"Zimbabwe is currently suffering under the effects of Mugabe's dictatorship with millions facing death from disease, starvation and state-sponsored violence, " he said.

BBC: Mugabe 'jeopardises' lives of millions

Price controls and state-sponsored violence on farms have caused the country to run out of maize, the staple, and half a million Zimbabweans are on the brink of starvation.

ECONOMIST: Crunch time in Zimbabwe | The

In the past couple of months hundreds of MDC officials, human-rights activists and anyone else suspected of not supporting Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF have been arrested, beaten up, tortured and killed in an upsurge of state-sponsored violence ahead of elections that Mr Mugabe wants to be held by June.

ECONOMIST: Zimbabwe