On most days I could probably just cut and paste one of my other assessments of Zimbabwe, replete with links to grim and unremitting stories, and not only would most people not notice, but the old narrative would more than likely hold. Following this campaign is endlessly frustrating and at times a bit soul sucking. On that note, here are today's links, commentary free because, really, the stories speak for themselves:
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its constituent nations have been pretty tepid in their responses to the Zim crisis. And yet somehow it appears that Zimbabwe is not living up to the standards SADC has set for the run-off campaign.
The threats against those who might support Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have become more blatant and transparent. Not that subtlety has ever been a hallmark of Robert Mugabe's supporters. Now the thugs are targeting not only opposition leaders, but also their families. The MDC is trying to use the courts to counter ZANU-PF's actions, which seems like it poses an uphill challenge, especially given how Mugabe has reiterated his promise that MDC will never lead Zimbabwe and has asserted that his supporters will take up arms rather than allow Tsvangirai to succeed him.
Meanwhile, in a classic example of spin so absurd it takes on a certain air of grandeur, Mugabe has argued that foreign aid agencies are using food as a weapon against him to try to remove him from office. Chutzpah, thy name is Mugabe.
The Americans and British continue to condemn Mugabe and the handling of the runoff. Mugabe probably does not feel especially chastened.
