Mugabe and rival sign power deal

Meanwhile, Police had to fire warning shots to disperse thousands of supporters of the rival political parties who tried to enter the venue of the signing ceremony.

The clashes did not last long, as riot police who were on standby quickly moved in and separated the clashing groups.

This, noted analysts, was an indication that although there was agreement among political leaders on the deal, “there is still a lot of sensitisation they need to do to their supporters.

“This is one of the biggest challenges that will face the implementation stage: getting the supporters of the respective parties to implement the agreement,” said Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, a leader of the Christian Alliance, a grouping of churches and Christian civil society organisations.

“There is a culture of political intolerance among the structures of the respective political parties. There are still a number of rough issues to be dealt with, this is just the beginning. The challenge is now on the respective parties to instil that understanding and tolerance among their supporters.”  

While the parties were celebrating the signing of the deal, a note of caution was sounded for them to commit themselves to the implementation of the deal.

And the parties also admitted implementation would be a challenge. Mr Kikwete said “appending signatures on the agreement is one thing, implementing it is another”.

Kenya based Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, Mr Brian Kagoro said the deal was “one of those unique cases, where either side was doomed if they signed the deal and they were equally doomed if they didn’t”.

University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Professor Eldred Masunungure, said the violence that erupted outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel – the venue of the signing ceremony – was one of the first indications of the “big challenge the parties will have to convince their supporters that this was indeed a worthwhile compromise”.

“These are some of the issues that now need to be addressed. But the fact that we have the leaders agreeing shows that we have something,” he said.

Rights activist

Civil rights activist, Mr Daniel Molokele said the deal could be used “as a good starting point for all of us as we try to take Zimbabwe forward”.

“In spite of its compromised nature, this kind of change could be the best we could have had in the circumstances,” he said.

Dr John Makumbe, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe and well known critic of President Mugabe said given the dire economic situation in the country the political leaders must be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices for the deal to work.

“It’s a fragile agreement, it’s like you are holding eggs, where the stuff inside is rich and good but the shell is very thin and very fragile,” he said. “If you break it everything falls and goes tow waste. Both Zanu PF and the MDC will have to put the country ahead of their partisan interests.”