Another post on Zimbabwe

I caught an interview with the other MDC faction leader, Arthur Mutambara, on BBC World's Hardtalk last night. Hardtalk is usually a brutal interview, and the interviewer was really good at exploring this split in the opposition. But I was equally impressed with the answers.

The basic argument is that the split faction of the MDC wants to fight Mugabe on a principled stand, and they accuse, without naming specifics, some of the leaders (not Morgan Tsvangirai) of resorting to Mugabe's tactics to fight Mugabe. Mutambara argues that the MDC should not be fighting Mugabe the person, but the system that backs and props up Mugabe. He did not want the possibility that MDC becomes an equally corrupt replacement of the current Zanu PF government.

Equally interesting was his assessment of the negotiations between Zanu-PF and the MDC directed by Mbeki. He was quite optimistic, and refused to reveal details, citing that negotiations are too sensitive and confidentiality needs to be retained.

Another interesting part: the MDC are willing to work with Zanu PF members in a unity government, but only with members that are brave enough to stand up to Mugabe.

But disappointingly there is still no concrete plans on what they want to do to regenerate Zimbabwe. The interviewer did not dwell too long on this issue, but Mutambara was also quite reluctant to reveal too much details.

But in the end, all this depends on a free and fair elections. And while it is in South Africa and SADC's interest to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis, the fact remains that their stated policy of non interventionism means that, there is a real chance of no physical intervention. As I discussed previously, intervention itself may not be the ideal solution. I think, in the end, the telling factor will be: are there Zanu PF members who are willing to stand up against Mugabe, and will there be enough such members?