In Zimbabwe, the ruling party and both factions of the main opposition party have agreed to amend the Constitution.
The ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) held talks in the capital, Harare, in the face of widespread skepticism that they could reach an agreement. If the amendment is adopted, it will expand the membership of Parliament and improve electoral laws ahead of next year's election.
Chris Maroleng is senior researcher at the Institute of Security Studies. He says the recent development in Zimbabwe is significant.
“I think that it is a positive development in Zimbabwe politics which has been characterized by intransigence on the part of ZANU-PF and a lack of strategic vision and direction on the part of the MDC”,” he says.
He says that the opposition has made some achievement in getting the ruling party to give in to some demands.
“I think we can look at it from the stand point of the SADC brokered negotiations between he two main political parties. When seen it this light, we can see the constitutional amendment is really provisions that were agreed upon during this on- going negotiations dialogue between this political parties,” he says.
Maroleng says that it will take time for the benefits of this breakthrough to impact on the lives of the people.
“What it would ultimately provide for the Zimbabwe people is the possibility for the MDC and ZANU-PF at these negotiations being able to find more compromises and further movement towards resolving the crisis in Zimbabwe,” he says.