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There are only 26 days until the Run-Off Election for position of President of Zimbabwe. Earlier in the year Morgan Tsvangirai leading the Movement of Democratic Change had the title of President stolen from him by a corrupt military junta. Statesman-like in his acceptance of the need for a run-off, Tsvangirai warned neighbouring states to send in their observers by the the 1st of June or they may as well not bother on account of the levels of violence already existing then.

More recently The Archbishop of Canterbury and The Archbishop of Cape Town have gone public over their difficulty to understand the lack of real effective action by the United Nations.

Well, I wonder. As the news trickles out of Zimbabwe over the next couple of days will it include the fact that observers are in place on the ground, that the military thugs have vanished into the night, and that peace and quiet has resumed? Or will we find this countdown to the 2008 Zimbabwean Presidential "Run-Off" Election becomes a diary of shame?

For the record this is a snapshot of the current position. State control mostly with horrific violence is being exerted over every possible organisation that is seen as pro democratic change.

This rather begs the question why bother with an election. But never mind that, the really interesting question is what concrete actions qualify you as being pro democratic change in the eyes of the current Zimbabean state.

Apparently gathering for prayer, and offering food, blankets and shelter to your neighbours in need sets you at odds with the government. It is strange really. That is the only thing that needs to happen. The government is unable on any scale to do it, so anyone who does becomes for them part of the opposition.

So with their backs against the wall, and I am guessing in the absence yet of international monitors, what have ZANU-PF been getting up to in recent days?

Councillor Under Torture The Zimbabwean 310508

Ah yes kill opposing elected officials by way of horrific publicly humiliating violence then no one will dare stand against ZANU-PF there again.

Electoral Cleansing The Zimbabwean 310508

You voted for change, right? No food for you then. We reward those who voted for ZANU-PF with food. So you MDC can starve a bit quicker now. Under 5 with mum or dad MDC? Forget any supplementary diet.

Public humiliating torture on a large scale The Zimbabwean 310508

NGOs and other independents estimate 1 in 10 of general population has suffered or witnessed torture.

Human Rights organisation themselves under threat The Zimbabwean 310508

So you say it how it is (after all it is a bit difficult to ignore hospitals full of torture, rape and beatings victims) or you hand out food -- didn't you stop to think that might be seen as critical of the government?

General tells soldiers to think of their pay cheque The Zimbabwean 310508

Never mind your pay will be worthless by the time you get home to spend it, never mind you will have to commit unspeakable horrors in the name of "freedom" you cannot wear a uniform and vote for change (ditto police -- story elsewhere).

Assassinations, Electoral Cleansing and Humanitarian Crisis Zim Vigil UK 290508

If Zimbabwe is not in a state of out and out genocide -- I am not sure what else would count.

Finally I note that creative and courageous leaders is being shown by many. For example this record of a protest by Women Of Zimbabwe Arise asking Zambia to life a finger to help from which I quote,

"The liberation of Zimbabwe will be achieved because of a variety of interventions, including:

• creative and courageous leadership in the opposition
• creative and courageous leadership in civil society organisations
• regional pressure
• international pressure
• internal pressure
• the withdrawal of co-operation by ordinary citizens
• the non-cooperation of the business community
• the withdrawal of support for Mugabe by the police and the armed forces

And I believe the most important of these is sustained internal pressure."

The reality seems to be that Mugabe and ZANU-PF really have lost it. The question remains how soon can they be brought to realise?