This is a fundamental failure of democracy without a doubt. Mugabe is a fool and a definite Idiot of the Month candidate. Ever since he placed the initial election under enough doubt to force what they call a "run off election", he's been a desperate man. Desperate to retain power and scared of the white man - the very people the opposition parties have shown the utmost respect for. Mugabe has constantly called the white man "racist". Without exception. Bluntly - he is the racist. He drove white men off the fields in his country - in the process depriving blacks of employment (hardly consistent!) - and did his best to get everyone not of coloured skin out of the country. Naturally he failed to achieve this because of diplomatic needs.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was scathing of Mugabe, but before he moved on he couldn't get enough agreement from other African countries to do something about it - even from neighbouring South Africa who have a serious refugee problem. This is the key - getting other African countries to agree. A hard battle but a key as Zimbabwe is a landlocked country.

Arms were blocked from entering South Africa not that long ago. The next stop as I understood it was Angola - which doesn't border Zimbabwe (transport would have to go through Zambia). The governments of Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique aren't very stable - certainly compared to South Africa. Nevertheless the tide is turning.

This man is a dictator. Now that he has retained power by force, there can be no more pussy footing around. The country must be cut off diplomatically, kicked out of the Commonwealth completely - and told to have free and independent elections immediately, or suffer sanctions. And if Mugabe calls that racist, I call him a murderer - and a reverse racist (if there is such a thing).

Our Prime Minister's call to "stop the violence" is no longer enough. Neither are the restrictions are already in place.

Robert Mugabe, you are an idiot. Pure and simple.