Conditions Deteriorate in Afghanistan | India Rocked By a Wave of Terrorist Attacks | Iraq on the Path Toward Effective Leadership | Hopes Are Dashed for Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians Under the Bush Administration | Kosovo Declares Independence | North Korea Continues Roller Coaster Diplomacy | Changing of the Guard in Pakistan | Putin Retains Power | Russian-Georgian Conflict | Turmoil Within South Africa's Ruling Party
Elections
Fail to Bring Change or Hope to Zimbabwe If it's possible, the
quality of life deteriorated further in Zimbabwe in 2008. Zimbabweans,
clearly fed up with the economic collapse and the lack of available
necessities, expressed their anger at the polls in March 2008's
presidential and parliamentary elections. Morgan Tsvangirai, the
leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, defeated the
84-year-old president, Robert Mugabe, 47.9% to 43.2%. Because neither
candidate received a majority, a runoff election was necessary.
Campaign of Violence Against the Opposition After the
initial election, supporters of Mugabe began a brutal campaign of
violence against the opposition. Tsvangirai fled the country, fearing
assassination. In the lead-up to the runoff election, police
intensified their crackdown on Tsvangirai and members of his party.
Tsvangirai withdrew from the race in June, saying he could not subject
his supporters to violence and intimidation. He also said he refused
to take part in "this violent, illegitimate sham of an election
process." Mugabe was elected to a sixth term, taking 85% of the vote.
International outrage followed, and Mugabe and Tsvangirai agreed to a
power-sharing deal in September that called on the leaders to share
executive authority, with Mugabe as president and Tsvangirai as prime
minister. Negotiations over control of the country's ministries
dragged on for the remainder of 2008 without resolution, stalling the
implementation of the agreement. As if life weren't unbearable
enough in Zimbabwe, with its residents facing hunger, empty store
shelves, a nonexistent health system, rampant unemployment, inflation
a staggering 231 million percent, and the obvious political
instability, a cholera epidemic broke out in August 2008. At least 800
people died from the disease by the end of the year, and another
12,000 were infected. For more about Zimbabwe:
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