Zimbabwe's Mugabe Sworn in, Faces Trouble
By George Thomas and Sarah Pollak
CBN News
June 30, 2008
CBNNews.com - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe was sworn in for another term this weekend -- just moments after he had been declared the winner in what several world leaders called "a sham" run-off election.
The race was supposed to be between Mugabe and a candidate promising to bring democracy back to the African nation.
Under Mugabe's leadership, Zimbabweans have had to deal with skyrocketing inflation, little or no healthcare and very little food.
Most in the country are desperate for change.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the regime of Mugabe has been using intimidation, fear and violence against the opposition.
The crackdown getting worse by the day as the country got closer to the election.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he could no longer sit by while his friends and supporters were murdered.
He dropped out of the run-off election earlier this week.
"We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate, sham of an election process," said Tsvangirai, leader of Movement for Democratic Change.
Vimbai Tsvangirai, the daughter of the opposition leader, added her support to his decision: "He did not want to sort of run a country full of dead people, dead bodies. So he is more concerned about the safety of his supporters."
But Mugabe denies all charges of intimidation.
Once hailed as a liberating hero in the 80s, Mugabe is now being condemned by most governments around the world.
"We want the world to be speaking with one voice to condemn the violence and intimidation that has taken place against the opposition and also against the Zimbabwean people," a White House spokesperson said.
The UN declares that a fair presidential vote is impossible because of the campaign of violence waged by the Mugabe administration.
Even Africa's elder "heros of freedom" have added their voices to the global throng calling for change in Zimbabwe.
"We have seen the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbor, in Zimbabwe," Nelson Mandela said.
"He has certainly disappointed, distressed very very many people who had held him in very high regard as someone who liberated his country from the shackles of colonialism," said Desmond Tutu, South African Nobel Laureate and retired Cape Town Archbishop.
Mugabe has clung to his position for nearly 30 years-ruling with an iron fist.
The 84-year-old says he was appointed by god.
"He has, I mean, mutated into something that is quite unbelievable. He has really turned into a kind of Frankenstein for his people," Tutu said.
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