First the signing - then the street fighting

The agreement is signed - but violence breaks out yet again

Any hopes that this morning's formal signing of the power-sharing agreement, and the inevitable handshakes and smiles exchanged by our political leaders, would signal a new and peaceful Zimbabwe were shattered when opposing groups of supporters clashed violently.

Rival mobs, chanting songs, met in the streets outside Harare's Rainbow Hotel, in which the ceremony took place. Stones were thrown, and then fighting broke out with fists, sticks and other weapons causing several serious injuries.

I witnessed one woman, MDC activist Elizabeth Takaenda, taking a blow to the head from a brick. An ambulance took her and others to hospital. Meanwhile police vehicles were attacked and windscreens smashed.

Anti-riot police moved in after about 30 minutes, firing warning shots, although a police source told me that they had been instructed not to use too much force against the demonstrators. The gateway into the hotel was closed to keep out the crowd.

Eventually the Zanu-PF supporters dispersed. But to the delight of onlookers in this heavily MDC-orientated town, the opposition groups proceeded to march through the streets, singing songs.

The actual signing ceremony went ahead without a hitch. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said the agreement represented the best hope for Zimbabwe. Mr. Mugabe typically blamed many of the country's difficulties on Britain, and was roundly booed when he suggested that the opposition had used violence to promote its aims.

Full details of the agreement have yet to be made public, but the broad outlines, as described on this and other sites, appear to be correct.

Comments

[Joyce]

We wish them Mugabe,Tsvangirai,Mutambara and thier juniors to share the riches of Zimbabwe. Amen ?

[Fish Eagle]

This is the FULL document agreed between the MDC and ZPF

It comes via Zimbabwemetro.

link:-

http://www.zimbabwemetro.com/wp-content/uploads/Agreement_between_ZanuPFandMDC.pdf

[Thomas]

With Mugabe retaining power and control over his armed forces who will be licking his shoes to get another sweet taste of money, how long will it be before Morgan Tsvangirai can manage to hold out before being 'wasted' by persons unknown along with other members of his cabinet.
Anyone want to take a guess?

[mikami]

Fish Eagle...

Why is the document on the site you linked to in English?

[DC]

I haven't read the agreement but to anyone who has can they answer the following questions:

Will the media restrictions be lifted completely? When?
Will there be an independent election commission? When?
When are the next elections due? Has Morgon aquiesced to Thabo and Mugabe's insistence on full 5 year term?
What provisions are made if the GNU collapses eg will there be an election in X days?

If these issues are not answered the country is still screwed.

I understand that the West is going to assess the GNU on its merits before they release aid. Understandable because to my eyes it looks like Mugabe and Mbeki have scored. They got what they wanted, and the opposition did not have a leg to stand on with most of Africa supporting Mbeki. I guess they felt a peice of the pie was better than no pie at all.

But it is almost guaranteed that the West will also submit to this... to do anything else will cause an uproar from Africa. Racism, imperialism, patriarchalism etc etc. Beggars CAN be choosers when you speak of African Looters.

I dispair for Africa. It just reinforces my current ideology that aid to Africa is counter-productive.

[DC]

I haven't read the agreement but to anyone who has can they answer the following questions:

Will the media restrictions be lifted completely? When?
Will there be an independent election commission? When?
When are the next elections due? Has Morgon aquiesced to Thabo and Mugabe's insistence on full 5 year term?
What provisions are made if the GNU collapses eg will there be an election in X days?

If these issues are not answered the country is still screwed.

I understand that the West is going to assess the GNU on its merits before they release aid. Understandable because to my eyes it looks like Mugabe and Mbeki have scored. They got what they wanted, and the opposition did not have a leg to stand on with most of Africa supporting Mbeki. I guess they felt a peice of the pie was better than no pie at all.

But it is almost guaranteed that the West will also submit to this... to do anything else will cause an uproar from Africa. Racism, imperialism, patriarchalism etc etc. Beggars CAN be choosers when you speak of African Looters.

I despair for Africa. This whole charade just reinforces my current ideology that aid to Africa is counter-productive.

[RMacleod]

Both EU and US have stated this date, no aid will be forthcoming until it is seen that democracy has been restored in Zimbabwe.

Can anyone see the restoration of a legitimate democratic goverment under the present situation?

Do not forget either, the cash situation in the EU and US is getting very tight indeed due to the economic downturn!

[Michae]

After reading the link from Zimbabwe Metro, I really hope that the GNU agreement was written on good quality perforated paper ..... because I can only see one use for it as it's presented there.

If you hadn't guessed, that use is toilet paper.

[RMacleod]

Street fighting may have occurred as mentioned but now it also appears Zanu PF infighting has begun!
Choosing Mnangagwa to become a member of the cabinet and discarding the Mujuru's, Msika etc, is certainly going to create an ill wind that will more than likely blow Mugabe straight to hell.
Under these circumstances the probability of a civil war still exists.