MDC's next move is uncertain

Zimbabwe's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, is contesting the results of Thursday's elections, but leader Morgan Tsvangirai is not making it clear what he plans to do about it. There is no doubt that fear of Mugabe's brutality is pressuring him to keep quiet, but his supporters seem to be ready to do whatever is necessary to keep the ZANU-PF from maintaining its 2/3 majority in parliament, which gives it the authority to rewrite the constitution, thereby crushing any hope of reform.

In the streets, his [Tsvangirai] supporters were listening to results trickle in and waiting for a sign. Shepherd Matetsi, a 26-year-old mechanic, could not believe that ZANU-PF won his riding, and he was asking in the streets all day yesterday for news.

"We're waiting for word from Tsvangirai. If he gives the word, we will go to the streets," he said in the early evening. "But up to now he hasn't said anything. If he calls us, we will go — although there is some risk [to] life. But he hasn't called."

The above quote really gets to me emotionally. This is a sign of the desperation of this people. They are fully prepared to risk their lives to let the world know that they will no longer tolerate violence and repression from Mugabe. Whether or not the situation will play out in a Ghandi-esque manner is up for debate.

Mr. Tsvangirai said the opposition had a plan, although he refused to say what it was.

But by fumbling through the day, they appeared to be squandering a prime moment to move, with a rare group of international observers and journalists ready to record their moves.

The MDC leader is in a difficult position. He has already once been charged with treason, and faced the death penalty had he been convicted; the government would be delighted with another such opportunity to try him, should he speak urgently of revolution.

It all seems to hinge on whether or not the world community would be willing to speak its outrage at any move Mugabe would possibly make against protest by the opposition. Tsvangirai is in a tight spot to be sure, but so were all the other great peaceful protestors throughout history. If the people are on his side, I say Godspeed. Were South Africa to change its position and voice the concerns of the West, it may just give the opposition the edge it needs in this current standoff. Yet, the fact that Zimbabwe's neighbor to the south had already made up its mind about the "fairness" of the elections even before they were carried out is anything but comforting...