Morgan Tsvangirai, opposition leader of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has decided to drop out of the run-off election in the race for the Zimbabwean presidency. It was reported just two days ago that Tsvangirai was considering pulling out of the run off, but the New York Times has confirmed that he will. At a press conference stated that he was not going to encourage supporters to go out to the polls, “when that vote will cost them their lives.”

It is no secret that Robert Mugabe has had member of his party arrest anyone from outside his country distributing food to the Zimbabwean people. Mugabe has been in power since he was elected prime minister in 1980 soon after the Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. So far in this primary season in Zimbabwe, 86 people have been killed as Tsvangirai has one past run offs against Mugabe only to have the result contested by Mugabe’s party.

European nations as well as the United States want to bring the crisis to the UN Security Council (which Zimbabwe’s neighbors oppose) yet Zimbabwe’s neighbors such as South African President Thabo Mbeki has called for sanctions on the country. Although some were speculating that the political situation in Zimbabwe could result in power sharing similar to the current situation in Kenya .

With Tsvangirai’s departure from the race confirmed many can only pray for Zimbabwe. Either the sanctions must prevail and pressure future fair elections or the world may have to wait for Mugabe’s death, similar to the shadow of Father Time emerging in Cuba. Maybe…just maybe, Tsvangirai can use this opportunity to advocate for Zimbabwe’s voiceless and corrupt political structure to the rest of the world and emerge as a hero and the premier presidential candidate during his country’s first real fair election.

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