Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has declared that because of the fragile and violent conditions in Zimbabwe the time is “not at all” right to hold the run-off elections. Erstwhile challenger Simba Makoni has similarly argued that because a free and fair election cannot be held, the runoff must be canceled. And yet that violence that helps fuel the fragility is intended precisely to destabilize the country. Not having free and fair elections is sort of the point.
Not holding the runoff, however precarious conditions may be, plays right into what Robert Mugabe wants. What possible motivation will Mugabe have ever to hold the run-off? Why would he not control violence so as to ensure that the time is never right? The argument becomes self-fulfilling.
No one wants to see the situation get worse in Zimbabwe. No one relishes what will almost certainly be an ugly week leading up to and following the runoff. But this is a process that must happen. Otherwise the message becomes clear: Violence stops change. The message needs to be that change can overcome violence.
