Mugabe and Tsvangirai: A love-hate affair

It was surprising, however, that the relationship between the two men was cordial and some even suggested they rather liked one another.

“The relationship has always been good. It has been so good that I don’t see how they can stand against each other in the elections,” said Political analyst, Ibbo Mandaza.

This relationship, according to Mandaza, has been pivotal in bringing stability to the country.

“The country was so dysfunctional that without the Government of National Unity there would have been trouble,” Mandaza said.

However, the two have been engaged in a cat and mouse fight for years. The clearest example was the recent impasse on the date of the forthcoming elections.

Tsvangirai has always been in favour of an election roadmap mapped out under the guidelines of the GPA but Mugabe has tried to circumvent that process using a constitutional court judgment that said elections must be held by July 31.

Political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said the relationship was hypocritical.

“One minute they talk of having tea together the next Mugabe goes behind Tsvangirai’s back making decisions without his knowledge. It is based on mutual distrust,” Ngwenya said.

Tsvangirai recently told leaders of the South African Development Community in Maputo that the last four years had been painful.

“The last four years have been a painful transition characterized by the absence of a genuine partner to the cause, a period which saw unilateral decisions being made, agreements not being fulfilled, U-turns on agreed positions and at all material times constant and vicious media attacks on my person, my government Ministers and my party,” Tsvangirai said.

Welshman Ncube of the smaller MDC faction told the gathering of leaders:

“The attempt at unilateral compliance with the Supreme Court judgment has led to a near-complete breakdown of all forms of co-operation within the inclusive government resulting in extreme acrimony among the GPA partners.”

Former Zanu (PF) politburo member and now leader of Mavambo/Kusile Party, Simba Makoni, told The Zimbabwean that the relationship could not be described as good.

“There is no trust between the two men. It is an inharmonious relationship. They have described it in their own words as tense. It is a dysfunctional marriage which neither of them wants, a relationship which both men want to break,” Makoni said.

Some of the players in the political sector, such as former MDC member Job Sikhala, have accused Tsvangirai of selling out, saying he has become too close to Mugabe.

Political analyst, Alexander Rusero, said the role of party politics could not be discounted.

“You can’t necessarily separate the two from internal party politics. In each party there are hardliners and Mugabe and Tsvangirai could have appeared to be selling out to those malcontents,” he said.