2008 Woodie Awards
Zimbabwe's leader should yield to opposition party
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Editorials
The results of last weekend's election in Zimbabwe could terminate the 28-year reign of President Robert Mugabe after facing critical opposition from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. MDC leader and presidential hopeful Morgan Tsvangirai could bring hope and stability to the region, which could then revive the country's ailing economy. The MDC has already announced that it won enough votes Saturday to oust Mugabe. However, Mugabe refuses to cede defeat, and electoral fraud and vote rigging could slow the release of final results. The Miami Student editorial board encourages the continuation of elections, as it demonstrates that democracy can exist in Zimbabwe, particularly in light of country's economic instability.
Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe since 1980 after an extensive struggle against British colonial rule, which began in 1965. Infuriated by white minority rule, Mugabe led the Zimbabwean African National Union (ZANU) to victory by receiving the majority popular vote. Branding himself as a supporter of Marxism, Mugabe immediately began to implement a land reform policy by redistributing land previously owned by wealthy whites to blacks. The aggressive land distribution has virtually led to the collapse of Zimbabwe's main source of income: agricultural exports and commercial farms. Currently, Zimbabwe has the highest inflation in the world at more than 100,000 percent. As Zimbabwe continues in a fiscal downward spiral, a change in leadership could stimulate the country's economic policies. Under Mugabe, Zimbabweans are suffering from chronic shortages of food, water and electricity, and unemployment is running at 80 percent.
Tsvangirai represents a younger generation of Zimbabweans, interested in rectifying Mugabe's record of economic mismanagement. By working closely with industry leaders, who argue that market forces should be left to solve Zimbabwe's economic problems, Tsvangirai leans toward a more laissez-faire style. Whether or not Mugabe's opponents will successfully dethrone the 84-year-old ruler, the elections prove that democracy can survive in an African nation. As thousands poured into election booths to cast their vote, it's incredible to see how far Zimbabwe has come since 1980-and yet how much farther the country has to go. The international community must remain concerned over Zimbabwe's election in order to ensure fairness and equality.
Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe since 1980 after an extensive struggle against British colonial rule, which began in 1965. Infuriated by white minority rule, Mugabe led the Zimbabwean African National Union (ZANU) to victory by receiving the majority popular vote. Branding himself as a supporter of Marxism, Mugabe immediately began to implement a land reform policy by redistributing land previously owned by wealthy whites to blacks. The aggressive land distribution has virtually led to the collapse of Zimbabwe's main source of income: agricultural exports and commercial farms. Currently, Zimbabwe has the highest inflation in the world at more than 100,000 percent. As Zimbabwe continues in a fiscal downward spiral, a change in leadership could stimulate the country's economic policies. Under Mugabe, Zimbabweans are suffering from chronic shortages of food, water and electricity, and unemployment is running at 80 percent.
Tsvangirai represents a younger generation of Zimbabweans, interested in rectifying Mugabe's record of economic mismanagement. By working closely with industry leaders, who argue that market forces should be left to solve Zimbabwe's economic problems, Tsvangirai leans toward a more laissez-faire style. Whether or not Mugabe's opponents will successfully dethrone the 84-year-old ruler, the elections prove that democracy can survive in an African nation. As thousands poured into election booths to cast their vote, it's incredible to see how far Zimbabwe has come since 1980-and yet how much farther the country has to go. The international community must remain concerned over Zimbabwe's election in order to ensure fairness and equality.
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