of Mugabe and Mbeki. Just think about, first of all, they dont look Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise. Secondly they are both short in stature and thirdly the on thinks he God while the other drinks to much.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 13 Apr 2008 11:35:13]

Update:
SADC held the meeting, asking for the results to be announced. What does Mugabe do, asks for a recount. More cheating the people of Zimbabwe out of the result they need.
Mbeki had tea with Mugabe, all very cosy, Mugabe says Mr "Brown is a mere dot in the world" that's called goading I believe.
Mugabe is a serial cheater, has been for years, and respects no one, nothing new there.
The regime Mugabe has created for himself and his cronies needs to be removed, only the UN will probably be able to do that, with the support of the outside world, and the OAU.
One question...UN where are you? Zimbabwe needs you now.

[samanyika 13 Apr 2008 09:31:14]

i think the situation in zimbabwe is terrible. britian should stop deportations to zimbabwe. there is loads of evidence to support the ill treatment of people being deported to zimbabwe from the uk. the prime minister and his government need to address this issue that has arisen. the home office doesn't seem to care.i know of a case where the home office is trying to deport a zimbabwean who is married to an english woman, just because he made a mistake and was imprisoned for a crime that is not even a threat to the state.we all make mistakes in life, no one is perfect. certain things need to be addressed to the home office.how can they deport this man and also say that there is no problem in zimbabwe, and his wife can go there and live with him??????
surely, that is disgusting!!!!
sending someone to go and die...

[J Berdou Johannesburg 12 Apr 2008 21:49:36]

Mugabe was a tyrant from the start killing /subjugating all and any persons in his ZANU party whom he saw as threats long before he became PM and later President of Zimbabwe. Just ask what happened to Herbert Chitepo and Josiah Tongogara as examples.

Nothing has changed save there are thousands of dead Matabele tribesmen killed in the ethnic cleansing of the Gukhuruhundi, various political and business leaders whom Mugabe has considered have crossed him such as Roger Boka who fleeced the Zimbabwean government of vast sume of money, Herbert Ushuwakunzi the former Zimbabwean health minister who dealt in stolen body parts from Zimbabwean mortuaries, some of the ministers involved in the Willowgate motor vehicle scandal who did not pay their dues to Mugabe, Lookout Masuku and Dumisa Dabengwa who happened to be the main commanders of the rival ZAPU forces, to mention a few.

The fact remains that Mugabe has rigged elections since 1980 when he first came to power but none will stand up to him least of all Thabo Mbeki, who is personally behothen to Mugabe yet the West expects Mbeki take Mugabe to task. The SA minister of foreign affairs Dlamini Zuma is on record as saying that the SA government will never condemn Mugabe!

Mugabe rants on against the West, racists, Whites and Colonial past but the facts are that none but himself ordered the Matabeleland massacres, the murder of political opponents, the systematic violence associated with elections, the land grab and surpression of political opposition,and the demolition of urban homes of opposition supporters.

[graham gregory, abu dhabi 12 Apr 2008 18:16:10]

i watched as mbeki came down the steps from the plane to meet mad bob and wondered how he managed it. it must be very difficult to descend stairs as steep as those especially if you have no spine to keep you straight. mind you, it would appear he was being greeted by a bunch of spineless fools anyway. all those people gathered around mad bob should remember that even a wheel turns a full circle, and when the wheel finishes turning in Zimbabwe they too will have a lot too answer for. to all those well fed and well dressed "cronies" of mad bob, remember that even your day of reckoning will come.

[Tony Zambia 12 Apr 2008 16:14:51]

A suggestion to the MDC, don't participate in the run off because Morgan has won, don't participate because the integrity of the poll has been compromised by the ballots being taken from the control of ZEC. There has been scant mention of the loophole in the law that allows the ZEC to declare a winner even though he did not reach the 50% plus one vote.

Now that Mbeki has stopped in Zimbabwe for his next set of orders and is ably carrying them out by declaring no crisis we wait for the next fiasco.

[Denise. Cape Town 12 Apr 2008 14:53:17]

Well done,Gordon Brown,for speaking up against the tyrant,Mugabe! But please may it not be all talk and no action. Zimbabwe can't rely on the weak, pathetic Mbeki who will just continue to bow and scrape before Mugabe. Its quite unbelievable that he can't see there's a crisis in Zimbabwe! Is he blind, out of touch, or just not very bright!

[topham, s.a. 12 Apr 2008 14:27:36]

Zim Debacle and Mbeki.

Is it possible that the world does not know that South Africa's President Mbeki is in fact related to Mad Bob Mgabe? Black South Africans also have it that Mbeki is grateful to Mgabe because he paid for his education overseas! Hence the 'silent diplomacy' nonsense. There will never be any criticisim from that quarter.This is also one of the reasons that Mbeki has lost credibility in his own country. Quite frankly - the world couldn't be bothered with Africa and its constant harping and begging. It will soon become the Dark Continent again and sooner than we think - watch South Africa - its slide began
years ago and is accelerating

[justin, southampton 11 Apr 2008 18:18:14]

i find the whole election fiasco in zimbabwe quite embarassing and to certain extent a reflection of how ignorant african leaders are to the plight of their people. and to think that about one's country is the worst feeling i have ever had in my entire life. i am not that proud of being zimbabwean at the moment.

[Mike, South Africa 11 Apr 2008 11:15:15]

Those who think that Thabo Mbeki will ever go against the Mugabe regime, are seriously mis-informed and naive. Thabo Mbeki secretly respects Mugabe for "standing up" to the West! So do all the other SADC leaders. Mbeki is also afraid that if he had to criticize Mugabe he'd be given a damn good dressing down by Mugabe who is his political senior.
Africans do not criticise their leaders like we do in the west. Thabo Mbeki is a lame duck president with a lame duck policy on Zimbabwe.
The West looks in vain to he SA govt to intervene in the matter. Perhaps we should rather look to the US to take Mugabe out like they did with Saddam.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 11 Apr 2008 11:11:11]

The Presidential vote result has not been announced to the people, and Mugabe is determined to remain as president, knowing full well his people don't want him, how stupid is that!
One day he will have to meet his maker, and what will he tell God at the pearly gates.
It may run something like this:
I ruined my country through my greed, I cowered my people, I starved them into voting for me. I was a racist and if people didn't support me they had to die.
Can I come into Heaven Lord?
Is the world listening, Mugabe lost the elcetion, he must step aside for the man who won, the person the people want. The UN must step in and make it happen or the blood of Zimbabweans will be on thier hands. Listen up world!

[Tony Zambia 10 Apr 2008 17:18:38]

Whilst agreeing with Exile on Emma I must disagree that she is braver than most exiles, millions are trying to start a new life with illegal status, no friends and no back up......that takes guts. Keep up the good work Emma, Bob must be doing his nut trying to find you.

[Exile 10 Apr 2008 15:20:07]

I would like to thank Sky news for all the reporting they have done over the past few weeks on and in Zimbabwe. I think this has been instrumental in moving democracy forward in that country. Emma Hurd should get an award! She is braver than most exiled Zimbos at the moment! In true democratic style, Emma has my vote!

[Clive Hope 10 Apr 2008 14:31:25]

We are now to believe that the Despot & Dictator of Zimbabwe has decided that the only way he can win the Presidential Election is by disbanding the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) and replacing it with his own hand-picked personnel to re-count the votes cast. Naturally, it is a foregone conclusion that he will win this time around, hands down.
Will there be any meaningful actions taken by the SADC, the AU, the Pan African Parliament or the UN? Don't hold your breath. Despite the many Meetings and Agreements that were signed by countless African Governments including Zimbabwe with all due pomp and ceremony, supposedly to achieve Good Governance in Africa, all will find some excuse as to why Bob the Destroyer as opposed to Bob the Builder cannot be removed from Office. Whilst he and his fat-bellied cronies continue to enjoy the best that the World has to offer, the ordinary Zimbabwean is having to sift and scratch amongst the rubbish dumps to find scraps of food to live on.The evil that pervades this man also taints the rest of Africa. It is widely accepted that the building blocks of African Governments is Genocide, Fraud & Corruption and yet when this "Hitler" of Africa does finally go, unless it is in a pine box, he and his equally guilty henchmen will find sanctuary in a Country where they will be able to live out their days in comfort and security still benefiting from their ill-gotten gains.
What a sick and unethical World we live in. It is blatantly obvious that there are 2 Laws; one for those that Govern and one for those that are Governed.
Each day Africa gets closer and closer to what it was when the likes of Livingstone, Stanley and Rhodes first set sight on the land. A Dark, Diseased and brutally Savage Country.
In the case of South Africa, this is true, what with the now ever present power cuts (load-shedding,) the ever growing numbers of people dying of AIDS or TB and the rampant crimes of violence with Murder and Rape figures being the highest in the World. Rape is almost a National Sport in SA, with even some of our highest Office bearers having obtained their "National Sporting Colours."
Had what is happening now in Zimbabwe been under a white, minority Government would the same apathy have taken hold. No, as we saw when Ian Smith was in power, the World imposed both economic and sporting sanctions, likewise, in South Africa under the previous white Government.
Are we to understand that when a Black Government suppresses by whatever means they can their own Black citizens then this is okay and acceptable but when a White Government does something similar, then it becomes a Worldwide matter of concern needing immediate counter-action including the deployment of foreign forces to try and topple the Government.

[Trevor 9 Apr 2008 18:43:27]

THIS MUST STOP NOW!!! The people of Zimbabwe need change. I am tired of this being about one man, we need to focus on the people now.

[Bev 9 Apr 2008 16:30:36]

I agree with Paul Pretoria. As far as Thabo Mbeki is concerned I have lost the little respect I have for our so called president he is a total wimp. Perhaps his quiet diplomacy policy is because dear Grace is related to him, so I've heard. I stand under correction but heard this from a reliable source. It is absolutely disgusting that the situation has been allowed to sink to the extent it has done. IF there had been any OIL in the country I'm sure the Americans would have been there a long time ago, no one cares about human misery, it's always about the MONEY !!
....AND MY FRIEND dIANE AGREES. Shame on the " leaders " of the First World nations.

[Ephraim Sibanda 9 Apr 2008 15:55:04]

Alf's list of military help people see the error of their ways is spot on, I have copies from THREE separate individuals whose names are actually on the list... brilliant

[charmaine south africa 9 Apr 2008 14:05:54]

Today I am ashamed to be a South African. How our government, who fought so hard to achieve democracy in our own country can stand by and allow this deplorable disregard for the "peoples voice to be heard" in Zimbabwe. While our Tabo Mbeki and fellow politicians are well fed and secure in this country - I can only say they are cowards for not speaking up on behalf of the thousands of STARVING PEOPLE in Zimbabwe. Our government as well as the rest of the world has failed the people of Zimbabwe. The world just stands by while farms are being seized. It is clear that Magabe's government has ruined the country and where is Mr Bush and other world leaders comment or Action on this matter. Shame on all of you.

[CT, South Africa 9 Apr 2008 12:33:54]

With 57% for Tsvangirai and 40% for Mugabe, at least Bob will have to really crack the whip over his election massagers. Maybe he needs a few months to allow his merry men to adjust the presidential vote.

Let us hope the court have the guts to do what is right and release the results!

[Steven South Africa 9 Apr 2008 11:58:52]

For all ex zimbabweans, this is old news. we know to keep expecting the worse. Most of us have already accepted that the ruling party will "win" the election through un kosher methods. What we want to see is the west intervening. Enough is enough. Come on england, get a backbone and DO SOMETHING!!!

[Alf- Durban 9 Apr 2008 11:56:15]

Breaking News- Next phase starts

Government takes over from ZEC
By Staff · April 8, 2008 ·
Developing story

The government of Zimbabwe had taken over the functions of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC),Metro can confirm.

New staff have also been appointed to complete the collation and verification of results of the presidential vote and directly answer to ministers Patrick Chinamasa,Saviour Kasukuwere and Didymus Mutasa.

All election material has been removed from the election command Centre at the Harare International Conference Centre and is now located at Munhomutapa offices of Vice president Joseph Msika.

Asked about the new developments the head of the election commission said the body was hampered by financial and personnel problems.

“We have scaled down because most of the people were support staff for the house of assembly, senatorial and council results. We are also scaling down because of costs,” said ZEC chairperson George Chiweshe.

President Tsvangirai’s chief election agents Chris Mbanga and Morgan Komichi, have now being excluded from the verification process.

The development comes as details are emerging that Morgan Tsvangirai actually got 56% of the vote way above the 50% needed for him to be declared duly elected.

A source tells Metro,”If none of the candidates did not get the required majority and a runoff was indeed needed why do you think the results are still being held,the situation is really bad.”

“What is happening is that they are infact trying to reduce Tsvangirai’s votes to fall below 50% and necessitate a runoff”said the source.

A polling officer in Harare said Mugabe’s votes were inflated to reduce margins using postal ballots.Some polling officers who questioned the procedure have since been arrested.

“All the votes were for Zanu-PF. There were no names for us to cross out in the voters roll in case the voters would have voted already. Many ballot papers could not be accounted for.”

Meanwhile the ANC president Jacob Zuma has criticised the decision to delay the release of results from the presidential election in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

“I don’t think it augurs very well,” Zuma said in an interview with the SABC. He added that it was wrong to keep Zimbabweans and the world in suspense.

His remarks came one day after he met Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main opposition party in Zimbabwe. Their meeting took place in Johannesburg.

[Denise. Cape Town 9 Apr 2008 11:53:54]

I'm very distressed that the crisis in Zimbabwe is no longer getting the news focus it deserves.The situation is VERY serious and the silence from the West is deafening! The A.U.won't lift a finger to help as they are all admirers and supporters of the evil tyrant,Mugabe. One child in the U.K. is now getting front page news, while in Zimbabwe hundreds of thousands of little children are dying of starvation but its not news worthy. Please, Sky News, support the MDC in it's victory and so help alleviate the appalling suffering in Zimbabwe.

[Alf 9 Apr 2008 11:53:44]

And so it gathers momentum !! Wake up Governments - Look whats going to happen to the poor citizens of Zimbabwe !!

Army deployed to campaign for Mugabe

By Our Correspondents

HARARE, April 8, 2008, (thezimbabwetimes.com) - Highly placed sources in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have revealed to the Zimbabwe Times details of the deployment of a total of 200 senior serving officers to participate in an exercise to drum up support for President Robert Mugabe ahead of anticipated run-off presidential elections.

They will command “troops”, comprising war veterans and Zanu-PF militants, including the ruthless so-called Green Bombers. Already violent campaigns have been launched in parts of Masvingo and Matabeleland North.

The teams are being deployed today, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, and will campaign for President Mugabe in the run off under the guise of war veterans. With the exception of two, all the deployed officers are senior serving officers of the armed services.

It is understood that Zimbabwe national Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Phillip V Sibanda will command the operation with the assistance of Maj. Gen. Nick Dube, while General Constantine Chiwenga will be the overall commander of the operation. He will be assisted by Maj. Gen Last Mugova and Col. S. Mudambo.

Highly placed sources revealed the following list to The Zimbabwe Times together with an explanatory footnote that “most annoyed and frustrated members of the security forces have made this list available.

“It needs the widest possible exposure to show the world to what depth the military regime are prepared to sink in their unachievable task of somehow keeping Mugabe in power.”

The full list of participants in the military exercise follows:

Harare Metropolitan Province AVM Karakadzai + CIO

Bulawayo Province Col. C. Sibanda
Bulawayo central Maj. J. Ndhlovu
Maj. J. Ncube

Manicaland and Mutare South Brig. Tarumbwa
Buhera Central Col. M. Mzilikazi (MID)
Buhera North Maj. L. M. Svosve
Buhera South Maj. D. Muchena
Buhera West Lt. Col. Kamonge
Major Nhachi
Chimanimani East Lt. Col. Murecherwa
Chimanimani West Maj. Mabvuu
Headlands Col. Mutsvunguma
Makoni North Maj. V. Chisuko
Makoni South Wing Commander Mandeya
Mutare Central Lt. Col. Tsodzai
Lt. Col. Sedze
Mandi Chimene
Mutare West Lt. Col. B. Kashiri
Mutare North Lt. Col. Chizengwe
Lt. Col. Mazaiwana

Mashonaland Central Brig. Gen. Shungu
Bindura South Col. Chipwere
Bindura North Lt. Col. Parwada
Muzarabani North Lt. Col. Kazaza
Muzarabani South Maj. H. Maziri
Rushinga Col. F. Mhonda
Lt. Col. Betheuni
Shamva North Lt. Col. Dzuda
Shamva South Makumire

Midlands AVM Muchena
Brig. Gen. S. B. Moyo
Lt Colonel Kuhuni
Chirumhanzu South Maj T. Tsvangirai
Mberengwa east Col. B. Mavire
Mberengwa West Maj T. Marufu

Matebeleland South AVM Abu Basutu
Beit Bridge East Group Cpt. Mayera
Rtd. Maj. Mbedzi
Lt. Col. B. Moyo
Gwanda South Maj J. D. Moyo
Gwanda Central Maj. B. Tshuma
Matopo North Lt. Col. Maphosa

Matebeleland North Brig. Gen. Khumalo
Binga North Maj E. S. Matonga
Lupane East Lt Col. Mkwananzi
Lupane West Lt Col. Mabhena
Tsholotsho Lt. Col. Mlalazi
Hwange Central Lt. Col P. Ndhlovu

Masvingo Province Maj. Gen. E. A. Rugeje
Rtd. Maj. Gen. Gibson Mashingaidze
Rtd. Brig. General Rangwani

Bikita West Maj. B. R. Murwira
Chiredzi Central Col G. Mashava
Chiredzi West Maj. E. Gono
Gutu South Maj. Chimedza (Medical Doctor)
AVM Muchena
Masvingo Lt. Col. Takavingofa
Mwenezi West Lt. Col. Muchono
Mwenezi East Lt. Col. Mpabanga
Zaka East Maj. R. Kwenda

Mash West Province Brig. Gen. Sigauke
Chinhoyi Col Gwekwerere
Chegutu East Lt. Colonel W. Tutisa
Hurungwe East Lt. Col. B. Mabambe
Mhondoro Mubaira Col. C. T. Gurira
Zvimba North Cpt. T. Majongwe

Mashonaland East Brig. Gen. D. Nyikayaramba
Rtd. Brig Gen Rungani
Chikomba Central Lt. Col. Marara
Gromonzi North Lt Col. Mudzimba
Maj F. Mbewe
Marondera Central Maj. Gen. Chedondo (COSG)
Lt. Col B. Kashiri
Marondera West Squadron Leader U. Chitauro
Murehwa South Maj. Gurure
Murehwa North Lt. Col. Mukurazhizha
Lt. Col. Chinete

[Joi, Zimbabwe 9 Apr 2008 11:12:58]

We watch the news daily hoping they will finally release the results... but nothing! Instead we get report after report talking about more disasterous exploits being perpretated by the "Government!" [more farm seizures!] This is deliberate... they want us to come to terms with accepting them for another term... We currently donot have a government & we donot have a President! Zimbabweans! We cannot accept another five years of this! Mugabe MUST GO NOW!

[John C Zimbabwean In Exile 9 Apr 2008 10:21:35]

Mugabe has staged a silent military coup by by threating and implying military intervention and not not allowing the peoples duly elected President to take over and by not officially releasing the vote results showing that MDC have clearly won the election and Morgan the Presidency by a land slide even in the face of huge rigging and manipulation by Mugabe and Zanu PF . Mugabe and Zanu PF are shocked that even after rigging the vote by 30 % MDC and Morgan have still managed to get 50 % therefor in a faire and uncorrupted election They would have taken at least 80 % of the official Vote. How can Mugabe and Zanu PF be already contesting the results and talking of a run off when they have not been released the results, They are already intimidating their people again and claiming that the vote was unfair and arresting the electoral committee people because they did not cheat enough for Mugabe and Zanu PF. They are taking over white occupied farms again - there are not enough whites left in Zimbabwe to worry about they left with most of the educated uncorroupt non Zanu PF black Zimbabweans. The torture and murder they perpetuated is one thing but their manipulation of the economy, interest rates and currency rates that enabled them to cleverly rob the savings base of the country effectively stealing from pensioners and the whole population reducing them to pauper's has destroyed the lives of millions of Zimbabweans , white black and other - So called Black business people who aligned themselves to Zanu PF and profiteered and took over or stole farms, companies and businesses by intimidating owners and then borrowing funds from the Reserve Bank at 20 % interest rates in 100 000 % inflation and then paying back a fraction in real US$ terms due to enormous orchestrated Z$ currency devaluation's also need to be stripped of these assets. The new Government needs to nationalise all these industries, companies, houses and assets and then float them on the stock exchange and then take the funds raised and use them to recapitalise the pension funds and rebuild the farming and industrial sectors of Zimbabwe. Mugabe and all the Black and few white elite who have profiteered through the Mugabe regime at the expense of everyone else cannot be allowed to retain their ill gotten wealth they must account and be stripped of their privilege. Change would never have come to Zimbabwe without Morgan and the MDC supporters, they have sacrificed enormously for all of us. There are many heroes from this new Zimbabwe Cold War era from 1999 to now

[Pepper Rugby 9 Apr 2008 09:53:59]

Its a shame that the election laws have been breached in respect of results not being announced in the time they should have been. The will of the people is being undermined and if people dare say anything or try to protest they will lose their lives and noone in the outside world seems to care. how can peopl go against people with gun when they have no form of weaponery themselves. Western countries cry for human rights yet noone has done anything when its clear that people in zimbabwe`s rights have clearly been taken from them. Please help Them!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cath from south africa 9 Apr 2008 09:51:25]

Can you see on the banknotes that the money is only valid for 3 months? Part of the writing says "...pay bearer Z$750 000 on or before 30 June 2008" ! If you try to use it after that date - its not considered money! We were in Zimb 6 mths ago and found this appalling! Shows what a comic strip Mugabe has reduced the economy to

[Paul - Pretoria 9 Apr 2008 09:32:29]

I trust it has not escaped notice that Thabo Mbeki is doing exactly what Mugabe wants him to do.

Stall for more time so that he can steal the election.

[Archie Brown, South Africa 9 Apr 2008 08:18:20]

Tsvangarai is reported in South Africa as having met with Zuma and Mufemadi so I guess he is playing the one option open to him given Mbeki's intransigence and silent aquiesence - exploit the fight between Mbeki and Zuma. For as long as the SADC remains silent on Zimbabwe and does not take active intervention then I see no hope for the MDC. South Africa is key because through economic action it can force change just as Vorster did with Smith all those years ago. If Zuma takes the lead then I am sure,however reluctantly, the rest of the SADC will eventually fall into line but will he. Tzvangarai seems to be gambling on the infighting in the ANC and who knows what "promises" he can offer that could assist in Zuma's destruction of Mbeki.One thing is for sure. Until the SADC take positive action, Zimbabwe can forget about other players such as the UK or US getting directly involved. If their is bloodshed then maybe the UN but at the end of the day Southern Africa has to resolve its own problems and diplomatic pressure is about the only route that the West can take.

[frank, richmond, va, usa 9 Apr 2008 07:33:34]

At it's highest, the Rhodesian (not Zim) dollar was worth $1.72 American. Going back a number of years, when the Rhodesian pound was on a par with the British pound, the POUND was worth US$3, but that was back in the mid 1960's -- about the time of UDI. But it was not the Rhodesian pound which was decimalized -- it was the 10s note.

The Z$ has NEVER been worth US$3 -- not on the real market, anyway.

[Alvin 8 Apr 2008 23:17:58]

I feel ashamed for Mr Mugabe,he stated boldly that he was an honest man and that he would accept defeat,what now is he up to,honesty?.In an act of desparation he has planted the seed of hatred towards the few white farmers that have in loyalty and love of their nation stayed behind while others either fled or migrated,the sane seed of hatred that he planted in Matebeleland in the early 1980's.Gullible are those that choose to follow this aged dictator on his terror trail,for all that he does now is not for the good of the nation but for his own survival.I do hope and pray that the court in Zimbabwe is supreme in it's judgement and that it will show that even Mr Mugabe is not above the law.Even Mr Bill Clinton in his time was taken to court and suffered the humiliation of being broadcasted and demonstrated against.The people of Zimbabwe deserve to know the outcome of their vote Mr Mugabe,live up to your word and accept the defeat that you deserve.