So SADC has met and made recommendations again. To the scores of people who were hoping for an amicable solution to thepolitical impasse in Zimbabwe, Maputo has been a huge disappointment to dsay the least. But what else could have happened? It was clear that SADC was never going to take a hardl stance on Mugabe. After all, he is a democratically elected president and is duly recognized as such. As for Tsvangirai and the MDC, their 30-day ultimatum is all they to hang on to for now. Whether that will materialize is still a matter of debate.

Yet, if what the civil society reported ahead of the Maputo summit is true (which is likely) that there have been increased reports of violence, intimidation and travel restrictions in certain areas, then the MDC might just find itself expanding that list of outstanding issues to accomodate these latest reports.

In the end though, this struggle is not about personalisties, parties or any particular ideology. It is about reclaiming Zimbabwe and getting this country working again. This is what the principals in the GNU need to continually be reminded of that ultimately what is at stake is ZIMBABWE.