Morgan Tsvangirai dropped his challenge to President Robert Mugabe on Sunday, meaning that Mugabe will run unopposed in Friday's runoff election - guaranteeing his reelection.
Tsvangirai said the cost to the supporters of his Movement for Democratic Change party had gotten too high. In recent weeks, forces loyal to Mugabe have waged a brutal campaign against MDC supporters, beating, raping and murdering them. Few people, aside from Mugabe's supporters, expected Friday's elections to be either free or fair.
So, for now, it looks like Mugabe's brutal campaign to stay in power has succeeded. Tsvangirai has called on the United Nations, the European Union and neighboring governments in Southern Africa to step up and put pressure on the Mugabe regime. But considering how Mugabe views world condemnation as a badge of honor, its hard to imagine some tough diplomatic words will convince him to loosen his iron grip on power.
His African neighbors could, in theory, have some impact on him though. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, so eventually to import or export anything it has to send them to ports in neighboring countries like South Africa. If these countries were to launch an economic boycott on Zimbabwe, close their ports to Zimbabwe's business that could have an effect. But that would also mean that Zimbabwe's neighbors would have to take strong, decisive action on behalf of the ideals of democracy and good governance, something they have lacked the courage to do so far.
So, for now, the people of Zimbabwe will continue to suffer so a pathetic old man can cling to power.
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