Mugabe has called the bluff: UN to take decisive lead and MDC hold its nerve!

Mugabe has called the world's bluff. In the past he has called on his fellow African leaders to blink first- and without failure they did. Many of them have no democratic credentials of their own; still, this time Mugabe has gone too far, they can close their eyes to his brutal excesses. The UN and the rest must act decisively against Mugabe now, ahead of the AU meeting on Monday, to stiffen the AU resolve against Mugabe. Let the AU take a lead on this and Mugabe will once again have his way! The MDC for its part, must hold its nerve. The party was forced to withdraw from the election because of the campaign of violence and murder against its candidate and supporters. It therefore cannot recognise the run-off as anything else but a charade. The 29 March elections, although there were peaceful compared to past election, still they were not free and fair. Everyone except Mugabe and his Zanu PF supporters have been calling for a democratic constitution for years now. Well this is a wonderful opportunity for Zimbabwe to clear the deck, to have a clean start. Disregard the charade of the presidential run-off and put aside the results of the 29 March parliamentary and senatorial election which were not a true reflection of the free will of the people. There should be a six month Interim Government composed of all interested parties in Zimbabwe whose task will be to draft a new constitution and to organise free and fair elections. The government emerging out of this election will have the true mandate to take the tough decision facing Zimbabwe today and thus take the nation forward. MDC is in the habit, bad habit, of dithering and changing. It started the Zanu PF- MDC talks last with what many thought were a few "must have" demands only to give in to all of then. The whole world can take a tough stand against Mugabe but that will all come to naught if MDC show a willingness to appease and pamper him.

What Mugabe want is Mugabe led GNU. As a sweeter to MDC Mugabe will now probably appoint his own successor- a constitutional amendment agreed to by MDC last year- since neither he nor Tsvangirai would want to work together now. Of course MDC will have tacitly be accepted the charade 27 June election. The most important point however is, the GNU will be a weak and indecisive. Which is the very last thing Zimbabwe want right now!