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I am of the belief that the statement issued by Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday afternoon was a moment of triumph - and an indication that the Movement for Democratic Change means what it says, and says what it means.
In a coalition government, the likes of which we see in the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere in the world, there has to be a degree of cohesion between the parties thrown together by the popular vote. And, given that the idea that a government is supposed to represent the people's wishes, everything that is enacted is done with the national interest at heart.
In Zimbabwe, the coalition between Mugabe's ZANU PF and the two formations of the MDC has never worked, largely because of Mugabe’s habit of excluding the MDC from any of his decisions and appointments, and his baring of teeth as soon as any of his unilateral actions are questioned.
With the announcement yesterday that the MDC factions will ignore Mugabe's illegal and unconstitutional appointments, comes a new hope that the wishes of the people will finally be realised in the hallowed halls of power.
Unlike before, when the MDC formations disengaged from the Mugabe party, this move is to disassociate themselves from the appointments that Mugabe has made outside of the agreed format, without the constitutional consultation and with no regard to the voters' wishes.
It is a gutsy and brave move by Tsvangirai and his party. Mainly because Mugabe and ZANU PF will label this a disengagement and will claim that the move negates the MDC's presence in government.
The appointments to be ignored are:
* the Governor of the Central Bank, appointed unilaterally by Mr Mugabe on 26 November 2008
* the Attorney-General, appointed unilaterally by Mr Mugabe on 17 December 2008
* the 5 judges, appointed unilaterally by Mr Mugabe on 20 May 2010
* the 6 Ambassadors, appointed unilaterally by Mr Mugabe on 24 July 2010
* the Police Service Commission
* the 10 Governors, appointed unilaterally and furtively by Mr Mugabe last week.
The regional body, SADC, the guarantor of the Global Political Agreement, cannot ignore this development and have little choice but to side with one or the other in the political divide.
If SADC sides with Mugabe, then the GPA has no chance of ever being correctly realised and the MDC will never be allowed to assume the mantle of power, even if it is something demanded by the proletariat. This would, in turn, mean that Mugabe's influence would have won through, incorrect though that may be.
If SADC sides with Tsvangirai, Mugabe will just rearrange the playing field accordingly and withdraw Zimbabwe from that regional body, thereby negating everything that has gone before.
I expect Mugabe to follow the line of least resistance, whilst protecting and enabling the best interests of his party - he will never consider the best interests of normal Zimbabweans.
Today the political wants, wishes and desires of the people of Zimbabwe and the various political parties hang in the balance.
And the next few weeks will test the MDC resolve and the patience of the Zimbabwean population.
The next move is Mugabe's.
Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man
