The long range equipment has been out of the box in Guildhall tower in recent months and years, as we’ve followed developments in Zimbabwe.  Tá muid abálta bheith dóchasach faoin nuacht iontach seo ón tSiombáib.

It need hardly be said that Zim has turned from a beacon of hope in liberated Africa to a basket case where tyranny has reigned.  Inflation has recently been tipping along at around 11 million per cent.  When you think that the August rises in Irish and UK inflation to 4.3 and 4.7 per cent respectively hit the headlines, the shambles of Mugabe’s famine causing hegemony was stark.

Of course, the great North West made its own stand back in 2003 when protesters from SDLPyouth and other youth organisations in Derry and Donegal protested for democracy at the Ireland v Zimbabwe match in Eglinton.  Rumours abounded at the time that Eamon McCann’s SEA acolytes were fully on board until the sunday morning arrived and they didn’t show.  Revolutions start by lying in bed, as Oasis would once said.

Everyone who has worked in however small a way for democracy and justice in Zimbabwe will be unsettled by the sight of police firing live rounds at opposition demonstrators in Harare during yesterday’s signing of the power-sharing accord.  Channel 4 news today reports that the security services were still carrying out surveillance on MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and police were arresting opposition activists.

But as always it is important to keep the eye on the bigger prize.  Tsvangirai will soon be Prime Minister.  The entire rearguard by Zanu-PF has been based on a lie that the MDC has been acting as a puppet of the British. Once Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC ministers take up the reigns of power, the reality of that lie will be exposed to those ordinary Zimbabweans who feared letting go of the liberation legacy.

NBNW is reminded a bit of our own peace process.  Western media are today presenting unacceptable incidents as threats to the deal.  But Tsvangirai has been through a long struggle and understands what is at stake.   There may yet be major crises and Mugabe’s own actions are unpredictable.  But Tsvangirai knows that you cannot allow progress to be derailed by any recalcitrant, crank or war monger who seeks to divert it.

That is the big prize and Tsvangirai will do his nation a great service by focusing all the MDC’s energies on the challenges ahead rather than revenge or the legacy threat from Zanu-PF nay sayers.