# How is the Zimbabwe election going to shake out -- end for Mugabe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 2, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694 "2008-04-02T17:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/61 "2008-06-27T22:07:19Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Yeah, since the end of apartheid, South Africa has been Mugabe’s strongest supporter. [/QUOTE] The ANC very recently (some days ago maybe) finally declared that it couldn’t support Mugabe any more. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/62 "2008-06-27T22:11:09Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] No protests or riots on the ground – yet. [/QUOTE] Any airborne melees? (I made fun of George Bush for referring to Mugabe intimidating people “on the ground” in Zimbabwe, so it’s equal time for you.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/63 "2008-06-30T04:13:40Z")
At any rate, it’s to Obama’s credit that he has been [a leader on this issue.](http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/333223) ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/64 "2008-06-30T04:47:46Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] At any rate, it’s to Obama’s credit that he has been [a leader on this issue.](http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/333223) [/QUOTE] A toothless resolution in 2007 condemning Mugabe? I’m not particularly impressed. Did Obama take any further steps afterwards? While I guess it’s better than completely ignoring the issue (as other politicians have) I can’t agree with The Nation that he was particularly prescient or at “the forefront”. Mugabe’s been a problem going a lot further back than a year ago. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/65 "2008-06-30T18:07:46Z")
[QUOTE=cckerberos] A toothless resolution in 2007 condemning Mugabe? I’m not particularly impressed. Did Obama take any further steps afterwards? While I guess it’s better than completely ignoring the issue (as other politicians have) I can’t agree with The Nation that he was particularly prescient or at “the forefront”. Mugabe’s been a problem going a lot further back than a year ago. [/QUOTE] Yes, but Obama hasn’t been in the Senate that long, and nobody else was even paying attention to the issue. A “toothless resolution” is quite an accomplishment for a freshman senator. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/66 "2008-07-02T06:22:45Z")
So is this all over? Mugabe doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. His opposition is powerless. No other country is really doing anything except for saying “shame on you!” Zimbabwe will be old news in a month. Mugabe will die in five years, and then Zimbabwe will see real suffering. Someone might actually do something, then. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/67 "2008-07-02T07:18:45Z")
Kudos to [Botswana](http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20080702060336204C465570), at least they and a few others aren’t afraid to stand up to Mugabe. ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/68 "2008-07-11T08:01:01Z")
Now there’s talk of a looming [civil war](http://http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=vn20080711063356596C773708). > [@](#): > > Zimbabwe now stands on the brink of civil war. > > This is the dire warning contained in a fresh report on the political and security situation in Zimbabwe, where desperate MDC supporters are said to be taking the fight to “state-sponsored goon militias”. > > The report - a collaborative effort between the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Africa Policy Institute (API) - was released on Thursday in Johannesburg. > > Its authors warn that, as a peaceful solution to the political impasse remains elusive, the spontaneous, retaliatory violence allegedly perpetrated by frustrated MDC supporters is starting to show signs of greater organisation, setting the scene for an all-out civil war. Good for the SA arms business, I guess. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/69 "2008-07-11T15:00:43Z")
[QUOTE=Mellivora capensis] Good for the SA arms business, I guess. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Especially if they sell to both sides. Why not? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694/70 "2008-09-12T14:59:05Z")
Update: Apparently [Mugabe and Tsvingirai have worked out a power-sharing deal,](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091100726.html?hpid=moreheadlines) but details remain undisclosed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-zimbabwe-election-going-to-shake-out-end-for-mugabe/443694.md?page=3)