 The story of Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai is one uniquely Zimbabwean tale. Added to the tale is anchored in the historic handshake of the two, which is more of a mystery than magic.
It is true the fruits of tyranny are bitter and only the people of Zimbabwe can attest to that after having spent a better part of the 28 years yoked under an undemocratic dispensation after independence from former colonial masters, the British. Deep in their hearts, the people of Zimbabwe want a new order to take shape in the country and the cards, it seems are held by the protagonists to the talks in South Africa, Mugabe, Tsvangirai, and one Arthur Mutambara. But it seems history might as well repeat itself because Mugabe might not be prepared to relinquish power any time soon. It happened before in the 1980s when a similar pact was signed between Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and in the end Mugabe stole the day and came out the smiling one. After the historic handshake paving the way for power-sharing talks by the three protagonists, the horizon is still imbued with doubts whether the talks will come up with any tangible changes. Commentators say it is premature to pat Mbeki on the back for getting the warring parties in Zimbabwe to the negotiating table. "Having seen Robert Mugabes's behaviour over the past few yeaRs it's hard to believe that he will agree to anything that does not give him total power. Even his wife Grace has said Morgan Tsvangirai will never move into state house, how will Mugabe appease his wife?" said Kim Huskisson. To begin with, Mugabe was known to resist calls to step down, he had at some point dismissed a South African initiative for the formation of a transitional government of national unity as what had happened in Kenya after a disputed election and the subsequent violence. "Kenya is Kenya, Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe. We have our own way of evolving political impasses the Zimbabwean way, and the Zimbabwean way, not the Kenya way. Not at all," government spokesperson, George Charamba, told reporters last month. Once, a British journalist accused Mugabe of stealing the vote, Mugabe shouted him down saying: "When will the British stop colonising us. I'm the president of Zimbabwe whether you like it or not." Such remarks are not the hallmark of a man who is prepared to leave office any day. Despite the defiance by Mugabe's corner during the power-sharing talks, the people of Zimbabwe want a fresh start, an opportunity to reshape the country. During the first decade of independence, Zimbabwe was regarded as the beacon of hope for Africa. These people who are agitating for change in Zimbabwe are not the politicians and their political parties. They are individuals, a cross-section of civil society organisations, human rights groups, trade unions, professional groups, student groups and many more. Despite the historic handshake that waited 10 years to take place between Tsvangirai and Mugabe, regards the wishes of the Zimbabwean people as mere phantasm. He is largely phlegmatic to give a wink to such wishful thinking. Only his will would win the day. Few more fear the 'Zanufication' of the MDC as happened to PF-ZAPU "Tsvangirai needs lessons in the dangers of dealing with Mugabe they say." But Gordon Moyo from the Bulawayo Agenda says the MDC boss is aware of such machinations. While the leaders in South Africa bicker about who should be what in terms of control, most people in the country do not vouch for a particular candidate. Much as Tsvangirai will end up the protˇgˇ in the negotiation, which his camp is against at the negotiating table. The people say they want respect for democracy and the rule of law, an end to violence and an opportunity to begin economic reconstruction that will be fruitful to the majority of the Zimbabweans. Recent reports say the MDC will not accept any deal that denies Tsvangirai executive powers. "The talks would rather collapse or not move forward unless Mugabe is offered a ceremonial post or forced to retire," says Sam Sipepa Moyo, an MDC executive member. As Mbeki tries to pall a volatile negotiation by saying the talks are "progressing well", reports point to some contention in the talks. These border on four main issues, namely who will wield real power, the duration of the transitional period, the constitutional amendments to allow the transitional government and finally the commission of enquiry to probe atrocities under Mugabe. ZANU-PF hardliners are resisting that Tsvangirai be made prime minister saying 'we will not accept anything other than that president Mugabe remain the executive president'. On the other hand the MDC sees it as a mockery of the whole deal to give their leader the third vice presidency post. Even as more and more African governments are turning their backs on the Mugabe government, Harare does not seem to care. The new Liberian president in a speech at the Mandela 90th birthday celebration made her voice heard when she said it was her duty to "express my solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as they search for solutions to the crisis in their country." She added that Liberia held a "sham election that was endorsed by Africa and the whole world." When Botswana voiced her unhappiness with the elections, which it says did not come fairly, the Zimbabwean minister of information and publicity retorted saying Botswana was not SADC. "We appreciate positive criticism from anyone including our neighbour Botswana. But Botswana did not go to war to liberate themselves from colonisation and so we feel that we as Zimbabweans experience Western machinations more than they. "Botswana is not SADC, we listen to the collective voice from SADC, and SADC has not voiced Botswana's claims." This is not new. Mugabe has been known to indicate left and then suddenly turn right. Could this be an exception this time around? If he thinks the country cannot be taken at the stroke of the pen but only through the barrel of the gun, why waste time sitting around the table to sign agreements to hand the country to puppets of the British? As John L. Mason has said, "What good is an aim if you don't pull the trigger?" only time will tell how the talks will go. (Mmegi)
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