A three-legged race

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THE INSIDE VIEW

As President Thabo Mbeki was announcing the power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe on 12 September, a judge in Pietermaritzburg was accusing him of political meddling in South Africa’s judicial system. The paradox continued three days later: when Mbeki and hundreds of other African dignitaries were celebrating the deal signing in Harare, Mbeki’s party was debating how to force him out of office. Mbeki needs the Zimbabwe deal to work. It might prove to be his last significant act as President. Many of Mbeki’s brighter moments have been outside South Africa, reforming the old Organisation of African Unity and mediating peace deals in Congo. He has consistently promoted governments of national unity as a solution to political crises – even when one of the parties had mobilised soldiers, killed opponents and stolen the vote. Born in the transition from apartheid, South Africa’s exported power-sharing doctrine has had mixed results. It kept the lid on the crisis in Congo-Kinshasa, where conditions have worsened after competitive elections two years ago. Kenya is struggling with its power-sharing deal, which is held together mainly by the self-interest of the participating politicians and the business class. In Zimbabwe, the politicians are as far apart as in Congo or Kenya, the economy is much worse and outsiders have little leverage on events. As Mbeki fights for survival at home, his political model faces its sternest test yet.