The Wardman Wire

I’ve wanted to return to covering developments in Zimbabwe.

The BBC reports that a deal has been reached between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangarai:

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe have reached a deal to share power.

After mediating four days of talks in Harare, South African President Thabo Mbeki said the deal would be signed and made public on Monday.

Mr Mugabe has not yet commented. The two sides had already agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be prime minister with Mr Mugabe staying on as president.

But negotiations had faltered over how the two sides were to share power.

Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, was first to announce the deal as the talks ended.

Later, Mr Mbeki told a news conference: “An agreement has been reached about all the matters on the agenda of the negotiations.”

We won’t see the detail until Monday. I have no idea whether it will work; I am sure that it will require an enormous commitment from Civil Society to police their government.

And all the People Said?

Here are a few comments in response from the Sokwanele posting of the agreement:

William

I hope to God that’s going to work.

Diaspora UK

Why wait until Monday? Is that to give Bob time to talk to JOC…? I won’t believe it until it happens, and I won’t celebrate until I see what’s been agreed!

Secretary Bird

I’m still sceptical, but I hope to God I’m wrong…
Oh, and I hate that I have to wait until Monday to find out whether I can celebrate or not. Why the delay??

Jim

agree with Malcolm…you can murder, rape, basically beat the hell out of the people and still have some hold on power. It is disgraceful. I shall fall off my seat if RM is only ceremonial…it won’t happen. We are in for some crazy parallel government trying to pass different laws ending in another stalemate…it may not get beyond day 1. And why?….because we leave Thabo Mbeki in charge of the negociations…

Ants

My gut tells me b—s—.

Five days is planty for Houdini Bob to cook up a plot

exbulawayo

Well if ever the eyes were on a country, the time is now. What is the hold up to let us know the outcome ? Will the old man still be in charge of his cronies and all his evil deeds swept under the carpet ? i am cautiously optimistic, but pray this will be the new beginning we are all hoping for.

LuanshyaBlue

If Mugabe is in charge of any part of the state’s oppressive organisations such as army, police, JOC etc I wouldn’t give a single ngwee for the chances of success.
In fact I’ll be amazed if the agreement lasts until Monday let alone after Monday if Mugabe is given ANY powers at all.
I stick to my belief that Mugabe and his murderous henchmen will have to be forced out.

Looney Tunes

Either way, there have been some cracking cartoons during the negotiations. These are in chronological order. Will they also represent how the Government will (or won’t) work?

(Credits: Zim Daily, Zimbabwe Times, Zimbabwe Standard, New Zimbabwe).