AS ZIMBABWEANS prepare to vote in a second round to elect a president on June 27th, the chances of an early end to the country’s misery look remote. Since the first round on March 29th, which even President Robert Mugabe and his officials had to admit was won by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the regime has been inflicting a shocking wave of violence against its own citizens. Though Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC candidate, sounds buoyant, it is hard to see how he will be allowed to win. Pro-government militias, backed by the army, are doing all they can to make sure Mr Mugabe keeps his job. According to the MDC, at least 65 of their people have been killed, and thousands tortured and forced to flee their homes. Human Rights Watch, a New York-based group, has documented a systematic campaign of violence.