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The crisis in Zimbabwe is no longer just about Zimbabwe. Leaders of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community called on the election commission to release the results "expeditiously".
Even by diplomatic standards, this was remarkably tame and Zimbabwe opposition leaders were disappointed that the region's leaders did not put more pressure on President Robert Mugabe.
South Africa, the economic and political powerhouse in the region, has been, publicly at least, curtailed in its criticisms. President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki angered Mugabe's opponents by describing Zimbabwe's election as "normal".
The people of the southern African region have a right to expect a regional body to stand up for them but more consideration seems to be given not to antagonise Mugabe than to protect the democratic rights of the Zimbabwean people.
Zimbabwe is in crisis but the response to its plight shows that the southern African region lacks the ability to tackle it.
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