Now, some 20 years later, Zimbabwe is in dire straits and risks becoming a failed democratic state after only 28 years of independence. What's more, the official stance of its neighbor, South African President Thabo Mbeki is, despite out-cries from human rights groups,"no crisis" exists in Zimbabwe.

On the heels of the recent election turmoil and violence in Kenya, secretly filmed footage from Zimbabwe has emerged showing victims of violence following the country's recent elections. The release of this footage overcomes the ban of most foreign media.

Last week, Human Rights Watch reported current President Robert Mugabe's party (ZANU-PF) is using torture camps to retaliate against those Zimbabweans that supported the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), in the election. According to the MDC Secretary-General, 10 people have been killed and more than 300 opposition voters have been victims of beatings and other forms of violence, while Mugabe and his government strongly deny these claims.

Following the failure to release the election results, South African President Mbeki was appointed to mediate the crisis, yet little progress has been made in releasing the results or curbing the intensifying violence.

This recent news brings the country's economic turbulence in global focus. It is estimated that 3 million people have fled to neighboring South Africa to escape the grave situation: unemployment in excess of 85%, less than a 40-year life-expectancy, and an annual inflation rate of over 165,000%. The country faces severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and basic necessities. It is easy to see why those in Zimbabwe risked so much to vote against Mugabe's and his economic policies.

So, who is to assume responsibility for protecting Zimbabweans from widespread violence, voter intimidation, and ending this political deadlock? If the crisis in Zimbabwe fails to be resolved quickly, will it affect all of Southern Africa through further economic instability in the region and another African refugee crisis? For years, Zimbabwe and (more recently) South Africa have represented hope for democracy and peaceful resolution in Africa. Stabilizing the situation by listening to the will of the Zimbabwe people, releasing the elections' results, and abiding by the result without further bloodshed, is the country's only hope for short-term survival. The international community must act to stop these terrible actions and restore the rule of law in Zimbabwe.