But Mugabe is not prepared to share power. He never has been. But SADC leaders have failed to comprehend that. They are, in fact, complicit with Mugabe's misrule.
Well done to the MDC for holding out. It cannot have been easy. But what SADC proposes is not a fair and equitable sharing of power and they we urge the party's leaders who are meeting on Friday to walk away from the deal. SADC has failed the MDC. It has failed the people of Zimbabwe; and in the words of MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti: Tongai tione. (Go it alone, we will see what happens.)
The so-called SADC solution is no solution at all. The regional leaders have simply re-presented the same Zanu (PF) document that was rejected by the MDC last week, and tried to force the party that won the last credible election to commit political hara-kiri.
All Mugabe wants is for the MDC to give his corrupt and oppressive administration a semblance of acceptability in the international community so that he and his generals can continue to loot Zimbabwe's resources for their own personal gain. The document he managed to persuade SADC to accept and put forward as its own for adoption by the MDC clearly demonstrates his intransigence. The issues contained in that document are the same issues that Tsvangirai has been raising since September.
Not only has Mugabe refused to address a single one of those issues, but he and his armed thugs have continued to kidnap, torture and kill MDC supporters and Human Rights activists around the country with impunity. Even the courts have failed to protect the innocent citizens of Zimbabwe from this thuggery.
If Mugabe is unwilling to discuss the MDC's very relevant and justified concerns now, what makes SADC leaders think he will be amenable once Tsvangirai has agreed to be sworn in as Prime Minister? What do they think is going to change? If Mugabe is refusing to share power now, why do they think he will change once Tsvangirai is Prime Minister?
Their continued support for Mugabe despite his outrageous human rights abuses and blatant refusal to share power demonstrates just one thing:Â SADC has failed abysmally. It has failed the people of Zimbabwe. It has failed itself. And it has failed Africa.
The international community has, for too long now, hidden behind the excuse of an African solution for an African problem. If they continue to remain silent and inactive, they too are complicit in Mugabe's foul dictatorship.
Word
"But do not forget one thing, dear friends. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."- 2 Peter 3:8&9