The elections have come and gone, sham or not, Zimbabweans need to move on. Certainly, the election produced an illegitimate regime, an illegitimate leader and an even poorer Zimbabwean mass. The international arena has been ablaze with the Zimbabwean issue in the last week or two. The Zimbabwe situation has been topical and took centre-stage at the African Union, SADC, G8 and lately the United Nations Security Council, however there seems to be no solution in sight, if anything the situation looks worse.

Both the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ZANU PF have put forward irreconcilable and impenetrable conditions to dialogue. First the MDC has demanded they be recognized as the winner of the March 29 election and that the June 27 election be disregarded. ZANU PF on the other hand has demand recognition of legitimacy through the results of the June 27 election. The western community has been frustrated in its bid to have more sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies through the UN Security Council. Russia and china in their veto of the motion argued that the Zimbabwean case does not constitute a threat to peace and security to the region and the international community. Hence, slapping the Harare regime with sanctions would set a bad precedence where the Security Council begins to interfere in domestic affairs.

Therefore, with such a background it seems Zimbabwe is at a standstill, there is no prospect of a near solution to the impasse. President Mbeki has since succeed in the weekend preliminary talks with the negotiating teams in Pretoria and its reported they have both agreed to drop their rigid conditions. One is therefore forced to hope that this becomes the only possible solution outside of an armed resolution. Surely the Zimbabwean generality longs for a quick and conclusive solution to their long suffering. It is time to put our differences aside and work for the betterment of our country. The people we serve come first and political power last. In fact, if one is to go by the March 29 result then there is no doubt that the Zimbabwean people are torn apart between two interests and two representatives of those interests. A transitional authority, a government of national unity or whatever arrangement or agreement that will save the people is worth a try, it’s worth working towards.

Zimbabweans are masters of their own destiny. Whilst outside assistance and solidarity is needed in the attainment of this and in the healing and reconstruction process, it should always be of a supportive and partnership role. Surely, Zimbabweans cannot outsource their own emancipation.