I have been following the tragic situation in Zimbabwe over the last month. On Monday, it was reported that the opposition candidate to the current government headed by Robert Mugabe had left the race. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, reportedly withdrew from the race due to the extreme violence against MDC members and supporters of his campaign. In a statement, Tsvangirai said that the MDC “will no longer participate in this violent illegitimate sham of an election process”.
In March, Tsvangirai won 47.9% of the vote over that of Mugabe's 43.2%, which necessitated a run-off. With the lead, Tsvangirai claimed to have won a narrow first-round majority.
Since the election in March, MDC members and supporters, including prominent activist were 
subjected to arrests, beatings and killings during the campaign period for the second round of the election. A map of the murders that have occurred during the election is being maintained by Sokwalele, Zimbabwe Civic Action Group.
Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council issued a statement condemning the campaign of violence Robert Mugabe's’s government and running political party (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)) are committing against his political opposition ahead of the second round of the Presidential elections scheduled for 27 June, which has resulted in the killing of scores of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans and the beating and displacement of thousands of people, including many women and children.
In the statement, the U.N. Security Council also condemned the actions of Mugabe and his Government that have denied its political opponents the right to campaign freely. Finally, it called upon the Zimbabwe government to stop the violence, to cease political intimidation, to end the restrictions on the right of assembly and to release the political leaders who have been detained. Full text of the statement can be read here.
The latest reports out of Zimbabwe are that Morgan Tsvagirai is currently taking refuge in the Dutch embassy due to concerns for his life. CNN reported in a story today titled “Tsvangirai 'being hunted by troops'”, that the MDC leader had left his home just moments before soldiers arrived to arrest him. There are concerns that Mugabe’s soldiers might attack the embassy in an effort to capture Tsvangarai.
A suggested blog to follow for developments in Zimbabwe which is also maintained by the Zimbabwe Civic Action Group called “This is Zimbabwe” can be visited by linking here.
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