BBC NEWS: FUNERAL DIPLOMACY IN ZIMBABWE

Following the tragic death of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Susan in a suspicious car accident last week, Zimbabweans of all political colours seem to have been moved by the warm words of condolence at her funeral–spoken by President Robert Mugabe, who for many years has labelled her husband a traitor.  Several of Mr Mugabe’s previous rivals have perished in suspicious car crashes. But Mr Tsvangirai has said he accepts it was almost certainly an accident. And Mr Mugabe’s speech at a church service in Harare for Mrs Tsvangirai has completely changed the mood in Harare’s political circles. Zanu-PF and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters were able to mix freely at the funeral.

Question to the Blogosphere:  Do you think that the funeral of Susan Tsvangirai has changed the dynamic in Zimbabwe?  Do you think it will lead to increased cooperation between the opposition and the government in the crisis-plagued nation?  Do you think that Mugabe had something to do with the death of Tsvangirai’s wife?  Has a funeral ever united people on a national level before?  Do you think Mugabe is sincere in his efforts to search for common ground with the opposition?