Sometimes all it takes is a funeral

The BBC report below points to the passing of and subsequent funeral for Morgan Tsvangirai's wife Susan as creating an atmosphere of 'unity' in the failed state Zimbabwe.

"Could the tragic car crash which killed the wife of Zimbabwe's long-time opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, serve to cement the shaky unity government which he joined as prime minister just a month ago?

Zimbabweans of all political colours have been moved by the warm words of condolence at Susan Tsvangirai's funeral spoken by President Robert Mugabe, who for many years has labelled her husband a traitor.

Many Zimbabweans were deeply pessimistic about the chances of the two men, who have been such bitter enemies for many years, genuinely working together.

This seemed to be borne out as Mr Tsvangirai's supporters remained in detention and violence returned to some of the few remaining white-owned farms, even after he was sworn in.
On hearing the news of Mrs Tsvangirai's death, the first reaction of many Zimbabweans was to assume it was the work of Mr Mugabe's feared secret police.

Several of Mr Mugabe's previous rivals have perished in suspicious car crashes.
But Mr Tsvangirai has said he accepts it was almost certainly an accident.

And Mr Mugabe's speech at a church service in Harare for Mrs Tsvangirai has completely changed the mood in Harare's political circles."

This blogger agrees with the BBC report but adds that another funeral would clinch the deal for the future of Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe's funeral would of course give great hope and lift the immense burden this tyrant has placed on the people of his country. This not to say the former colonists are any more innocent than Mugabe. Between white rule and black retribution we see a ruined country and a near-ruined continent.

Fortunately the future looks much brighter now for Africa than ever before.

Ironically, the recent global downturn, in my view is more of a leveler between the developed nations and the African continent. Since the arrival of the Europeans on the African continent Africans soon became used to hardship. A shortage housing, food, education, medicine and infrastructure is nothing new to the African. Africa and the west are only half-partners in this recession as the full impact will be worse in the West than in Africa. Africa, in short, is better equipped to deal with hardship than the mollycodled West.

As for Mugabe, he is one of the few African leaders to utterly disappoint not only his perceived oppressor but indeed the really oppressed as well, his own people. The sooner he is laid to rest the better, for everyone concerned., democracy itself not the least.