Will Zimbabwe be rescued from the living hell to which Robert Mugabe has consigned it? This weekend, the question dominates international attention as never before. Next ­Friday, Mr Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, will contest the second round of a presidential election that the Zimbabwean president has done everything in his power to steal. It would shame Zimbabwe – and the entire continent of Africa – if he were allowed to succeed.

Mr Mugabe clings to power at any price. He has launched a terror campaign aimed at destroying the opposition. Mr Tsvangirai says at least 70 of his supporters have been killed. His number two has been jailed. Across the country, pro-Mugabe forces are conducting a merciless campaign of violence against their opponents.