Mbeki's Zimbabwe deal will succeed

While the world’s media speculate on the imminent collapse of the power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, the realities on the ground preclude President Mugabe’s ministry grab, which is jeopardizing the deal’s implementation, from succeeding.

The fact of the matter is that unless the MDC control the ministries of Home Affairs and Finance there will be no international bail out. If there is no bail out Zimbabwe is de facto ungovernable. Everything from education to banking is in a state of near collapse or has already imploded and, without a material rescue package, Mugabe will be like Hitler in the final few days of WWII — commanding imaginary divisions which have ceased to exist.

The Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who will be appointed after parliament accepts the amendment to the Constitution which creates this position, needs to have day to day control of the country through the Council of Ministers for Zimbabwe to achieve international acceptance. Of paramount importance to this is MDC control of those two ministries to avoid past abuses and introduce credibility.

In the past the Zanu-PF has had room within which to posture and rattle their sabres; the present reality denies them this. If they don’t yield to the realities and accept the power sharing deal as agreed and which allows them the opportunity to regroup and reassess, they will be removed by compelling circumstances on the ground which makes this a necessity.

Accordingly, acting in accordance with the power sharing deal is required for self-preservation and if the Zanu-PF doesn’t grasp this concept soon they will be facing oblivion.

Think quick!