Zimbabwean opposition envoy Ralph Black: US has a role to play
in this month's election  Facing a critical election on July 31,
millions of Zimbabweans are hoping to vote fairly and freely to
replace 89-year-old Robert Mugabe after 33 years as the
country’s condescending, corrupt and authoritarian president.
For decades, elections in Zimbabwe have been rigged, and voters
seeking to cast ballots against Mr. Mugabe have been terrorized;
many have been killed.  Why should the U.S. care about the
upcoming Zimbabwe election? For starters, American rivals
Russia, China and Iran hope Mugabe remains in power and are
likely doing what they can to assure his victory. Each of those
countries capitalizes on their relationships with Mugabe to make
money — lots of money.  Russia and China exploit Zimbabwe’s
diamonds, platinum and other natural resources, literally
stealing hundreds of millions from the country’s people.  Iran
wants Zimbabwe’s uranium and pays for some of it with
sophisticated weapons for the Zimbabwe Defen