Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change has agreed to join a unity government with President Robert Mugabe, breaking a crippling deadlock four months after the political rivals reached a power-sharing deal.
The decision could improve Zimbabwe’s prospects of recovering from economic collapse and easing a humanitarian crisis in which more than 60,000 people have been infected by cholera and more than half the population needs food aid.
Zimbabweans have long wished for a new leadership that can ease the world’s highest inflation rate and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages. Millions have fled the suffering to neighbouring countries, straining regional economies.
Western aid and financial assistance tied to the creation of a democratic government and economic reform could be crucial to rescuing what was once one of Africa’s most promising countries.
South Africa’s President Kgalema Motlanthe was optimistic and told Reuters in Davos that his country would help rebuild Zimbabwe.
But Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga cast doubt on whether the deal would work and said President Mugabe must go.
Will this decision work? Will it bring change and help ease the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans? What do you think?
Trackback
21 comments so far
Previous | 2 | 1 | Next
Not one of the above comments urging Mugabe to step down or the SADC to push him seems to have the slightest idea of political realities on the ground in Zimbabwe.
Whether you like it or not Mugabe is the head of parliament’s biggest single party faction - according to the credible March 2008 parliamentary poll - and continues to enjoy the support of the security chiefs.
The MDC has to work with him to alleviate the immediate humanitarian crisis. That is the priority - not the self-aggrandizing ‘get tough’ prescriptions proposed by the contributors above whose adoption by the west has resulted in a) zero political change and b) catalysed social and economic collapse.
This is not to remove ultimate responsibility from Mugabe. But it is time for armchair critics to grow up and, more crucially, for the MDC to get smart. Once in power they must expand their political space within state institutions, including ‘levelling the playing field’ ahead of the next presidential poll.
Any chance of free and fair elections and Mugabe will be pushed out beforehand; ZANU PF instincts for self-preservation trump those of (misguided) loyalty.
- Posted by Christopher 1983