Those of us that keep a close eye on the events in Zimbabwe will now have been thoroughly convinced that Mugabe is not about to share power, will not allow any power-sharing, and is prepared to make war against the Movement for Democratic Change and the people of Zimbabwe to attain his goals.

I have often said that the mediated talks between the two parties (three, if you count the MDC as two separate factions, one, the larger, led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the other led by former student firebrand, Arthur Mutambara) is a waste of time.

Well - it has been - and Mugabe is aware that people inside Zimbabwe and those who watch from afar are beginning to grow impatient.

Not that Mugabe is about to change his time frame for anyone bar himself.

So he is intent on reclaiming full control by duplicity, underhanded activities and the use of violence.

In other words, Mugabe has not changed - not one iota. If anything, he has got worse.

Mugabe is now attempting, with the quiet acquiesce of Thabo Mbeki to have the constitutional amendment (Number 19) - that would create the posts of Prime Minister and two Deputy Prime Ministers - loaded with the ability of Mugabe to cancel the deal as and when he deems it necessary.

The dust will no sooner settle then Mugabe will pull the pin, and the country will revert to the control of an executive president – himself. (I deliberately do not capitalise the position title.)

It is interesting to note that he can achieve this without constitutional amendment.

And mediator Mbeki will do little or nothing to have the amendment rewritten to exclude these powers that Mugabe wants. Even if Mbeki does manage to have them removed, Mugabe will seek to realign the constitution using his Presidential Powers – and these would be passed - even if the majority MDC parliament were to cry foul.

Mugabe will never participate in a power-sharing government, preferring that the status quo be left in place. He dictates and the country quivers. That’s how he likes it and that is the way it will remain.

And it makes no difference how many people register their disgust at this, or who says anything against the moves. Mugabe has total control and intends to keep it - even if the people voted that ZANU PF not hold the majority in parliament, even though the few loyalists he has left voted for Mugabe is a sham one man election, ZANU PF having battered the population into submission during the run-up to the second round of the Presidential election.

We all know that Mugabe’s ‘election’ was fatally flawed - and I use the adjective deliberately - was unfair and skewed - but Mugabe doesn’t care.

He was heard to go toe-to-toe with a head of State of another African country, and he swore blind that he had won the election, the majority in parliament and the people’s will.

What unadulterated rubbish!

Mugabe cares for nobody but himself and is more than happy to hand out the ‘fall guys’ as long as it keeps him in power and away from the clanging shut of a prison door behind him.

Mugabe has achieved the impossible. A power-sharing dictatorship.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man