The Zimbabwean election countdown has come to a premature, but sadly predictable, end. The Guardian has posted this timeline detailing recent events and it’s depressing reading.
Christopher Hitchens recently asked the question “Why hasn’t Nelson Mandela spoken out against Robert Mugabe?”. It seems to be a fair question. A number of prominent African leaders, including Mandela’s wife and Thabo Mbeki’s brother, have given their support to a call to the end of violence in Zimbabwe. Madiba’s signature is notable for its absence.
Certainly recent events have shown that Mugabe remains obstinate in the fact of international approbation, however Zimbabweans would doubtless be heartened by the support of one of the world’s truly respected leaders.
