Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, has pulled out of the run-off for the country’s presidency.
“We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent illegitimate sham of an election process.
“The courageous people of Zimbabwe, and the people of the MDC, have done everything humanely and democratically possible to deliver a new Zimbabwe and a new government.
“Conditions as of today do not permit the holding of a credible poll. Given the totality of these circumstances, we believe a credible poll is impossible.
“We in the MDC cannot ask [people] to cast their votes on the 27th [June] when that vote would cost them their lives.
“On 27 June Mugabe has declared war, and we will not be part of that war.
“Our victory is certain, but it can only be delayed.”
We in Britain are lucky that we can say what we like about Prime Minister Gordon Brown. We can criticise him, and if we don’t like his policies, we can get rid of him in an election. However, the people of Zimbabwe do not at present have the same option. Enough said.