Zimbabweans still face the daily struggle to survive but the new deal brings a sense of relief, writes Bill Corcoran
IT WAS a sight few Zimbabweans had ever seen before: supporters from the country's rival political parties amassed in the same location showing no visible signs of animosity towards each other.
Yesterday as the leaders of the country's new unity government signed a powersharing deal at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, thousands of Zanu-PF and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters gathered outside to celebrate and witness the historic event.
In the past such gatherings would have ended in violence and bloodshed. Only three months earlier, in the run-up to the June presidential election run-off, television images were beamed around the world of Zanu-PF loyalists with machetes chasing MDC supporters through the capital's townships.
However, political activists in both parties appeared to have put their bitter rivalry behind them - for yesterday at least - as they watched together the African dignitaries arriving for the agreement's signing ceremony.
As the hour of President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai's arrival at the hotel drew closer, their supporters gathered in opposing groups near its convention centre, where the ceremony was taking place.
Adorned with party colours they marched towards the building, singing loudly and ululating as they went. While passers-by and police showed initial signs of nervousness, they soon calmed as it became apparent the groups were not intent on violence.
Alister Moyo and his friends wanted to witness what they hoped would be a historic day marking the beginning of a brighter future.
"This is the most important day for Zimbabweans. I don't support either of the political parties because I want to be for a new Zimbabwe. We need to put politics behind us and come together to make the country a success again," said Moyo.
"I have been told by my friend who drives a truck that food is already beginning to come into Zimbabwe from our neighbours. This is a new day for Zimbabwe and it is so important I do not know why they did not declare it a national holiday," he added.
Once the signing ceremony began, some people left the hotel's grounds to gather around televisions and watch the speeches given by President Mugabe and the new prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
As Mugabe warned against allowing Great Britain and the US to interfere with Zimbabwe's hard-won sovereignty Nombeko Khumalo said that while people were hopeful about a better future, they doubted that change would be easy or happen quickly.
"We are tired of Mugabe blaming the British for all of our problems; saying we have democracy when there is no sign of it. You know, it is not that we think Tsvangirai is a great leader that we support him. We support him because he is not Mugabe," she said.
Indeed, the mood in the city is more one of relief. To suggest everyone is focused on the new unity government would be to belittle the population's daily struggle to survive.
Chris, who asked that his surname not be used, said: "Living here is like living in a dream or in a nightmare. Where else can you wake in the morning to find your currency has changed overnight? Where else can a currency devalue by the hour, and shops open even when there is no food on the shelves?
"Tomorrow the ceremony will be over and we will all be trying to buy a loaf of bread again," he said.