Mbeki's resignation "tragedy" for Mugabe .

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Written by Acts Africa

Tuesday, 23 September 2008 06:14

Analyst says Mbeki's resignation "tragedy" for Mugabe .

Thabo Mbeki who has been at the heart of the Zimbabwe crisis as the mediator and also the President of the major power in the region, resigned at the weekend after receiving an ultimatum by his political party the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The South African leader has been the point man in trying to find a peaceful solution to the Zimbabwe crisis but his departure, just a week after the deal was signed, still leaves the Zimbabwe issue up in the air, as it is yet to be implemented.

Last Monday Mbeki successfully brokered a power sharing deal between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations, but the new Zimbabwe government has already hit a serious snag because the Mugabe regime is refusing to share the key ministries.

So what does Mbeki's exit mean for Zimbabwe?

In an article in the UK Financial Times, economist Tony Hawkins said Mbeki's departure could hardly come at a worse time for the Zimbabwe settlement negotiations. He said although in the short term it appeared likely that he would retain the mandate to mediate from both the ANC and SADC, he would now have less influence.

The MDC has in the past complained about Mbeki's mediation and analysts predict these latest developments may work in Morgan Tsvangirai's favour, as the South African leader has been accused of favouring Mugabe. ANC President Jacob Zuma who has openly criticised Robert Mugabe before is strongly tipped to take over the South African Presidency when elections are held.

Sydney Masamvu a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group told Newsreel the new South Africa leadership is very hard nosed and has fairly supported the 'opposition' in Zimbabwe. He said Mbeki's exit is a "tragedy"
for Mugabe coming at this particular juncture when he is finding very few friends in the Southern African region.

Masamvu said the departure of Mbeki and the reconfiguration of the leadership in the region would see Mugabe coming under increasing pressure as the balance of forces weigh against him. "It is a development that is going to force President Robert Mugabe to revise his exit strategy and to depart the political scene in the not too distant future," the analyst said.

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