The "Zimbabwe Situation," as our collapse is called, started at different times for different people. For me it began on Saturday the 4th March 2000.

"Hide yourself. They are coming, "one of my farm workers had screamed, giving me a few precious minutes of warning. And then, alone and helpless, locked in my study with my hands over my head, I sat paralyzed as men whistled, threw bricks and shouted HONDO, HONDO, HONDO (War) at our farm gate. What happened after that, to hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans from all walks of life is now history.

The rabble at my farm gate were the foot soldiers and had been used to start a political, social, economic and humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions. After 8 years and 7 months of living through this Zimbabwe Situation it has often felt like a country at war but now, at last, we have hope.

In his speech after signing an agreement to share power, Prime Minister designate, Morgan Tsvangirai, spoke of painful compromises that had been made in getting to the Agreement. We don't know yet what those compromises were but we do know that they had to happen because we, the ordinary people, simply couldn't go on living like this.

Power sharing isn't what we wanted and the events that have led to it do not set a good precedent for countries whose leaders won't leave power, but for Zimbabwe it must work. For Zimbabwe this Agreement is the first step towards real democracy and it has come at a time when we are hanging over the cliff by a fingernail.

Just a few days into the deal the arguments have already begun and on the surface there is no tangible difference to the trauma and exasperation of every day struggles for bank notes, food, fuel, water, electricity, medicine and much more. Under the surface however, there is a huge sense of anticipation and an urgency to get things going again as soon as possible.

Yes there is scepticism, doubt and negativity but as our new Prime Minister said, the door has been unlocked. Each one of us has the chance to push it open a little more.

As I close this week I would like to pay tribute to ZWNews whose editor compiled and sent out at no charge over 3200 issues over almost nine years and kept Zimbabwe in the world's eye. He does not wish to be named but we thank him for his sacrifices and his patriotism.

Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy

Copyright cathy buckle 20 September 2008.

www.cathybuckle.com