Zimbabwe power sharing agreement

[Vulcanl]

Old Mike,

Looks like lots of arm twisting by the Europeans has resulted in a breakthrough?  What do you make of this - do the people of this wretched place finally have some hope now?

Zimbabwe’s Rival Political Parties Agree to Form Government
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By Nasreen Seria

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change, agreed to form a power-sharing government with President Robert Mugabe, ending a political impasse that has lasted for almost a year.

The prime minister and deputy prime minister will be sworn in on Feb. 11, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe told reporters early today after an emergency summit of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community in Pretoria.

The breakthrough came almost a year after Tsvangirai won the most votes in a presidential election in March. He pulled out of a June runoff vote because of violence against his supporters, enabling Mugabe to extend his 28-year rule.

Zimbabwe has been in political limbo since a Sept. 15 accord signed by the two men and Arthur Mutambara, leader of an MDC faction, amid disagreements over who will control portfolios such as the Home Affairs Ministry, which is in charge of the police. The MDC and Mugabe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front will share control of the Home Affairs Ministry for at least six months, Motlanthe said.

Zimbabwe, ruled by Mugabe since 1980, has experienced a decade of recession, while almost half of the population needs emergency food aid. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said two days ago it needs $550 million this year to help boost food security and improve water, health and education services.

“The infrastructure for delivering basic social services is seriously affected, resulting in unprecedented levels of disease incidence and prevalence throughout the country,” OCHA said in an e-mailed statement.

The breakthrough in talks came as the European Union announced it has expanded sanctions aimed at the Zimbabwean government, accusing Mugabe of ignoring the plight of his people. Twenty-seven people and 36 companies or groups were added to a list that now contains 243 entities subject to financial sanctions and an EU travel ban.

The SADC comprises South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Mauritius, Angola, Swaziland, Seychelles and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

[Old Mike]

Unfortunately I doubt it. We have seen announcements like this before, and they have come to nothing.

[God himself]

Unfortunately I doubt it. We have seen announcements like this before, and they have come to nothing.

Zimbabwe's situation will only change for the better when Mugabe is removed from the picture.

[Old Mike]

There is considerable evidence for the existence of a small group of people who wield the power, and that Mugabe is now little more than a figurehead.
When he goes I fear that he will simply be replaced by another of the ruling clique.

[Old Mike]

Robert Mugabe goes on a state visit to Israel. While he is on a tour of Jerusalem he suffers a heart attack and passes away.. The undertaker tells the accompanying people, 'You can have him shipped home for US$500,000, or you can bury him here, in the Holy Land, for just US$100.' The Zimbabweans go into a corner and discuss for a minute.  They come back to the undertaker and tell him they want Mugabe shipped home.

The undertaker is puzzled and asks, 'Why would you spend $500,000 to ship him home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $100? With the money you save you could buy enough diesel for a year, buy enough medicines to wipe out cholera, buy enough generators to never have blackouts again.'

The Zimbabweans replied, 'Long ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead.. We just can't take that chance.'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Dr. Phil]

Sadly, there is no such thing as equality; only minorities understand this.

So its a question of who rules and whoever rules protects the minorities. This is most important.

We destroyed white Administrations to emancipate south Africa from the scourge of apartheid and the successive enlightened presidents have denied Aids, created a cess pool of criminality and prejudice and their latest act denying the Tibetan Dalai Lama, exiled all of his long life, speaks volumes against the pervasive political correctness which we embrace globally.

Of course many opportunities for equality were missed by former white African leaders but Mugabe's brand of racism is perpetuated by those who have claimed to know better.

Rhodesian farmers are once again under attack from political cronies, thieves by any other name, and their hired thugs.

But we are nothing if not consistent, doing the same at home in our own countries. 
 

[God himself]

Rhodesian farmers are once again under attack from political cronies, thieves by any other name, and their hired thugs.
 

Zimbabwean farmers,