Mugabe Gets the Vote He Counted on

KAREL PRINSLOO / AP

Members of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC rallied against what they say was a rigged vote

Zimbabwe's parliamentary election was far more peaceful than the last couple of polls, but the result was the same. By late Saturday, President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party had won 78 of the 120 seats up for grabs. Together with the 30 M.P.s appointed by the President, that assures Mugabe a compliant parliament for another five years and gives him the two-thirds majority he needs to change the constitution.

While most Zimbabweans are preoccupied by domestic crises — such as 80% unemployment and widespread hunger — Mugabe, who has ruled since 1980, and his party...

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