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Some 40,000 farm-workers and their families have fled their homes in Zimbabwean election violence, a trade union official says.

"They have been accused of voting for the opposition. Most of them are either on the roadside or sheltering at some farms," said Gertrude Hambira.

Earlier, a South African observer said the country was too violent to hold a run-off in the presidential election.

There are reports that the poll could be delayed by up to a year.

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by June inflation in Zimbabwe will reach 500,000 per cent. All normal life will become impossible sometime before then. Mugabe’s rule can continue so long as there are well-armed and well-paid men willing to protect him, but we are now close to the Papa Doc model and rule by the Tonton Macoute. Mugabe has suffered a huge blow to his legitimacy both domestically and internationally and clings on only by brute force. Even Mbeki and SADC can’t really pretend otherwise.

Second, Mbeki’s great rival, Jacob Zuma, has picked up the issue and adopted a more critical attitude towards Mugabe. Zuma could be president of South Africa in a year’s time and there is a good chance that he will pull the rug from under Mugabe. One way or the other, the end game in Zimbabwe could be near. Whether it will be accompanied by a final paroxysm of terror as Mugabe realises he is cornered is an open question.

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[ 09 May 2008: Message edited by: jeff house ]

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it's noteworthy that Tsvangirai can't seem to organize any meaningful protest or fightback.

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I guess that's because the military is under control of Mugabe, and usually it is tough to stand up to machine guns and rocket launchers when you are unarmed.