MDC Supporters Celebrate

Masvingo- Hundreds of MDC supporters including children of school going age, took to the streets this morning in celebration. The celebration was prompted by news that their Morgan Tsvangirai and ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe reached a power sharing agreement last night. The agreement will see the formation of a Government of National Unity.
Zimbabwe has been embroiled in a political crisis which dates back to 2000 when Tsvangirai’s MDC first contested in a general election against ZANU PF. The crisis deepened earlier this year when Tsvangirai won the most votes against Mugabe in the harmonized elections of March 29. However, Tsvangirai did not win the constitutional 50% plus one vote to avoid a run off. Tsvangirai pulled out of the run off a few days before the poll citing widespread state sponsored violence against MDC supporters. The violent campaign left more than 100 opposition supporters dead. Mugabe went into the run off election unchallenged and claimed victory. The election was dismissed by the international community which vowed not to recognize the outcome.
President Mbeki who was appointed by Sadc to mediate long before the March election, managed to get the political parties on the negotiating table. A political settlement was reportedly reached last night.
The deal will see President Mugabe retain his post while Tsvangirai will become the Prime minister.
MDC supporters started celebrating in the high density suburbs of Runyararo and Chesvingo as early as 0630hrs today. The celebrations started spontaneously as soon as the news of the agreement filtered through. The celebration later proceeded into the City Centre this time with a few MDC councilors in the lead. The supporters blew whistles, sang, chanted their party slogan and threw flyers around. Most of them were clad in their party regalia. Police later rounded them up and took them to Masvingo Police Central. They were told by police that they should have sought clearance first. They were told that they were free to go in and out of the police station but they were not to disappear.Police were not immediately available for comment.