New conflict
Renewed conflict between the largely white north and the largely black south looks like one of the more depressing results of the Zimbabwean election. The north has universally condemned the result as unfair and a mockery of democracy (president Bush made a particularly clear statement). African leaders have largely accepted the result as a fair reflection of the popular will. (It may make a difference that the Commonwealth observers have condemned the result.)
In addition to the diplomatic tussles, the split could be fatally damaging for the promising New Partnership for African Development (Nepad). Nepad is spearheaded by South African president Thabo Mbeki (who has yet to pronounce on Zimbabwe) and Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. A basic premise of Nepad is a commitment to good governance, which looks fairly pallid unless Mugabe is excoriated by his fellow African leaders.
4:38:17 PM 
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