THE OPPOSITION GIVES UP IN ZIMBABWE: “This has been probably one of the saddest elections I’ve had to cover, because in following the struggles of democratic hopefuls against Mugabe, I have really learned that we can’t just write Africa off. In totalitarianism, there is always a critical low point where it is literally impossible for a people to fend for themselves against a government. . . . That’s why I am so disappointed that South Africa and other neighboring countries were so keen on ratifying this obvious mockery of electoral democracy.”

I’m deeply disappointed in Thabo Mbeki’s behavior. In covering for Mugabe, he makes me suspect his commitment to democracy at home.