If Zimbabwe's neighbours and their Western partners can agree on the demands of basic justice, jettison the inhibitions of the past and co-ordinate their efforts in the coming weeks and months, they can help to end this nightmare. These are big ifs, mainly because of South Africa's woeful failure to lead. President Mbeki's refusal to condemn Mr Mugabe outright or enforce meaningful sanctions on his Government has deprived the international community of its best levers against Harare.

Interesting fact about the British Queen giving him a knighthood in 1994.The world knew what he was like by that stage. Knighthoods are awarded only after the government of England check the person out, so they must of have thought, hey it's okay if this guy killed thousands of his own people, we like him. He sure would have made a great Sir Brit !