"Word comes today that Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai are ready to start negotiations over last month's universally condemned election in Zimbabwe. The BBC says the two sides "are close to signing a deal outlining a framework for talks." This, for Zimbabwe, qualifies as a breakthrough, although I wouldn't be too quick with the champagne."

Neither would I, and I would strongly recommend that Morgan Tsvangirai take a good look at what happened to Robert Mugabe's last "political partner" and his supporters - Joshua Nkomo, remember him?

Anybody that thinks that Zimbabwe's woes will disappear when Mugabe dies is dreaming. All Morgan Tsvangirai will be doing in aligning himself with Mugabe's ilegitimate regime is ensuring that MDC share Mugabe's guilt in what he has done to the country.