I can retract my criticisms like the big boy I am.

China has been playing a positive role in the Zimbabwe crisis.

(Of course, Thabo Mbeki, the soon-to-be-former South African president, is the source.)

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Al Jazeera reported on Monday that ‘Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president, is set to sign a power-sharing deal with his long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai in a bid to end the country’s political turmoil triggered by his controversial re-election.’

The re-election of Mugabe was controversial because he was not re-elected, yet refused to step down nonetheless. (more…)

In a move that is reminiscent of Darfur and the Congo the just “reelected” President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, has come up with a new tactic to assert the power he so blatantly stole:

Mugabe thugs raping teens: aid staff

DOZENS of teenage girls have been made pregnant after being taken into the bush and raped in torture camps by President Robert Mugabe’s youth militia operating near Mudzi, a town 160km northeast of Harare, human rights workers allege.

Read the rest on: Freedom’s Cost

And no, they weren’t even sarcastic: ‘Robert Mugabe was hailed a “hero” by Africa’s longest-serving head of state as he joined his fellow leaders at an African Union summit.’ (more…)

Graham Reilly writes that it’s time for Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president, to go. The onetime hero has developed into a bloodthirsty tyrant, whose militias are intimidating, torturing and killing members of the opposition. The only question is, how can Mugabe be removed from power? (more…)

‘What we see in Zimbabwe today is naked political terror, orchestrated solely to extend the reign of a once legitimate but now illegitimate ruler who has led his people to a hell on earth. Destitution, murder, rape and mass beatings are the order of the day, and a so-called election this Friday which is now the barest sham,’ Timothy Garton Ash writes. (more…)

Robert Mugabe is poised to further extend his disastrous rule of terror. Will the West act? No. By Jason Steck, managing editor. (more…)

Zimbabwe is preparing for what may be the closest election yet for ruling party leader Robert Mugabe. The elections take place in the midst of a crippling economic crisis, with food and other essentials scarce and the Zimbabwean dollar nearly worthless.

Mugabe has systematically decimated what used to be a vibrant and productive agricultural sector in Zimbabwe. He has also ruthlessly repressed political rivals, with politically motivated violence and other forms of thuggery rampant in the country. Increasingly, Zimbabwe is beginning to resemble the sad state of Uganda under Idi Amin. Only the hope of heightened international attention holds some slight promise to force his government to allow fair elections and honor the results.