The latest developments in Zimbabwe fall into the grimly familiar narrative. There are signs of hope that there will finally be a breakthrough — in this case Thabo Mbeki, who still represents the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Zim talks, and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe touch down in Zimbabwe in hopes of kick-starting talks. Before any meaningful progress is made Robert Mugabe refuses to yield on issues that are fundamental to coming to an agreement. The talks stall on the way to failure, and participants (most notably Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change) and observers alike despair.
Perhaps something will come along to push the talks forward and forge an agreement. At this stage, however, it is difficult to imagine what form that deus ex machina will take.