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Somehow the unlikely triumvirate sticks together – for fear of something worse – amid signs of a slowly recovering economy

The uneasy coalition government will rumble on into 2010, making painful but discernible progress on economic reform. It is in none of the three main parties’ interest to ditch the agreement. President Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara of his own MDC faction told a joint press conference on 23 December that they still had ‘minor differences’ but that the power-sharing government was not going to collapse.South Africa is mediating partly because it wants outstanding issues resolved before June, when it hopes that the football World Cup will boost its own, and Africa’s, international image. In October, Tsvangirai’s MDC withdrew from cabinet meetings, accusing ZANU-PF of being an ‘unreliable partner’. It rejoined after mediation by the Southern African Development Community....

(This article contains approximately 792 words)

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Keywords:

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