"During his Hero's Day address, Mr. Mugabe spoke about violence that wracked Zimbabwe between the March 29 elections and the presidential run off on June 27. He said if people try to take away Zimbabwe's sovereignty, then people can only react.
He said that God gives people the power to protect themselves, even if that means violence.
Many analysts believe that Mr. Mugabe was referring to the Movement for Democratic Change. He has long accused the party of being a stooge of the West."
Thornycroft also writes of the sense of urgency about the talks, as the lack of foreign exchange to buy imported food may be the main force driving Mugabe to negotiate after using violence to claim an illegitimate victory in the June 27th run-off election for president. An election in which his opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC pull-out of the race after more than 120 MDC activists and supporters had been killed by pro-ZANU-PF paramilitary groups.
Thornycroft explains the dire economic situation:
"...sources say both parties understand that without a deal the present economic chaos in Zimbabwe would quickly deteriorate to social catastrophe as there is very little food and no foreign currency to import it.
Zimbabwe needs western aid to stabilize its currency and reduce inflation of more than two million percent, and to rebuild its shattered industrial and agricultural infrastructure."
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