Zimbabwe: it’s time to go in

Last week, as a result of an article written for The First Post, I was invited by the BBC World Service to argue the merits of using military intervention to topple Robert Mugabe's regime.

Somewhat reluctantly, and with weary awareness of the counter arguments, I called for anything from a military presence to enforce a fair run-off election later this month to a decapitation strike against the Zanu-PF leadership (resulting in arrests, ideally).

I made it clear that, for political reasons, military action would need to be African-led, but Western backed; that to baulk at the possibility of bloodshed was to ignore the reality that bloodshed is already happening in Zimbabwe, with increasing frequency and intensity; and, in summary, that the military option was only to be considered when all else had failed.

I should have been stronger. All else has failed.

It quickly became clear that few involved in the BBC discussion had the first clue what positive, non-violent steps could be taken. Between rehashing the cliche that white people must not get involved, and expressing their unquestioned belief that any kind of military action is de facto illegal, most contributors were really hoping the problem would somehow just go away of its own accord ­ - a view that is costing lives in Zimbabwe every day.

Mugabe's campaign is now being run by the state security forces. Dozens of MDC activists have been sadistically murdered. Thousands have been beaten; some, like the man pictured here, have had their arms and legs broken. And ten times more have been made homeless by Zanu-PF intimidation (making it impossible for