As an expert on Africa said on the news last night South Africa could bring Mugabe and Zanu PF down very quickly just by cutting off the electricity. After the collapse the surrounding countries would have to supply troops to oversee the re-establishment of proper governance although that is a rare state of grace in Africa these days.

Levenax wrote:
As an expert on Africa said on the news last night South Africa could bring Mugabe and Zanu PF down very quickly just by cutting off the electricity. After the collapse the surrounding countries would have to supply troops to oversee the re-establishment of proper governance although that is a rare state of grace in Africa these days.

I can see how that would work for trade and industry but what about the more vulnerable such as hospital patients children and the old.

There seems to be some movement on support for the MDC. On the lunchtime news Morgan Tsvangirai held a very interesting press conference after leaving the Dutch Embassy.
Mr Tsvangirai also listed four key demands that he described as a way out of the crisis.

* Violence must stop immediately - war veterans and youth militias should return home and checkpoints be removed
* Humanitarian assistance must be allowed into the country
* All members of parliament elected on 29 March must be sworn in
* All political prisoners, including the MDC secretary general, must be released immediately
Full article now at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7473429.stm
Gordon Brown has also decided to move to support the MDC too. The PM said they would include travel and financial restrictions and extend to "the criminal cabal" trying to keep Mr Mugabe in power". See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7473243.stm

The biggest problem will be with Mugabe's henchmen. While he may be able to negotiate a safe passsge for himself to some state still friendly to him I cannot see the same being extended to his closest cronies. They know they will face trial and possibly the death sentence - they won't give up without a struggle.

Brenna1508 wrote:
The biggest problem will be with Mugabe's henchmen. While he may be able to negotiate a safe passsge for himself to some state still friendly to him I cannot see the same being extended to his closest cronies. They know they will face trial and possibly the death sentence - they won't give up without a struggle.

On the other hand, they may see which way the wind is blowing and either disappear or "turn Queens evidence". Let's face it, Mugabe will not last, whatever the fallout.

dws commented: Let's face it, Mugabe will not last, whatever the fallout.
I agree the writing is on the wall for him. I think the biggest problem will be that the whole situation could degenrate into a bloodbath, as so many situations in other countries have. The fallout generally hits the public hardest.

Tsvangirai said that when Mugabe has gone he would want a truth and reconciliation programme set up as it was is South Africa after apartheid ended.

"The fallout generally hits the public hardest."

Very true Brenna, they usually pay with their lives in these situations. Truth Commissions won't be much consolation for them.

Methinks that Mr Mugabe will shortly receive his removal from office, very possibly via a sniper's bullet.

dws commented: Methinks that Mr Mugabe will shortly receive his removal from office, very possibly via a sniper's bullet.
I'm not so sure dw! The ones with the guns and bullets are Mugabe's henchmen and they have a vested interest in keeping him there.

Brenna1508 wrote:
dws commented: Methinks that Mr Mugabe will shortly receive his removal from office, very possibly via a sniper's bullet.
I'm not so sure dw! The ones with the guns and bullets are Mugabe's henchmen and they have a vested interest in keeping him there.

The bullet never comes from the front, always from behind. Maybe someone isn't happy being number two, or three.
Alternatively, a covert operation from an outside influence who wants a regime change. Very possible I would say...