Zimbabwe votes - In grip of corruption

Everything is relative and the corruption charges levelled at Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF by Zimbabwe’s opposition over this week’s elections are far beyond anything possible in a more developed country, though some Russians might disagree.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister, yesterday said there had been “monumental fraud” during a process which led to Mugabe claiming a “landslide” victory.

Monitors said the poll was seriously compromised and the US had expressed concern about its credibility.

Zimbabwe’s population seem in the unshakeable grip of Mugabe’s despotism and, unfortunately, the international community seems unable to respond in a way that might end their ordeal. It is a classic and tragic case of how unfettered corruption destroys a country.