Tsvangirai must hold strong

As the crucial negotiations in Zimbabwe drag on, Morgan Tsvangirai must hold strong and not accept any deal that leaves Mugabe in charge of the military. The offer of Prime Minster tabled to him this week is neither fair nor what Zimbabwe needs.

First, Tsvangirai polled over 180,000 more votes than Mugabe in the first popular vote, any settlement that does not recognise that reality will not be legitimate. Second, the control over the economy that Tsvangirai would gain would be meaningless as Mugabe would maintain command of the military and police; the military is the cornerstone of Zanu PF support and until Muagbe’s control over it is broken, Zimbabwe will not be free.

Time is on Tsvangirai’s side. The South African labour union Cosatu is promising a boycott of Zimbabwe headed imports starting on September the 3rd. With half of Zimbabwe’s imports coming from South Africa, this move will further tighten the screw on the Mugabe regime.