Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe sign deal on coalition talks
July 21st, 2008
Via the Associated Press:
Zimbabwe’s president and opposition leader have signed an agreement calling for formal talks on sharing power.
A stern-looking President Robert Mugabe and a beaming Morgan Tsvangirai signed the deal laying out the conditions for talks on a coalition government.
The breakthrough in Harare follows nearly three months of violence that the opposition says left more than 120 dead, thousands injured and tens of thousands homeless.
It is the first time in a decade that the Mugabe and Tsvangirai are meeting face to face.
July 21st, 2008 18:29
I am glad there is an agreement to negotiate a possible resolution. There has been too much suffering.
However, I am very disappointed (to say the least!) to see Morgan Tsvangirai shaking hands with Robert Mugabe.
I look at the photos on the right hand side of this page, and think of the MDC members who have been tortured and murdered in recent weeks.
A handshake with the man responsible for all that suffering seems like a betrayal.
July 21st, 2008 19:33
This is good news for Zimbabwe, and for the MDC. It may only be one small step for one man, but it is a giant leap for the other.
Mugabe must be persuaded, gently of course, that he can not remain executive leader, but he can remain the head of state of his people. He should be reminded that Queen Elizabeth, whom he admires greatly, would still welcome him as that, but she would not do so if he remains the type of president that he now represents.
July 21st, 2008 21:41
@ True Grit – that’s a very useful perspective.
I have a cautious optimism that the handshake, while distasteful to those of us with the luxury of pronouncing about these things, might be what it takes for the uncontrolled thugs on the ground to recognise that Morgan does not stand for the Devil incarnate and is just another person with whom Mugabe has some interaction.
Even with the best outcome in the world, there won’t be an immediate stop to the violence. There are some untold stories about how long it took to stop in 1980. But let’s hope it’s a start.
July 21st, 2008 22:00
I think this is very good for zimbabwe.
i want morgan to get a cjhance in the govt to perfom his much awaited miracles for zimbabwe
July 21st, 2008 22:19
I do not believe that Mr. Mugabe has any intention of giving up his political power. I believe that Mr. Tsvangirai is deluding himself if he believes for one moment that the thug Mugabe is in any way serious about even talking about sharing power, let alone actually doing it.
Frankly, I can see little hope now in Zimbabwe for anything except civil war, and possible military intervention from the international community. Zimbabwe has become a living hell under the thug Mugabe, and this state of affairs, in my opinion, will not change until Mugabe, his muderous, evil supporters and the military criminals that have benefitted so much from his tyranic, despotic rule are all wiped away [edit].
July 22nd, 2008 01:10
Thanks Mike.
I can only repeat at this stage the wise words of dear old Winnie Churchill:
“To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.”
But it’s still goin’ to be a rocky road!
July 23rd, 2008 10:08
one important aspect of this deal is having the UN and AU as part of the mediation process. this article delves into how impartial mediation is crucial:
http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/current-affairs/2008/07/16/world-cup-of-failed-politics/