Strange bedfellows

In Thailand, this idea may seem far-fetched. Imagine Samak Sundaravej and Abhisit Vejjajiva sitting on the same side of the aisle. A power-sharing agreement between Somchai Wongsawat and Abhisit is also unlikely.

However, if Zimbabwean politicians can strike such a historic deal, why lose hope for our politicians?

Under the deal, Mugabe gives some power to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai (right in the picture), who is now prime minister. But Tsvangirai must report to Mugabe, who remains president and head of the Cabinet where his party retains most seats. Mugabe is not autonomous. He too must consult the leader of the opposition before making major decisions.

Tsvangirai, jubilant and jovial, signed the power-sharing agreement with his nemesis Mugabe and declared that his "belief in Zimbabwe and its people runs deeper than the scars I bear from this struggle".

Some people are not convinced that this deal will work. Zimbabwe does not only have political problems, it is also facing a severe economic crisis. CNN recently reported that its inflation rate was at 11.2 million per cent. We lost count of the latest figure.

But Zimbabwean politicians apparently don't want to point the finger of blame at each other for causing the crisis. Ministers blame rising prices on the Western powers' decision to impose sanctions against the country.

So now politicians from both sides of the divide have decided to work together to tackle the economic crisis. Still, supporters of each political side continue to brawl with each other. The two parties are deeply divided and the police remain on full alert.

Back in Thailand, former PPP deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat said creating unity will be the main agenda when People Power Party deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat takes the prime minister's post (scheduled to happen today). He was quoted as saying: "Rifts in society are the most urgent problem at the moment. It's time we found ways to reconcile and restore peace in society."

If Zimbabwe's model proves to be unworkable, we suggest that Thai politicians look at the co-prime minister system once used in Cambodia. But be warned: the system didn't work for long because, as the old saying goes, two tigers cannot live together in the same cave.