The news that ZANU-PF's Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leaders, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara have finally succeeded in reaching a mutually-agreeable power-sharing deal, which was signed today, must be welcomed - particularly in light of reports that under the agreement, Mugabe's executive powers will be greatly reduced.
While the signing of this deal is the first significant ray of hope for the future stability - both political and economic - of our northern neighbour, the Democratic Alliance (DA) nevertheless remains concerned about the durability of this deal, as well as the dangerous precedent it will set for the future of ballot-based regime change in Africa.
The Kenyan power-sharing deal - which came in the wake of the extensive political violence which followed that country's last election - and today's agreement have established a disturbing trend in Africa whereby despotic rulers can continue to cling to power even after their removal from office by democratic means.
In addition to this, past experience has shown that Mugabe is not a man who may be taken at his word; as such it remains to be seen whether he will honour his part of the agreement and ensure that Tsvangirai and Mutambara are able to exercise the powers afforded them and the MDC, which is now Zimbabwe's majority party. Of particular concern is the indication that the security ministries - which have been used by ZANU-PF as instruments of political violence - will by-and-large remain under Mugabe's control.
We hope, however, for the sake of the people of Zimbabwe, whose country has been crippled by years of socio-economic turmoil and political violence at the hands of Mugabe's repressive regime, that the signing of today's agreement, however flawed, will signal the beginning of a new era of peace, stability and prosperity in the country.
We also hope that today's deal will be the last in a series of political solutions in Africa, which ignore the democratic consensus and threaten to undermine our chances of seeing true democracy take root and flower on the continent.
Statement issued by Tony Leon MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on foreign affairs, September 15 2008
