Talking forever

It has been widely reported that talks between the Movement for Democratic and ZANU-PF have resumed. As many of my readers might know, some form of formal talking has been going on between these two parties for a very long time, perhaps close on eight years. Even the talks that resulted in the new South Africa lasted for no more than about three years and we all know what their results were.
What have our lengthy talks yielded? A shaky agreement which needs to be re-negotiated every so often that one must wonder if these talks are anything but an end in themselves. I realize that I am beginning to sound like a cynic but what else am I to make of these talks upon talks upon talks? I know that the evil genius behind the Zimbabwean crisis, one Robert Mugabe (and his cohorts) stand to benefit from protracted talks.
As I have suggested in these columns before, he needs to buy time so that he can fulfil his desire to die in office, a prospect whose plausibility gained some traction recently when a would-be returning Mugabe henchman, Jonathan Moyo, made it almost official.
Talking to Mugabe is unlikely to yield national reconciliation and renewal anytime soon. These talks will enable the region to enjoy a semblance of quiet for about a year so that South Africa can host the football World Cup. Any tangible results from the current round of negotiations, such as a new constitution for Zimbabwe and fresh elections, will not be allowed to dominate the regional political calendar until the soccer showpiece is out of the way.
Hell may break loose thereafter, unless nature intervenes. Hoza 2011!