A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days

After an election period in which hopes rose for serious and fundamental democratic reforms, the status quo in Zimbabwe has returned with a vengeance:

The Zimbabwean political opposition suffered a rebuff Monday when the High Court dismissed its demand that the results of the presidential election last month be made public immediately.

The court accepted the election commission's explanation that it was investigating anomalies in some of the voting districts, according to an Associated Press report. "It can therefore justify the delay," the court ruled.

A spokesman for the main opposition party, Nqobizitha Mlilo, confirmed that the court had dismissed its demand, and said the party, the Movement for Democratic Change, was still considering how it would react to the ruling. The opposition had already threatened to hold a general strike this week. Later Monday, news agencies in Harare, the capital, quoted opposition officials as saying they would go ahead with the strike.

Zimbabwean election officials have yet to announce the winner of the presidential election, which was held March 29, causing widespread suspicions that President Robert Mugabe, who has been president since the country won its independence 28 years ago, is refusing to accept defeat.

Is there any real doubt that Mugabe has lost? And relatedly, is there any real doubt that in order to keep power, Mugabe will resort to violence if necessary?