The real status of events in Zimbabwe continues to be shrouded in a fog of obfuscation, misinformation, and disinformation. Despite reports apparently emanating from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state, the leaders of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have denied that they have agreed to form a unity government. MDC's unwillingness to be bullied, cowed, or coerced shows fortitude, is wholly justifiable, but it does carry with it a significant risk, inasmuch as Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF is likely to move forward with unilaterally forming a new government.
One X-factor, or perhaps O-factor, worth considering: Is the Obama administration about to take a harder line with Mugabe? It appears so. I hope that harder line involves more than stronger sanctions, but would hope that any serious pressure from the United States might help to provide a tipping point. It would be apt if the beginning of the Obama era marked the end of the deleterious reign of Mugabe .
