Speak out to Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's electorate goes to the polls on March 9 and 10 to elect the next president. The signs that the process will be sufficiently free and fair to reflect the people's will are not good. The campaign has been marked by substantial intimidation through deadly violence and related measures on behalf of the ruling ZANU-PF party in support of the re-election of Robert Mugabe. International monitoring and observation efforts, particularly those of the European Union, whose delegation was forced to return home, have been substantially frustrated.

President Mugabe and other leading figures have reacted defiantly to the warning sanctions that the EU and the United States imposed on them personally. The Commonwealth summit has been unable to reach a consensus on meaningful action. Despite the violence, intimidation and rigging, there is still a possibility that popular sentiment can be expressed through the ballot box. The key will be the size of voter turnout and the degree of influence that can be exerted to ensure a reasonably accurate count. Influential global leaders, not only those from Western countries but also importantly Africans, should use the airwaves to reinforce the message that this election is critical for Zimbabwe and southern Africa and that the international community is deeply concerned. Zimbabwe's citizens should be encouraged to cast secret ballots, and the country's authorities left in no doubt that the results will not be recognized if the election is stolen.

Neither South Africa, nor other member states of the Southern African Development Community, nor influential Nigeria have yet taken public measures. They should say that they will not whitewash a stolen election.