Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Are you sugesting that we give Mugabe some more time to destroy the rest of Zim? 30 years ago Malasia was a poorer country than Rhodesia. Look what he's done to a great country. He has robbed his country of its wealth, He has properties in Malasia and other countries,

Gil, Funchal, Portugal

Lim, as usual you are showing your pro-Mugabe bias. The west guaranteed the $Bs in support of a democratically elected govt. And that is ALL anyone outside Zim (including myself) has any right to demand - just to let the Zimbabweans FREELY choose their next leader without fear of murder or torture.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

Let's not forget that Mugabe is an illegitimate leader who is seeking legitimacy by faking a reconciliatory approach to the opposition. Who is he fooling? The whole world knows that he is not the chosen leader of Zimbabwe, and no one will support a settlement that leaves him in power.

Den, Washington, DC, USA

"If MDC comes in the West is ready with billions $US" says
Gil, Funchal, Portugal--

Yes so to prop up its stooge to further its agenda. Where is the true concern for Zims? Wonder where the US$Bs will come from? The West is not in good economical shape. Zims will lose if MDC comes in.
220708

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Morgan should never have signed anything before all MDC jailed supporters are set free, the violence stopped, the aid workers allowed to return, just for starters. Mbeki & Mugabe are going to fool Morgan into this GNU. This is no good. Only a transitional government leading to free elections will do

Gil, Funchal, Portugal

Anna, Kendal. Yes, not only did you knight this man, you did so AFTER he had slaughtered 20 000 of the minority Ndebele tribe. I think he got the knighthood because UK was so happy to have got rid of the Rhodesia/Smith problem at last. Indeed, what were your politicians thinking? CAN they think?

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

You seem to be well informed and sensible about the realities of Zim. The only way that Zim can move forward and return to some form of normality is without ZANU-PF. They had 28 years to prove they how useless they are. If MDC comes in the West is ready with billions $US

Gil, Funchal, Portugal

Davis, Manchester,
I don't know where you get information that I am out of touch with Zimbabwe. I visit Zimbabwe virtually every year and make dozens of calls every month. And until recently I used to get all the parliamentary proceedings through Hansard. I am definitely not out of touch!

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

Winston Nkomo-Mason, Johannesburg, South Africa

All President T Mbeki has done is broker an agreement for talks to take place. Maintenance of the ZANU-PF legacy would be the worst possible outcome for all Zimbabweans given the recent past.

Jonathan Wright, London, United Kingdom

This just typical of the Western viewpoint expressed by people on this list.Irrespective of what Zanu-PF and the MDC political views are at this time, it is a historical day for the nation because there is a chance that something good might come out of this. Celebrate instead of denigrate.

Kwame, Northampton, UK

Charan Muzaya- You appear to have very little knowledge about Zim and are out of touch with events on the ground. Why don't you go to Zim on holiday and maybe you will come back better informed. Zims want peace and stability and lets all give peace a chance.

Davis, Manchester,

By agreeing to talks Mugabe has at last admitted there is a crisis in the country. How come the crisis happened under your leadership Mighty and Invincible Bob? The man is weakened. He was definitely outperformed by Tsvangirai at the signing ceremony, someone he used to call "tea-boy".

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

Tsvangarai will be allowed into Zanu's tent just long enough to compromise him. Then he'll be arrested. Give up on reporting as though Zimbabwe is about to have the fairy tale ending - it's doing Westerners a disservice. In fact, drop Zimbabwe as a 'cause celebre'. We need to move on.

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

I hope Tsvangirai realizes that he has an advantage because the West is behind him. Mbeki and Mugabe are desperate to get talks moving really fast to try and maintain power and to try and fool MDC into power sharing.

MDC, remember that the West will not financially help any ZANU / MDC government

Gil, Funchal, Portugal

Charan Muzaya -You have stated in these forums that you have not set foot in Zimbabwe in 30 years. Am I right to say that the last time you visited was in 1978 ?When then did you hob nob with the elites?Independence was from 1980. You have also stated that you grew up under Smith era.???

Davis, Manchester,

Davis, Manchester,
You think Zims really reconciled? Yes, the majority did, but not ZANU(PF). I went to their parties after independence, heard the senior chefs talk privately in Shona about what they wanted to do with minorities, and I decided to stay in UK tho I don't come from a minority group.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

Response to Carys Mathews, Chester. Was this for the White people? Having all the local Zimbabweans waiting hands and foot on you? Who was working in the farms digging and sweating while you lot enjoyed your luxury. You are not really interested in the people only what Europeans can get.

Kwame, Northampton, UK

Bruce Robertson -Zim was a wonderful place to live between 1980 up to the late 1990s' (see Carys Mathew's comment) and the same Zanu-PF was in govt. The problems only started with the land reforms.Correct? Warring factions reconciled after 1980 and Smith lived happily ever after.Give peace a chance.

Davis, Manchester,

"Remember its Africans who are now 'cleaning up' the British mess in Zimbabwe"

Vincent, given Africans have protected Mugabe until now they are also to blame for the current crisis.

Chris, London,

I was greatly moved to read this story and sincerely hope he's not walking into a viper's nest. The courage and fortitude of this man, Morgan Tsvangirai, beaten up and driven to seek sanctuary in the Dutch Embassy for opposing Magabe, is rare today.

ALL 'POLITICIANS' TAKE NOTE !

Shirley Bowen, Blackpool, UK

President T Mbeki has courageously brokered peace in our time and ensured the Zimbabwean legacy is in safe hands! Peace be upon you President Mbeki. Peace be upon the leadership in Zimbabwe as they ensure peace and maintenance of the ZANU-PF legacy! Where are the western sceptics and critics now?

Winston Nkomo-Mason, Johannesburg, South Africa

Population starved. Not one sign of anyone with the ability to lift a finger against the armed forces or police, yet,

"Zimbabwean soldiers in full combat kit with automatic rifles, while a large squad of armed riot police stood by"

And in the background of the meeting, we heard laughter. ????

Chris Coles, Medstead, Alton, United Kingdom

"almost three decades of his repressive rule" - who are you trying to fool? Zimbabwe's demise began in the late 1990s; it was one of the best places to live from 1980 until 1998.

Carys Mathews, Chester,

Deep down Zims are brothers and sisters irrespective of their political persuasion. Negotiations are better than war.More atrocities were committed during the liberation war(>50,000 black Zims killed,millions displaced,a generation lost out on schooling).However,Zims reconciled after 1980.

Davis, Manchester,

Forgive my ignorance, but did we REALLY knight this man?? In heaven's name, what were we thinking?!

anna, kendal , uk

Thomas Martin, London,
The fear indeed is that Morgan Tsvangirai has been had. But I am sure Tsvangirai knows the traps. The real problem will be if Mbeki, the AU and UN try to force Tsvangirai to agree to something he does not want to agree to, like keeping Mugabe on as ceremonial president.

Charan Muzaya, London, UK

This isn't ending the political crisis, it's entrenching it. Mugabe's legitamising his dictatorship and Morgan Tsvangirai's a fool. Zimbabwe needs an opposition leader with the courage to face down the regime and Mbeki should be barracked for cheer leading this farce.

Thomas Martin, London,

David its not like the rest of Africa is happy with the deal, its simply a way of setting an exit framework for Mugabe the African way. Remember its Africans who are now 'cleaning up' the British mess in Zimbabwe because the British Govt has failed to offer alternatives besides threats and sanctions

vincent ochieng, Nairobi, Kenya

I go along with Peter Faux on this one.

Is it only me that's wary of people who have Hitler moustaches and wear bright green suits covered with pictures of themselves?

Ian Gibb, Ashtead, UK

One hopes Tsvangirai is not going the way of Joshua Nkomo. Mugabe's modus operandi was the same there. Beat your opponents into submission, then negotiate them into obscurity. The tragedy is that the rest of Africa is happy with this.

David Ashton, Bathurst, Australia

This is a simple case of 'if you can't beat them,join them'.
After the failure by Brown and Bush to dislodge Mugabe through the AU,G8 and UN,Tsvangirai simply had no choice but to sign the MOU which is clearely carries Zanu PF interests.
Daft Tsvangirai completely outsmarted by witty Mugabe.

Alton Hadzisa, London, UK

Beware of greeks bearing gifts. Mugabe rose to power in Zanu , not by leading the fight from the front but by stabbing his friends in the back

peter faux, burrum heads, Australia , Queensland

"almost three decades of his repressive rule" - so why did Britain knight him in 1994?

Bruce Robertson, Brighton, UK

Mugabe is the worst thing that ever happened to Zimbabwe - Get rid of him immediately....any way you like.

m wilson, bidache,