The Role of Honour for this period in 2008 is sadly way too long already. In the years ahead, these brave innocent people must continue to be remembered in Zimbabwe; they are the real Heroes and Martyrs in the history of the country.

My deep fear is summed up in a question, would anyone have got anywhere negotiating with Hitler or Saddam?

Politically, Raila Obinga (Kenya) has spoken out so well, showing that he sees the problems clearly – as does for example Moletsi Mbeki (in SA) – so there are those in the region with much wisdom to offer Zim, if only the way can be cleared for them to do so.

We must keep praying for truth and justice to prevail.

But perhaps this is why civil society has been saying they want more of a voice? Here we have a typical politicians’ compromise. Mbeki has come up with an option that satisfied MDC without himself losing face. Great. Good for him.

But the requirement of an end (or at least a start to an end) of the violence, and – most important of all – allowing the humanitarian agencies back in to save thousands of lives that are now gravely at risk – what about those?

I’m just praying that the MDC has not lost touch with the most basic needs of the most vulnerable Zimbabweans…alternatively, if it has, that the voice of civil society will from now on become more and more insistent.

I hope that the MDC, while holding out for these additional mediators, has not lost sight of the more fundamental precondition to any talks, which is a cessation of violence. If the “talks about talks” do not have this precondition, then every day of talks should begin with the MDC listing every act of violence since the negotiators previously met, as well as any newly-discovered bodies from previous violence. If Zanu-PF had any violence to report against its members I’m sure they could use the opportunity to do that as well – or remain silent if there has been none.

Then people would know exactly what they were negotiating about.