Change All Around

So, is this truly the end of an era or do we wait and see?

Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, has pretty much ruled the country for longer than I've been alive. He's do so with reported acts of intimidation and violence across the country. The 2008 election was the most recent evidence of his unwillingness to accept defeat at any cost. With two elections giving Morgan Tsvangirai a clear lead (but not a 50% plurality) reported violence, kidnapped media and Tsvangirai fleeing the country dominated the goings-on the economically depressed African country, Major diplomats, including former UN head Kofi Annan, attempted to foster a multilateral approach to government. Meetings were held, the situation was discussed at conference, Mugabe continued to be vilified in the media (aside from the state-controlled Zimbabwean media). Leaders banded together to send a strong statement that they refused to acknowledge his legitimacy as leader of the country. Lots of words, not much else though (Zimbabwe, unlike Iraq, doesn't have any oil reserves to warrant an invasion, freeing the people from tyranny). Parade magazine listed him on their Ten Worst dictators lists for the past several years. Mugabe was banned from entering many countries, including the U.S. and the U.K. The only vocal ally was former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who has since been ushered out of power.

Well, in September Mugabe and Tsvangirai came to an accord, brokered by Mbeki, to share power in the country. Tsvangarai was sworn in February 11, 2009 as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. Let's hope it work out.