Two months after an attempt to close a power-sharing deal between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed, there may be an end in sight for the crisis in which the country has been embroiled for the last six months.
Under a new Sept. 15 deal, in which splinter opposition leader Arthur Mutambara took part, Mugabe will remain president and Tsvangirai will occupy a newly-created prime minister's post. Each will be assisted by two deputies.
The country has been at an impasse since the results of the presidential election’s first round, held on March 29, were contested by the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
According to the MDC, its candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, won an absolute majority. The Zimbabwean electoral commission, however, declared that he didn’t have enough votes to avoid a run-off against acting President Mugabe.
As the country descended into more and more violence, Tsvangirai announced on June 22 that he was pulling out of the run-off, saying he could not ask his supporters to cast their ballots “when that vote would cost them their lives".
Despite calls from the international community and African leaders to cancel or postpone the vote, Robert Mugabe held a one-man run-off vote on June 27, and was re-elected to a sixth term with 90.2% of the vote.
Once one of Africa’s most prosperous nations, Zimbabwe is now a country in economic shambles. Mugabe, who has headed the former Southern Rhodesia since its independence in 1980, holds a catastrophic economic record. The unemployment rate has reached 80%, inflation was more than 100,000 percent in 2007 and most of the population lacks basic amenities. Life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world at 38 years.
Mugabe, Tsvangirai sign historic deal
Long-time Zimbabwean rivals Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai sign a landmark power-sharing deal that will see Mugabe retaining the presidency while Tsvangirai becomes the new prime minister.
Zimbabwe opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai
One month after the presidential elections there is still no consensus on who will lead Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe, president since 1987, or self-declared winner Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the Movement for Democratic Change?
Zimbabwe, a nation in exile
After a wave of xenophobic violence rattled South Africa in May, hundreds of thousands of Zimbabwean refugees were left homeless. We met a number of refugees who found shelter with the Methodist Church in Johannesburg.
Zimbabwe, a state on the collapse
Everything in Zimbabwe from the economy, to its infrastructure and food supply is collapsing. (Report: L. Menget, V. Herz)
Pour aller plus loin
- 25/08/2008 : Zimbabwe's MDC: two members arrested at parliament
- 19/08/2008 : Zimbabwe's parliament sworn in next week
- 25/08/2008 : Parliament set to reconvene in Zimbabwe
- 18/08/2008 : SADC Zimbabwe summit ends with no deal
- 16/08/2008 : Zimbabwe talks under way, no deal yet
- 30/07/2008 : Zimbabwe revalues dollar to fight hyperinflation
- 20/07/2008 : Zimbabwe to introduce 100 billion dollar note
- 16/07/2008 : Zimbabwe blames Britain for 2.2m percent inflation
- 13/06/2008 : 'Junta' bosses fear prosecution for 1980s crimes
- 12/07/2008 : Zimbabwe happy with 'victory over racism'
- 11/07/2008 : UN sanctions against Mugabe's regime halted
- 11/07/2008 : UN delays vote, Zimbabwe parties resume talks
- 08/07/2008 : 'Financial measures' sought against Zimbabwe
- 07/07/2008 : Zimbabwe tells world to 'stop meddling'
- 07/07/2008 : Fresh violence in Zimbabwe as G8 considers sanctions
- 05/07/2008 : Mbeki meets Mugabe, not Tsvangirai
- 05/07/2008 : Footage exposes ‘vote-rigging’ for Mugabe
- 03/07/2008 : US pushes UN resolution draft on Zimbabwe
- 02/07/2008 : Zimbabwe hails AU resolution on unity government
- 30/06/2008 : Zimbabwe overshadows AU summit
- 29/06/2008 : Mugabe wins Zimbabwe run-off vote
- 27/06/2008 : Reports: low turnout in Zimbabwe's one-man election
- 27/06/2008 : Zimbabwe, a nation in exile
- 23/06/2008 : Ban urges Zimbabwean runoff vote delay
- 05/07/2008 : 200 opposition members ask for US assistance
- 22/06/2008 : Tsvangirai quits because 'votes would cost lives'
- 21/06/2008 : Trapped in a Harare nightmare
- 10/06/2008 : Tsvangirai: Zimbabwe run by military junta
- 07/06/2008 : Mugabe blocks opposition, suspends NGOs
- 06/06/2008 : Harare harassment continues
- 24/05/2008 : Tsvangirai returns home to Zimbabwe
- 16/05/2008 : Zimbabwe run-off vote set for June 27
- 09/05/2008 : Doctors decry a dramatic rise in violence in Zimbabwe
- 02/05/2008 : Zimbabwe opposition victory 'not absolute'
- 29/04/2008 : One month on, Zimbabwe still in the dark
- 13/04/2008 : Opposition contests vote recount
- 05/04/2008 : Zimbabwe opposition appeal postponed
- 04/04/2008 : Mugabe's party plans to fight back amid rising tension
- 02/04/2008 : Zimbabwe opposition won't declare victory
- 31/03/2008 : Zimbabwe poll commission urged to 'do the right thing'
- 31/03/2008 : Zimbabwe opposition claims majority vote
- 29/03/2008 : Zimbabweans hope for change
- 28/03/2008 : Campaign ends amid economic hardships
- 26/03/2008 : Zimbabwe’s impoverished 'millionaires'
Pour aller plus loin
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REPORT
Overview of Tvangerai campaign
N.Nragozina 22/06 -
REPORT
Mugabe warns against cancelling election. 22/06
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REPORT
Election campaign ends amid economic hardships (Report: C.Dumay)
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Zimbabwe's inflation
24/03: Douglas Herbert, FRANCE 24’s business editor
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