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Past hostilities haunt Zim deal, say analysts
Fanuel Jongwe, Zimgreats
September 16, 2008

http://www.zimgreats.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3560&Itemid=1

Past hostilities between Zimbabwe's political rivals could make a historic power-sharing deal a worthless piece of paper if the parties allow personal grudges to persist, analysts warned on Tuesday.

President Robert Mugabe and prime minister-elect Morgan Tsvangirai, with splinter party chief Arthur Mutambara, agreed to share power and put the past behind them on Monday.

In doing so, the former bitter foes pledged to join forces to revive the country's moribund economy, which was driven into further meltdown by a protracted political stand-off.

But analysts said that tensions which characterised relations between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, the Movement for Democratic Change leader, could cast a shadow on the new government to be formed.

"There are serious dangers that lie ahead unless the principals are willing to move away from past hostilities and work in one direction to implement the agreement rather than pull in different directions," said Eldred Masunungure, a political scientist from the University of Zimbabwe.

"For that to happen the signatories must make sure the deal filters down to grassroots so that the supporters on the ground realise, those who have been regarded as enemies are now partners in development.

"That message must go out as soon as possible so that people adapt, change and start to work together."

Lovemore Madhuku, a political analyst and a law lecturer, said: "There has to be a shift. For example the parties cannot continue chanting slogans that denigrated the other party."

Even as their leaders made efforts to gloss over their differences with glowing phrases like "turning swords into ploughshares," lingering tensions between Zanu-PF and MDC supporters were palpable at the signing ceremony attended by leaders from southern Africa.

MDC supporters jeered at Mugabe as he lashed out at foreign powers while from the Zanu-PF murmurs of disapproval were audible as Tsvangirai delivered his address.

Outside, verbal exchanges degenerated into fisticuffs and stone-throwing battles between the rival supporters who were waiting to catch a glimpse of their respective leaders.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who mediated in talks that led to the agreement, urged the leaders to "defend and explain" the agreement to their supporters.

Zimbabwe is in the throes of political and economic crisis with inflation officially at 11,2-million percent, nearly a quarter of the population requiring food aid while at least 80 percent potential workers are without jobs.

The situation further deteriorated following a disputed presidential run-off election in which Mugabe stood as sole candidate after Tsvangirai pulled out citing intimidation and violence against his supporters.

Takavafira Zhou, a political scientist at Masvingo State University, said: "For the new government to work you need mutual co-operation from the parties but I am worried about the political rhetoric from Zanu-PF."

"It's very difficult to say for certain this new government will work particularly looking at the backgrounds of the two main parties.

"These are two parties with divergent ideologies and were sworn enemies. I am also worried the political rhetoric from Zanu-PF."

But Joseph Kurebga, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, expressed optimism the deal between Zanu-PF and the MDC would restore Zimbabwe to its former status as a regional model of political and economic stability and food exporter.

"I am certain this all-inclusive government will work given the commitment demonstrated by the principals first by engaging in dialogue and secondly through their public pronouncements," Kurebga said.

"The spirit of the agreement is such that there will be national reconciliation and I don't foresee any challenges which the power-sharing government will not be able to overcome."

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