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No Contest in Zimbabwe Elections after Candidate Drops Out
The violence that has gripped the African nation of Zimbabwe in recent weeks caused one of the two candidates to drop out of the presidential election--partly to save the lives of his followers. The election proceeded but people only had one choice on the ballot--Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe who was sworn into a new five-year term on Sunday.
Morgan Tsvangirai was set to run against Mugabe. Tsvangirai heads up an opposition party called the Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC. In March, he won an early election. This victory alarmed Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF, and violence erupted. Zanu-PF supporters have attacked supporters of MDC and election officials. About 90 of Tsvangirai's supporters have been killed.
The disturbing events in Zimbabwe have upset other African leaders. Nelson Mandela, a former president of South Africa, said that Zimbabwe is suffering from "a tragic failure of leadership." Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga says Mugabe should not be recognized as president. The United States has condemned the election as a "sham."
Mugabe, who's been Zimbabwe's president since 1980, was once hailed as a war hero. But under his watch, Zimbabwe has suffered. The educational and health-care systems have collapsed, and food is scarce. Because of the election, things could get worse. Many countries, including the US, may impose economic sanctions on the new government.
I'm Michelle and that's what happened in the world this week.
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