No-one can hold back His hand or say to Him,
“What have you done?”

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30

However I know that my grief is slight, my mettle untested, my stomach full and my savings ample. Neither has my body received new injuries nor disease by way of viscious state sponsored persecution. My losses are as nothing compared with those of the people of Zimbabwe, in recent weeks all the more incredibly more so.

Tomorrow night if God is willing my church management team meets in Aylesbury, England, and we will spend some time holding the people of Zimbabwe in our prayers asking for God’s protection in renewed measure at this awful time.

May the Father of orphans, the Husband of widows and the Provider for refugees bring Sanctuary to all His people — soon and very soon. May the Prince of Peace restore honour to the people of peaceful struggle — soon and very soon. May Zimbabwe’s neighbours, people and countries around the world, spare no effort on her behalf — soon and very soon. May Zimbabwe once again and with true justice, righteousness and integrity be the breadbasket of Africa — soon and very soon.

In terms of strategy, MDC should intensify its diplomatic engagement for the ZEC to declare no elections on 27th because of the political environment. Set a new date, and agree to a robust opening of the space, allowing UN, SADC, AU,, CHURCH and other observors, opening the airwaves, arresting those militias etc.

Zimbabwe is on the UN Security Council Agenda tomorrow, and broader sanctions are already being discussed in the EU. The country is not governable anymore for ZANU-PF.

AU should support Zambia’s leadership in SADC and review the composition of the mediation team. Mbeki is discreditated, and should not be allowed to continue. Zimbabwe needs a fresh political mediation team.

Its a tough time for the nation. Zimbabweans continue to say No to violence!!

Looking ahead – there will be victory jubilation in the ZANU camp, especially amongst the foot soldiers, with their illiterately conceived notions of self importance vindicated. Then, it will be back to aimlessly roaming the streets, unemployed and being a ‘normal’ Zimbabwean. When they start feeling the pinch, and this being more so when their ’service’ pay over the past weeks ceases, they will make demands for further compensation, arguing that the government is indebted to them for thwarting the MDC threat. The government will either be expensively blackmailed by war-vets, greenbombers and youth militia, or dangerously ignore them. ZANU-PF have got their hands full!

Quite obviously Bob won’t want to keep it, but he could have a real snag.

Also I expect, that the naive and stupid ZANU PF supporters are gleefully anticipating normalisation of things, like inflation, since there is no longer any electioneering. What a surprise they are going to get!

They don’t understand that growth of any sort, aid included, generally requires assurance of “good governance” – and that most emphatically is NOT one of Bob’s strengths!

One of the other commentaries somewhere on this site suggest that Bob has unleashed a monster bigger than he is. I think that is a distinct possibility.

So, Bob for 5 more yrs, I don’t think so. But keep your heads down the good people of Zim, and MDC – it might be quite a ride!

Lastly, it delights me to note that Bob practically has no meaningful international friends left. (I don’t count Mbeki as meaningful, although, God knows, he did nothing to help the Zimbabwean people.) Bob’ll be winging this alone, methinks!

An awful decision for the MDC to be faced with, and I desperately hope that finally the rest of the world will stop their cowardice and intervene in whatever way the Zimbabwean people want them to.

I have thought the reaction on the bbc today, particularly the interview with David Milliband a few minutes ago, has at least been good. England means very little of course – despite Mugabe’s belief – we’re a tiny country with very little sway in the world. And despite us holding the deeply shameful position we do in the history of your country.

I’ve read all the posts and comments here, every night since March. I’ve followed all the articles in the Guardian, the BBC, and the African papers this site has given links to.

I haven’t written in before because this is not my tragedy, and I haven’t felt I have the right. I have never lived in Zimbabwe, don’t have friends in Zimbabwe, and have never even visited. What possible solace can it be that a random bedridden woman in England thinks of and hopes for you and your country constantly. I’ve wished so often I could walk and do something, however small, to help.

So I don’t know why I’m writing now! I just couldn’t hold myself back on this momentous day from expressing my enormous admiration for you all, your extraordinary courage, persistance and patience.

I also wanted to ask if the information given a few weeks back about a fund that could be contributed to is still working? I have a pathetically small amount but would love to contribute something…

My unending admiration and prayers for whatever is to come.

My heart cries out for those who have been tortured, raped, displaced, starved, beaten, bullied and intimidated. But take heart, for Ghandi showed that victory is achieved by those who follow the righteous path, not by those who hit hardest.

The world prays for you Zimbabwe. May God be with you and give you the energy to keep going in your struggle.

But, speaking from the outside, this does seem to be the right thing. The courage of the MDC resistance makes one want to fight on. I do not doubt that people would have struggled with their last ounce of strength to vote for change. But, it’s become clear in recent days that they were never going to get that chance. We already saw, from the previous election, that the “logistics” create too many points when manipulation and blatant rigging can occur. As Tsvangirai says, people will simply be prevented from getting to the polls, and will vote on the clear understanding that their vote will not be secret. It’s too much.

And I agree that his willingness to lay down his own chance at power for the sake of his people is the mark of true leadership.

Mugabe has invited God to remove him – out of his own mouth came words of blasphemy like none ever before spoken, even by the most lunatic warlords of Africa. May it be so, and soon.

The challenge is getting the SA govt to wake up.

A friend

Mugabe and his military junta will have to wrestle with governing and controlling a nation of lawlessness and ecconomic collapse on their own. And there is some poetic justice in this, in that over the past couple of months they themselves have made their task all the more herculean.

It does show that MT is somewhat different to some of his African contemporaries in that he is willing to sacrifice power to protect the people, rather than fight for the presidency until the end despite the consequences. That deserves a great deal of respect in my mind.

I cannot imagine what happens next.

God help Zimbabwe

The most obvious route is via the UN. So I will be lobbying my representatives to get this nightmare pushed up the Agenda.

Meanwhile, the support from outside of those who have been arrested or are otherwise in danger should continue with redoubled efforts.