Rare Good News

The fall of Robert Mugabe would be a welcome result for the globe.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — The opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is in talks with advisers to President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe, amid signs that some of those close to Mr. Mugabe may encourage him to resign, a Western diplomat and a prominent Zimbabwe political analyst said Tuesday. The negotiations about a possible transfer of power away from Mr. Mugabe began after he apparently concluded that a runoff election would be demeaning, a diplomat said.

A resignation by Mr. Mugabe, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, would be a stunning turnabout in a country where he has been accused of consistently manipulating election results to maintain his lock on power.

There is no guarantee the negotiations will succeed, and the situation could still deteriorate. But a Western diplomat and a political analyst said the opposition was negotiating with Zimbabwe’s military, central intelligence organization and prisons chief.

It was telling after the opposition appeared to win the election that their leaders immediately went into hiding. But if it can be resolved peaceably, this would be an enormous victory. Mugabe has been a cancer for Zimbabwe, with runaway inflation and unemployment and suffering. He's maybe the worst head of state on Earth.

And once again, we see that democracy promotion begins at home.