Among the many benefits of studying somewhere far away from the United States is the ability to follow the elections of other countries rather than Hillobamacainia. In my case, Zimbabwe—whose actual vote took place about a week and a half ago—has provided an endless succession of cliffhangers since campaigning began about a month after we arrived. From regional attention to electoral shenanigans before March 29, the fight to oust Robert Mugabe has gone international, as everyone from Gordon Brown to the United Nations (with the conspicuous exception of President Mbeki) have pushed the government to release the vote tally. Just yesterday, the High Court refused to do so, and the opposition party has called a strike. The implication everywhere is that this is another Kenya in the making.

Sort of astonishingly, a few of my housemates have actually visited Zimbabwe, by way of the tourist magnet Victoria Falls. Katherine got back a couple of weeks ago, shell shocked by the extreme poverty and helplessness of people who won’t even trade in their own currency anymore. Aaron got back yesterday, with an almost completely different impression: the news reports were sensationalizing the situation, he insisted, portraying a powder keg ready to explode when these people would no sooner attack each other than ransack their own homes. The streets in the little town surrounding Vic falls felt calm and safe, he said, and even political conversations carried an air of quiet wait-and-see.

“Do they really know what’s going on?” I asked, thinking of how state controlled media had been running nothing but stories about Mugabe opening schools and conducting agreements for weeks. Aaron assured me that they know exactly what’s been happening. Those who had voted for “Bob” did so because they could not shake the memory of Mugabe as liberator—20 years of pure tyranny notwithstanding. Even with trucks full of goods crossing into the country that would be taxed at 20%. Even with thousands of people crossing the other way every day.

Sort of puts the slogan “I stand for change” in a different light.