Anybody who follows world news will no doubt have heard today that Robert Mugabe's only opposition in the presidential run-off in Zimbabwe next week has pulled out because of the relentless intimidation and, in probably many more cases that we have actually been told of (given the news black-out that would probably give China a run for it's money), murders and torture of his supporters.

For those not in the know, the opposing leader's name is Morgan Tsvangirai, and his party is the Movement for Democratic Change.  The original election took place back on the 29th March.  After a few inexplicably long weeks, the result was announced that whilst the MDC had secured enough votes to take parliament, Mr Tsvangirai, although he'd beat Mugabe, couldn't take power because his percentage of the vote was just a shade under 50%.  I'd lay good money that those few weeks saw a little bit of 'tweaking' somewhere along the line to engineer such a result.  As a result, a run-off was declared.

Throughout the process then and since, there have been a few choice nuggets that have come either from Mugabe or from his supporters and staff.  Mugabe has said that he will never allow anybody else take power (whilst at the same time participating in so-called 'elections', and then denying that no rigging has taken place!), and his army chiefs have also said the same.  It would almost be brain and brawn, if Mugabe had any brains.

If you want to know a bit about their army and their intelligence operations, and the kind of 'persuasion' they extert over their people, I suggest you read this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6275152.stm.  Beware, it's a bit disturbing. The kinds of things that the army subjects their people to is nothing short of sick, and what's even worse is that it's either completely denied or ignored.  At least when teh Saudis behead somebody they justify it in some way, even if we still abhor such action.

In the last couple of weeks, the Mayor of Harare (Zimbabwe's capital) - a member of the MDC - has seen his wife kidnapped and murdered - can you believe it!?  All because some dirty scumbag despot can't bear to lose power?

The people of Zimbabwe are living in an economy of 100,000% inflation - we in the west can't even imagine this - but to illustrate it, that works out (roughly) to be 275% per day. So on monday you go to buy a loaf of bread for £0.80, and the next day it's going to cost you £219.  People now buy bread in slices - because a single loaf of bread is going to cost you around Z$7,000,000.  Oh yeah, you say, that doesn't mean anything because it's all relative - people just have bigger denominations of currency.

Yes, but when US$1 now buys you Z$50m, and when the GDP of Zimbabwe has continued to fall over the last few years, the actual country is in danger of simply going bankrupt.  Once a currency loses so much value so that you're dealing in the millions - then you might as well move to a barter economy, because the eggs that your chickens are laying are worth more per dozen than the entire earnings of your town!  But then the treasury can't collect tax on such an economy (what's the tax on an Egg/Bread swap?  A bean?) so then the country's finances basically stop, because nobody trusts the bills that the country's bank are issuing.

Zimbabwe used to be called the bread basket of Africa, it had fertile lands that produced enough food for the country, and its neighbours.  The big problem, unfortunately, was that the land was owned and managed, in the main, by white Zimbabweans.  Rightfully, there is a great deal of latent (and not so latent) anger at white colonialism and the after-effects of it.  Mugabe clearly harbours a lot of this anger, and a few years ago decided to start forcibly evicting these farmers from their land, 'giving it back to the people of Zimbabwe'.  This won him a lot of support, of course, however what he didn't tell them, was that he had absolutely no plans to move black farmers into the land in order to keep the food going!  Hence now Zimbabwe is almost entirely dependent on food aid in most cases.  So, my comment earlier on about him having no brains, I feel, is absolutely fair.  Only an absolute screw-loose could think that such a policy is not going to have a lasting effect.  Ultimately can he not see that once everybody starts starving, they will ultimately revolt, and no matter how many army-men he has to protect him, the whole country will tear itself part, probably taking him with it, as people decide that enough is enough.  Unlike some other African countries that are living in poverty, contemporary Zimbabweans have experience of better lives and a higher standard of living - he cannot surely believe that they will not strike him once he's taken every chance they have away of achieving such a life again!?

So the point of Mugabe, it seems, is to destroy Zimbabwe.  If he keeps going, he will literally have no country left to rule, and then what will he do?  Probably just gather up his luxury lifestyle and take it with him to South Africa which, I'm afraid, has shown itself to be absolutely spineless in this case.  Of course, I can see that there might be a dilemna there - the ANC were originally elected on a similar ticket to Mugabe - the taking back of South Africa by the blacks after so many years of apartheid - a shameful blot on the history of the world.  So it is probably felt that some political power might be lost with the people of South Africa, if they are seen to be criticising a man who purports to be fighting against the 'evil' influence of the west - with all the nasty memories of colonialism and white supremacy that phrase will conjure up.

However, I doubt the average black south african on the street would say that the people of Zimbabwe are being treated properly - and I doubt they he or she would say that mugabe is doing a great job.

But the real shame, I feel; the absolute elephant in the room, is us - and by us I mean the governments of the US, the UK, and other countries who pupport to be driven by a desire to make the world a better place by bringing democracy to the world yada yada yada.

So far, the west has successfully made it's image worse, in the eyes of the zimbabwean on the street, by embargoing the country.  This gives the psychotic Mugabe the ability to make speeches about how it's the west that wants to destroy the country.  What a cunning own goal.

There is probably more evidence, including people who've experienced it, of the cruelty and ruthlessness of the regime than there was of the same in Iraq. Despite bans on reporting, many news agencies have been able to get truly shocking reports of brutality out of the country - and Mugabe acts as if he's proud of himself.

Which leads me to my next point: where are you bastard hawks now!?  You people who said we should march into Iraq, blow the shit out of it, make loads of seriously dirty money rebuilding the place, to achieve 'regime change' - if such a mission is so damn noble why is this arrogant piece of sh*t still alive, or in power?  Why have we not marched an international army straight into the capital, extracted him from power, and installed a new government?  Arguably more people in the country will be supportive of such help than there are in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Also the country is not as torn over religion as the aforementioned countries are.  I can't imagine more than a small minority of zimbabweans (mainly his staff I should think) actually being bothered if he were simply to explode in a cloud of blood and guts.

Why is it, then, that we pussyfoot about?

Oh yeah - no natural resources, doesn't make it worthwhile does it.  Oh yeah, it's a country in Africa - only really interested in South Africa because they've got diamonds - other than that the continent doesn't really have a lot to offer does it.  And oh yeah, it doesn't have a religion that's incompatible with Christianity (if you doubt me, consider the Bush actually believes that he's doing god's will; and one of the 'great' republican presidents, Reagan, reportedly said that there was no need to save the world, because the end of the world would mean the Rapture - so any good christian didn't have to worry; I'm sorry but these people should never be given any position of responsibility).

Or could it be because 'we learnt our lesson from iraq'?  Seriously, what a load of bullshit!  With words being bounded around that sound very reminiscent of Iraq concerning Iran, I can't honestly believe that the desire for self-righteous action has abaited; nor our ability to justify it with half-truths and a cunning omission of facts.

It stinks, as far as I'm concerned.  I'm ashamed that my country has done absolutely bugger all to help the people of Zimbabwe get shot of this lunatic.  Americans should be ashamed too - after perpetrating such a farce as has been happening in the middle-east - the next real opportunity the American government gets to show that the country has a heart and is actually interested in making a better world, and the best it can do is some 'strong words'.

And Africa; you should be ashamed; yes the whites and the westerners of the past screwed much of Africa over - but that is no reason to allow a complete maniac, who is unable to let the past, and power, go, to persecute his people and ruin a once great nation.  I'm afraid Africa is going to get nowhere until you guys start actually working together.  Your individual country might well be doing okay, but if one of your neighbours is going into meltdown, then you should be making it a priority to put pressure on the government of that country to sort it out, or get out - because why the hell do want millions of new immigrants (or even refugees it would be fair to say) into your fragile, but growing, economy placing strain upon it?

 Sort it out, world - because right now there is hardly anybody really stepping up to get something done.  At this moment in time, talk is cheap, forceful action is required.  Even if it's funding an all-african invasion of the capital to eject him (probably better than a bunch of Americans and English steaming in), or if it's a clandestine assassination of him and his key staff, something most definitely needs to be done.

By his actions, his words, and the actions of those to whom he issues orders, I feel he has now forfeited his right to be dealt with as a leader of state; and he's very close to forfeiting his right to be treated as a human being. He is like an extremely violent, sadistic, spoilt little brat - I'm sorry Robert, but you literally bring nothing to the world except the stench of death.

It's time you were gone - take your little strops, your tiny little mind, and your hatefulness off to somewhere else - preferably 6 foot under ground.