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There is practically no way the opposition could be any worse. Zimbabwe has the world's highest rate of inflation: around 100,000% annually. At the time of Zimbabwe's independance in 1980, the Zimbabwean dollar was slightly more valuable than the US$. Today, the offical exchange rate is Z$30,000/$1 US, but no one will actually change the currency for that rate. On the black market, I've heard the real exchange rate is about Z$300,000/$1 US.

Mr. Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition MDC, has to be admired for his persistence. The poor man has been beaten to a pulp regularly by the ZANU-PF thugs, but he keeps coming back. I've read that many outside of Zimbabwe worry that he may not be up to the task of actually running the country, but at this point he's the best hope the pepole of that ravaged country have. It will take years to rebuild what was once Africa's most prosperous country, but I think that rebulding has to start with Mr. Tsvangirai - for better or worse.

Just to give you a clue of how bad things are there: I've seen estimates that Mugabe's vote rigging could get him somewhere around 20% of the vote right off the bat. But, he still might lose! Can you imgaine a candidate starting with a +20% handicap and still losing?

I pray that the MDC will win despite the unfairness of the election. The thing I am most worried about is: what then? I just can't see Mugabe peacefully ceding power. But, it looks like the ranks of the ZANU-PF are starting to crack. Mr. Makoni's candidacy is evidence of that in itself.