Zimbabwe's state of despair

From ALL AFRICA, AFP:

HARARE (AFP) — Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai launched a scathing attack on President Robert Mugabe's rule of Zimbabwe Friday, saying he had transformed a country rich in natural resources into a "state of despair".,,,

"We have the world's highest inflation rate, 80 percent unemployment, an education sector which has plummetted from one of the best to one of the worst."

Tsvangirai said there could be no justification for the mess in the country which was regarded as a post-colonial role model in the first decade-and-a-half after independence from Britain in 1980.

"We are a rich country with natural resources. We have the resources to attract foreign investors," said Tsvangirai.....\Tsvangirai fell just short of an outright majority in a first round of voting on March 29 needed to avoid a run-off.

But his MDC wrested control of parliament from Mugabe's ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front) in a simultaneous legislative poll.

"We conducted an opinion poll recently and it indicated that Zanu-PF is going to win the forthcoming elections resoundingly," said Ndlovu.

"The electorate has built hope in us because we have put in place measures that are protecting them against the ever-increasing cost of living."

The period since the original polling day has been marked by a steady rise in political violence which the MDC says has seen more than 50 of its supporters killed by por-Mugabe militias.

"The violence that is taking place must stop. There will be no tolerance or amnesty for those who torture or injure or kill other citizens," said Tsvangirai.

"Zimbabweans who are attacking other Zimbabweans must cease and desist now."