Mugabe, MDC leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara and his younger rivals signed an agreement on Monday to form a power-sharing government that will work to extricate Zimbabwe from an economic crisis marked by the world’s highest inflation of more than 11 million percent, chronic shortages of food and every basic survival commodity.
MDC supporters – drapped in part flags and regalia – sang, danced and chanted party slogans as they marched through Bulawayo city centre as office workers leaned through windows to urge them on.
In perhaps a sign of the new winds of change blowing across troubled Zimbabwe, the police did not intervene to stop the opposition march.
Demonstrations and marches are restricted in Zimbabwe under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) under which organisers are expected to seek permission from the police before they could embark on such exercises.
The police, who are fiercely pro-Mugabe have used the Act to block demonstrations or protests by the MDC, often descending with whips, baton sticks and sometimes guns to beat opposition supporters off the streets.
Yesterday’s (Monday) events need to be celebrated because no one expected President Mugabe to give in. So what we are doing with my colleagues is to show that we appreciate that Mugabe and Tsvangirai put aside their interests for the good of the nation and that is cause for celebration, said Matilda Nyoni an MDC activist. Â
It was not lost on the marchers that the police had not acted against them. Some even believed Tsvangirai’s presence in the new government was the reason why the police will not dare touch them now.
We now have a prime minister and he will intervene on our behalf, said one marcher, Vusumuzi Moyo. He added: The police will have to adjust and learn to accept that we are also in government and an MDC government does not harass innocent citizens who are exercising their right to demonstrate.
Under the deal, Mugabe remains president but will cede some of his powers to Tsvangirai who is prime minister in the new government. Mutambara is deputy prime minister.
The power-sharing deal gives Zimbabwe the first real opportunity in nearly 10 years for a new beginning of national healing and recovery. But the jury is still out on whether the clinched after seven weeks of tortuous negotiations can stand the strain, especially given the deep personal animosity and mistrust among the political leaders.
– ZimOnline