The situation in Zimbabwe is getting hectic and very chaotic as the violence by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF militiamen and mobs with the assistance of the country’s military continue their violent, bloody, and murderous crackdown on members, supporters, and activists for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
Many within the MDC have been brutally hunted down and executed. The people of Zimbabwe were threatened with a brutal death if they did not vote for Mugabe in the June 27 runoff election. Mugabe has said that he would not cede power to opposition candidate and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai won the elections back on March 29; but, did not security the majority needed to avoid a runoff election.
Recently, Tsvangirai had dropped out of the race and has found asylum at the Dutch embassy.
As the international community one by one condemns Mugabe, South African President Thabo Mbeki is attempting one last negotiation settlement. Mbeki has been acting as the mediator so far. However, Mbeki has been criticized for his reaction and response to the violence.
According of the MDC, many of its people have been killed by Mugabe’s armed militias. The United Nations and various human rights groups blame Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party for the violence. Mugabe would possibly be tried on war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, Zimbabwe is not under ICC jurisdiction.
As the world prepares to condemn Mugabe, Mbeki is attempting one final shot at reaching out.