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Is there any purpose in holding elections in Zimbabwe next Saturday? President Robert Gabriel Mugabe implies there is not, because he tells everyone he will win it. Not only that, but he will stay in power "as long as we are still alive". Although the "we" refers to those who took part in the liberation struggle, as he claims, it could also mean what is commonly referred to as the "royal we" - the speaker.
Mugabe does not tolerate opposition kindly and so gets his acolytes to undermine the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and threaten its supporters. This has happened in previous elections and there is no reason to think March 29 will be any different in Zimbabwe. Despite Mugabe claiming there will be free and fair elections, it is doubtful after 28 years of dictatorship style government, Mugabe knows what free and fair elections are.
With inflation running at over 100,000 per cent a year, little or no food in the shops, very high unemployment, agriculture virtually at a standstill (in a country that was once the breadbasket of Africa) things could not be worse for Zimbabwe. Except, of course, the expected sixth term in office of President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
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