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April 1, 2008
Posted: 1917 GMT
BEIT BRIDGE, South Africa-Zimbabwe border – Is this the beginning of the end? The rumors, reports and downright speculation are starting to fly now. Everyone at the border post here at Beit Bridge is asking the question: what have you heard? The results of the elections seem clearer and clearer. Robert Mugabe has lost, and a generation of political leadership is about to end. "We are just hoping for change," one man tells us. A woman sighs almost sadly, not willing yet to hope. "We’ll see," she says, shrugging her shoulders. This is now the moment of high politics, of secret meetings, of truths denied and lies defended. What is real? What is false? Its hard to make sense of it all but at last, it seems, real change is in the air. Checking and rechecking facts, rumors with trusted sources – that’s the best we can do here on the South African border. We are hearing that Robert Mugabe has conceded defeat - some sources say it was as early as yesterday lunchtime. The ruling ZANU PF party and the opposition MDC are in serious talks about transition. If this is all true then this is the night of the generals. They hold the future of Zimbabwe in their hands. Will they support a transition or will they be loyal to their old comrade and leader from the liberation war Robert Mugabe. Some have openly said they will not salute someone who "did not fight in the liberation war" - meaning opposition leader Morgan Tsvangarai. This is the moment of fate. Will they accept defeat and allow the political process to move forward into the future or will they remain stubbornly wedded to the loyalties of the past? Posted by: CNN Producer, Hamilton Wende |
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