Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Withdraws From Race
by Celia W. Dugger and Barry Bearak, International Herald Tribune, France - Only five days before Zimbabwe's presidential runoff election, the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced Sunday that he was pulling out of the race because armed forces backing President Robert Mugabe have made it clear that anyone who votes for Tsvangirai faces a real possibility of being killed.
Comments (3)
So this is what we've been fearing for months.
Why does Thabo Mbeki resist making any of the hard decisions that would pressure Mugabe to loosen his death grip on Zimbabwe? Why does the White House only say, "those thugs must stop their violence?" Where is the international community?
Obviously sanctions have done nothing but reinforce Mugabe's view of the colonizer/oppressor and help destroy the economy.
Where are the answers? The problems in Zimbabwe are not going to go away.
Posted by Sarah Mac | June 22, 2008 12:28 PM
It probably would have been virtually impossible to remove Mugabe from office by way of voting, but this news is devastating.
Posted by Ali Daniels | June 22, 2008 12:29 PM
My heart goes out to all those who have resisted and worked to bring peace and justice and freedom to Zimbabwe. I grieve with them as they decide what to do next. I send what comfort I can to those who have lost loved ones, been displaced, tortured, and abused.
Posted by Nancy Vining Van Ness | June 22, 2008 3:38 PM