The decision by the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) to join the Unity Government in Zimbabwe and refer outstanding demands for consideration by SADC at a later stage, seemed like deferring the dream to the dream slayer.  

The MDC leadership should have heeded the warning from Eleanor Sisulu of the danger of hastily joining the Unity Government, while the brutal treatment of the MDC supporters by the ZANU PF controlled police force continued with impunity.  

This could become worse, it could become the case of the spider inviting the fly into the parlour with the hidden intention to devour the fly once inside. By agreeing to join the Unity Government and suspend some of their fundamental demands, MDC leadership traded in their only leverage to obtain for all the people of Zimbabwe a genuine and lasting power sharing dispensation for a vague Unity Government agreement.  

SADC leaders have knowingly presided over a political deception, a ploy to unlock international economic aid to Zimbabwe while at the same time they intend to keep Mr. Mugabe and his ZANU PF firmly in power. It is naïve therefore for Mr. Tsvangirai and his MDC to believe that SADC will be interested in their outstanding issues after they (MDC) have joined the Unity Government. 

At the same time it is judicious for the US, Britain and other members of the EU to withhold their support initially until they are satisfied that the power sharing arrangement in Zimbabwe is genuine and in the interest of all the people of Zimbabwe.  

Greater vigilance is therefore going to be imperative on the part of the MDC, SADC and International Community to make sure that the implementation of the this agreement is to the satisfaction of all the Zimbabwean people including civil society in that country.