After years of political violence, rigged elections, land seizures and an all-encompassing war against every instrument of a democratic state, the outside world is finally responding to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

The Commonwealth of Britain's decision to suspend Zimbabwe from its ranks is a welcome message for Zimbabwe's leadership. While the troubled nation has already lost all good standing in the world community, the concerted efforts of international bodies and individual nations are needed to foster immediate change and urge African leaders to condemn Mugabe's tactics.

From March 9 to 11, international observers witnessed the means Mugabe is willing to employ in his attempts to maintain power. Intimidation, fraud, massive disenfranchisement and physical attacks by Mugabe's Zanu-PF party were the recurrent themes during the three days of elections. Amnesty International reported that 1,400 polling agents and observers were arrested during the course of the election. After a chaotic period of recounts and legal challenges, Mugabe won a sixth term as president.

Despite this systematic abuse, South Africa, Nigeria and the Organization of African Unity deemed the results fair and democratic. While Nigeria and South Africa have renounced this position and now support the Commonwealth's action, their original apprehension toward denouncing the election process speaks volumes. Mugabe enjoys support from many elites in African politics for his involvement in the guerilla war against British rule that resulted in the independent Zimbabwe of 1980. Others have hailed Mugabe's unyielding support for African sovereignty. President Benjamin Mpaka of Tanzania wrote to Mugabe, "You have been firm defending the inalienable right of the people of your country to free, democratic, and sovereign governance. Your firmness was good for all of Africa."

Based on past injustices, Western support for brutal dictators and rebel commanders, such as the recently deceased Jonas Savimbi of Angola, a questionable commitment to foreign aid and filching of African resources, many African leaders are uncomfortable with Western involvement in domestic affairs. Many are extremely uneasy with aligning their opinions and support behind a West that has repeatedly abandoned and mistreated Africa. While this apprehension is rational it must not obstruct the foundation of an international movement opposing undemocratic practices in Africa.

The West does not escape blame for this mistrust. While the troubles in Zimbabwe have received significant attention this focus has been absent in equally abhorrent situations. Elections in Kenya, Uganda and Madagascar have all involved varying degrees of government impropriety and suppression of dissent. Yet, any outrage has been muted. The possible reasons for this discrepancy are troubling.

Many have suggested that Prime Minister Blair's and President Bush's concern over Mugabe has little to do with a stolen election but is instead related to their shared belief that Mugabe's defeat would serve as an economic boon for the West. Movement for Democratic Change presidential nominee Mogran Tsvangirai would have ushered in a pro-Western government in Harare. With its rich natural resources and well-educated population Zimbabwe could serve as a powerful catalyst for Western corporations in the region. If the West is truly interested in stimulating democratic reforms it must not be selective in its enforcement and outrage.

The people of Zimbabwe have no trust in Mugabe. A diverse coalition, consisting of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, MDC and the Commercial Farmers' Union, has orchestrated two nationwide strikes in the last five years to protest Mugabe's actions. It is a testament to the harshness of Mugabe's rule that a group embodied by such disparate interests formed to oppose him. It is now time for the world community to join Africans in their struggle against undemocratic regimes. The combined responses of nations such as Switzerland, Australia, Nigeria and South Africa should serve as a warning for leaders across the continent. African and Western leaders will not be crippled by their divergent interests but will resolutely stand against undemocratic practices.

Peskowitz is an LSA freshman.