You are in:
- Contents » Heroes and Villains
Mugabe's European Lesson
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe seems to have lost his country's election. He hasn't admitted defeat (though others in his government have), and most national governments are holding off from congratulating the opposition on peacefully removing from power one of Africa's most disastrous despots.
According to the British press, Mugabe is likely to try one last gambit. He will use the tried and tested trick of holding another vote and run against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a second round. His people claim Tsvangirai failed to win a clear majority, even though international observers put his results at 55-60 percent against Mugabe's 30 percent.
Wonder where Mugabe learnt the trick of asking the same question again if the answer the public gives you isn't the one you hoped for? Ask the Irish - or for that matter, the Dutch and the French, both of whom rejected the EU Constitution in 2005, but will not get the chance to vote on its replacement, the Lisbon Treaty.


