Were it not for its tragic dimensions, Zimbabwe’s post-election debacle would be entering the realms of farce. Fifteen days have passed since it became clear that Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party lost both presidential and parliamentary elections. Yet the official tally for the presidential vote has yet to be declared.

It is abundantly clear that the reason for the delay is that the results spelled defeat for Mr Mugabe and his acolytes. Deluded as they were, this appears to have come as a surprise. The parliamentary election, in which the opposition Movement for Democratic Change overcame Zanu-PF’s majority for the first time since independence, may now be overturned in the manipulated recount already under way.