The Guardian is reporting that some of President Mugabe's top aides have held secret meetings with South African mediators trying to work out a power sharing deal between Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and his rival for the presidency Morgan Tsvangirai. What they apparently want is a promise that they won't be prosecuted if Tsvangirai's MDC party takes over power in Zimbabwe.
So far talks on sharing power haven't gone so well. Mugabe has been pushing a deal where he keeps the power in the government and sticks Tsvangirai with the thankless job of rebuilding the country's wrecked economy. Tsvangirai, for his part, is refusing to accept any deal where he doesn't have some real power, and the talks themselves seem like they're going nowhere fast.
And as I said in an earlier post, the fear of Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe seems to be evaporating, which is likely why some of his top aides look like they're searching for a Plan B. Mugabe's military and security services have kept him in power for nearly 30 years, he has relied on them much more in these past few years as popular support has built for new leadership in the country.
But above all, those responsible for keeping him in power want to save their own skins, whether that means by keeping Mugabe in power or by cutting a deal with the opposition. If Tsvangirai is willing to make a deal, and if he can convince them he means it, then this really could be the end for Mugabe.
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