Agree with Oneword. Let's wait and see.

Gentlemen - with all due respect, you are being naive. If only half of the accusations of vote rigging levelled by a large number of civic orgnaisations are true, the voting process is already comprmised. Read this, and wonder. Want to know something else? SADC is turning a blind eye to all of this:

ZIMBABWE: Evidence of electoral rigging already emerging

Not naïve - just careful. That the vote will be rigged is a fact! I am afraid of Tsvangirai winning and the whole of the armed forces causing wholesale mayhem!

I see your point - but this is exactly the reason why the vote MUST be free and fair, otherwise we will have another Kenya coming our way.....I'm not sure the people will stand for another stolen Mugabe and ZANU-PF victory. I suppose it's a catch 22 situation: Damned if the vote is rigged, damned if it isn't because then those people who benefit most from Mugabe's patronage (army, police, green bombers) will take up arms. In this respect I was glad the ANC sent a strong signal to the Zim security establishment: Respect the vote. Will it make a difference? Not sure. But still, the starting point has to be a free and fair election, either way. If the process is not legitimate and flawed then either option is a continuation of the status quo, and ZIm ends up in a deeper crisis. I feel I'm preaching to the converted.

The longer I look at the conumdrum, the more I am thinking of a sort of Super UNTAG that will not only supervise the elections, but RUN the election to the exclusion of all party participation. I am aware that this is completely taking away the independence, autonomy and territorial integrity of Zimbabwe, but I cannot think of any other way of how to have the playing field can be levelled to some extent. I know it is unpardonable interference in the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation. I also know that - were to have been a good idea at all - it is much too late. Typical 20/20 hind vision. Maybe just a type of Rhodes mentality coming through.

I trust that the UN and all other so-called "interested bodies" (and countries) take due cognisance of the events as from this week onwards to see exactly what should have been done.

Blather and invoking all kinds of laws may not always provide the answer needed.......

leave zimbabwe to the zimbabweans. they have to sort it out by themselves.

Sure johannes105 - if they can actually do that. Now who knows.

Here we are speculating that Mugabe and ZANU-PF will rigg the vote, and all indications so far is that they will.

But there seems to be a change in tone, if not heart.

Mugabe actually said at a ralley in Bulawayo today that he expects the MDC to win the vote. I couldn't believe my ears, but this is what he said: "This time we are sure the MDC is going to win, ZANU-PF is split, split into two and some of the top leaders have left,". Could this be the beginning of the end for Mugabe and ZANU-PF? Have they finally seen that their end has come? If so, then there is yet hope that MDC will win and the result will be accepted.

I think this is what Oneword is alluding to: The possibility that although the vote itself will be deeply flawed, the parties will accept an MDC/Tsvangirai victory. Picture this: MDC/Tsvangirai win the elections, Mugabe accepts defeat and urges his party and its followers and the security establihsment to respect the result. Suddenly he is the democrat, the hero who was villified (also by myself I must admit) and can parade himself to the world as such. Mugabe is thus rehabilitated te hero he proclaims to be and can retire as an elder statesman. All his critics are left with egg on theifaces. Or is Mugabe bluffing? How do you read his comments?

Shebeen posted this: ZIMBABWE: Mugabe not expecting to win re-election

I very well share you calculated concern. If gold rusts how about tin, asked Bob at one point during jovial of times. Not knowing it will one day dawn on him. So, Namibia must refrain from much glee in a sense.

As I write this late on Sunday night all indications are of landslide win by the opposition MDC. But will ZANU-PF and mugabe accept the result, or will there be a military coup? The country is on a knife's edge. I hope reason and sense prevails. It appears that the people have spoken loudly and clearly through the ballot box: It is time for Mugabe and ZANU-PF to go.

For unofficial results in Zimbabwe's landmark elections go here: Zimbabwe Election 2008

These figures are compiled from offocial results posted outside polling stations throughout Zimbabwe.