Read the latest in this sad saga here - NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
Earlier this week, President Robert Mugabe asked the UN to apply pressure for the lifting of sanctions (yes those sanctions mainly applied to him and his colleagues). I feel for him, there must be a few hanger-ons needing shopping or banking trips to Geneva, London or Paris!
Anyway back to the point, this is what this deal is about. It is about the pretence of some sort of deal and progress. The idea is that the international community will have the wool pulled over their eyes and open their cheque books, forgive all sins and give this farce a semblance of legitimacy. What a joke! The 'unity' government in Zimbabwe, like the unholy alliance in Kenya, will achieve nothing of substance for the people - just more people with their snots in the trough! Apparently, Kenya now has 35 or more Ministries -headed by Ministers who earn substantially more than the average citizen.
If you have ever had the need to review the arguments against proportional representation, you will know that 'hung parliaments' achieve next to nothing. What Zimbabwe needed was change and strong change -whether internally within Zanu-PF or externally from the two MDC factions. Unfortunately, I do not believe Mr. Tsvangirai is the man for the job, hence this useless posturing that now is the latest news.
Zimbabwe has had a government of National Unity before, who can name anyone else apart from Joshua Nkomo in that alliance?
And for some this deal will suit, unfortunately for Mbeki of South Africa, too late, but China with its scramble for resources and maybe even the UK Labour Government with the pressure to kick a few immigrants out of the country, this may be a good excuse to accept what any reasonable thinking man should be rejecting.
My heart cries out for the Zimbabwean people who now have another few years of political jostling and no real progress. The rest of sub-Saharan Africa, with the possible exception of South Africa, is on the up, investment, debt cancellation, oil discoveries and other measures helping this positive upward movement. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, continues in the downward spiral. Rock bottom apparently does not appear to have yet been achieved!
Don't believe me? Here are some things to think about :
Tell me, I'm wrong!
[First published on my NotTheNews blog on specified date]