Zimbabwe is not like other countries that have fought for democracy and justice: because too few have actually fought. Too few have actually loved their country fiercely enough to put themselves on the line. The MDC and the NCA have tried so hard over the years, to mobilise the people of Zimbabwe to rise up – and got nowhere. Never more than a handful of people would turn up and face down the riot police. Strikes were called; they never happened until the jobs were in any case gone and people STILL turned up to earn non-existent salaries.

Intead, Zimbabweans who were educated, competent, healthy and strong simply walked away, in their millions. Leaving even fewer to stand up to Mugabe.

Without some level of mass domestic protest, it is not possible for international bodies – be it UN, AU or SADC to put pressure on Mugabe. Yes, he stole the election – but can you imagine what would have happened here in South Africa if (for instance) the apartheid Government had tried blatantly to rig the whites-only Referendum that set them on course to leaving power? The entire country would have been in flames within hours. It nearly was, when Chris Hani died; and while Morgan Tsvangirai is no charismatic leader in the Hani mould, for whom people would gladly lay down their lives, he is a personally courageous man for all his faults and he was, somehow, the only one that was there, standing up to Mugabe as a rival leader.

On the surface and in the world inhabited by multi-lateral agencies like SADC, ZANU-PF has substantial popular support and given that situation, the MDC really does have no choice at this stage. To say this is not to blame any Zimbabwean for not wanting to be killed, disappeared, tortured, beaten or sent to rot in a filthy, disease ridden jail. But facts are facts and it’s surely more important, now, to keep up the pressure on Mugabe’s corrupt officials, give a clear lead to international allies of democracy, and make sure that the MDC representatives in Government are given the opportunity to make a difference. Most importantly, to make sure that no election is ever stolen again in Zimbabwe.