In the long-suffering nation of Zimbabwe, a ray of hope is starting to shine down on men, women & children whose lives & very well-being have been destroyed by Robert Mugabe's misrule & autocratic mannerisms. The sun hasn't shined all out just yet, but since elections have been held, chances are it may shine brighter than ever.

And why is that? For the first time in ages, Mugabe hasn't gotten the upper hand as far as votes are concerned. Which gives Zimbabweans plenty of reason to feel optimistic, knowing that the tide is beginning to turn in their favor. After so many rigged elections in the past (as well as false hopes from Mugabe himself), this may come across as a relief, a permanent one at that (unless Mugabe's party, ZANU-PF, has something to say about it).

If elections finally turn out as expected, that is to say Mugabe finally is dealt a losing hand, this could be the end of the Dinosaur Dictator era in Zimbabwe. He led his nation out of colonial rule; he gave his fellow Africans reason to rejoice at their liberation from British power. But he couldn't save it from corruption, mismanagement as well as wanton misrule. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has the highest rates of inflation in the world. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has one of the world's highest unemployment rates around. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has the lowest rates of life expectancy around. All thanks be to Mugabe for completely offing the nation economically & politically, the very nation he came to save.

Now the tables have turned. If Morgan Tsangivarai (one of Bobby Mugabe's longtime bugbears & political opponents) is lucky to win it all, the wheels of hope may once more turn in a nation desperate for change in every aspect.

And Mugabe may be shown the door for good, after three decades of plain incompetence & blatant misuse of his power.