Zimbabwean Elections in Doubt

While some reports indicate that the Zimbabwean opposition, led by Morgan Tsvangirai will participate in the runoff elections on June 27 and is urging his supporters to participate despite the threat of violence, some reports are suggesting that he might pull out because even the opposition realizes that this is nothing more than a sham election since Mugabe has no intention of abiding by the results.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is considering pulling out of next week’s runoff presidential election, a party source told Britain’s BBC network Friday. Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe said he won’t retire until he is sure that “the land is truly and safely in the hands of the black majority,” state media reported Friday.

South African radio said Tsvangirai was citing the escalating violence against his supporters by followers of Mugabe as one reason for pulling out of the runoff election.

Senior MDC leaders were meeting in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare to discuss whether or not to take part in the run-off, the BBC reported. It was not clear if a decision would be taken at the meeting.

More than 70 opposition supporters have been killed since the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections, the opposition has reported. Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party has held the opposition itself responsible for the violence.

Apparently, Tsvangirai and the opposition isn't sufficient black enough for Mugabe, whose economic policies have included forcible removal of white landowners from their lands and installing his cronies in government positions.

Mugabe's thugs have rolled out all manner of charges and intimidation against the MDC, including claims that they are engaging in treason and subversion and vote rigging, despite the clear evidence that the only group engaging in such activities are Mugabe's own ZANU-PF thugs.

UPDATE:
Added the photo of Tsvangirai.