One thing is certain – Mugabe would like them to walk way. It would make things nice and easy for him – he can then blame the collapse of the deal on Morgan Tsvangirai. Perhaps for that reason alone, they should stick it out.
Last month Tsvangirai said time was on his side. That is true now more than ever before. The implosion of the economy as a result of hyper-inflation is almost complete. Where on earth do we go from here?
It is imperative that Zimbabwe gets a massive injection of foreign currency via aid and investment if it is to pull back from the brink. That is not going to happen unless and until there is real power-sharing. Mugabe has fooled a lot of people a lot of the time but this time around he is not going to get away with it. The demise of Thabo Mbeki’s reign in South Africa and the growing reluctance of some SADC countries to allow him to continue with his intransigence are both reasons for hope.
The international community may have rushed to the aid of Zimbabwe’s starving millions almost before the ink on the deal was dry – but they will certainly not be so hasty with any aid other than basic humanitarian assistance.
After 28 years in power, Mugabe is simply not accustomed to sharing. Rumblings of discontent among former Zapu members who were swallowed into Zanu after the Unity Accord of 1987 bear witness to that.
The truth of the matter is that Mugabe never wanted the present deal. He has openly spoken against it since Day 1 – describing it as a humiliation. But he needed it in order to re-establish his legitimacy following the sham June presidential election run-off, into which he was forced by Tsvangirai’s last-minute withdrawal.
But now that the MDC has accepted him as president, he no longer needs them. Ever since the signing ceremony, he has acted contemptuously towards the MDC and become more intransigent than ever. His spokesman denounces the MDC at every turn and he has not implemented one single aspect of the deal – such as the release of political prisoners, the ending of political violence, the opening up of the airwaves.
Mugabe’s unilateral decision regarding key ministries speaks volumes regarding his power-sharing intentions. But time is not on his side and the sooner he realises that, the better. It’s now a question of who blinks first.
 
Word for Today
Whoever of you loves life, and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; – Psalm 34:12-15