Language and Conflict in the News: Zimbabwe (UPDATE 1)

Update: Added final paragraph on possible motives

Robert Mugabe is a dictator, but it is only the Anglophone world that cares.  The current anti-Mugabe campaign is centered in London, with support from many Commonwealth countries (roughly over fifty former British colonies, and therefore Anglophone) and America.  Zimbabwe used to be a member of the Commonwealth but pulled out after the last round of criticism.

Hard to prove, sitting here, that official interest in this case is from Anglophone governments, I'll try.

This article from Bloombberg some country's official reactions to Zimbabwe's election. The UK, US, Canada and Kenya (former British colony) are the only sources of criticism.  South Africa (Anglophone) and Djibouti(Francphone) are voices supporting the status quo (minus all the criticism).  By the way, Gordon Brown looks like a fool in the article, saying African countries are no longer willing to support Mugabe (where are South Africa and Djibouti?).

This article is about Chinese opposition to U.S. proposals for sanctions, and also mentions Russia is against sanctions.

Although the G8 has issued statement calling Zimbabwean elections a sham, it includes Russia, whom we have already seen do not support doing anything about it.

What do you know about the MDC, anyway, other than that they want to protect English landowners?  Could this be part of the reason the UK has been so unwavering in their opposition to Mugabe over the last few years?  Do you think the Tsvangirai doesn't have his own militias, and his own propensity to resolve things via violence?