Zimbabwe's political impasse: a tribute to Thabo Mbeki

By the time this letter is published, it is most likely that the former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki will no longer be the mediator of the internal political conflict in Zimbabwe. I can now safely air my views publicly as to how I think he handled the dispute. First of all, as a conflict resolution expert, I know-fully well that it was a very difficult task for Thabo Mbeki just to get Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara to agree to come to a negotiating, table. Secondly, the fact that he got them to actually start negotiating a peaceful settlement over their dispute is quite an achievement on his part.