Zimbabwe Rivals Reach Power Sharing Deal

Months after the political crisis in Zimbabwe emerged, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai cut a deal that gives them both a claim on power. While there were cheers inside the hotel where they signed the agreement, outside the rivals’ supporters were throwing rocks at one another. The road back to normality is a long one for Zimbabwe.

Mr. Tsvangirai said, “This agreement sees the return of hope to all our lives. It is this hope that provides the foundation of this agreement that we sign today, that will provide us with the belief that we can achieve a new Zimbabwe.” He will become the country’s prime minister under the new arrangement, and his Movement for Democratic Change will get 16 of the nation’s 31 ministers.

Mr. Mugabe remains president and keeps control of the military, so in the end, his position isn’t much different than before. As usual, he blames the west rather than his policies for the current unpleasantness. Reuters reported, “African problems must be solved by Africans ... The problem we have had is a problem that has been created by former colonial powers," Mugabe said after the signing ceremony, as Tsvangirai looked uncomfortable. But Mugabe added: ‘We are committed to the deal. We will do our best’.”

The biggest problem Zimbabweans now face is the hyper-inflation that has destroyed the economy. Engineered by a central bank that decided to print its way out of poverty, inflation is now more or less immeasurable having pierced the million percent mark some time ago. If there is a general house cleaning at the central bank, Zimbabwe will have a shot at prosperity some day. If there isn’t, one can expect things to stagnate at best.

The other issue is security. Mr. Mugabe has enjoyed the blind loyalty of the military since he was a guerrilla leader in the bush. He has also politicized the police. The control over both allowed him to steal the most recent election, and his continuing control threatens the agreement with Mr. Tsvangirai. If his monopoly gets broken, democratic change could result. If not, Zimbabwean democracy will still consist of one-man, one-vote – and Mr. Mugabe will continue to be that one man.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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