Given the desperate plight of the state of Zimbabwe, any effort to achieve political reconciliation, stop intimidation and violence and halt the collapse of the economy should be welcome. Yet the talks under way in neighbouring South Africa this week, to try to form some sort of government of national unity, leave much to be desired. There is good reason to fear that even if they were to succeed, the outcome would do nothing to resolve the misery of Zimbabwe's inhabitants.

To be sure, Robert Mugabe, the man who has presided over the disintegration of democracy in his country, was forced to shake hands last week with his arch-rival, Morgan Tsvangirai. It was an important symbolic gesture. But he did not mean it. His ruling Zanu-PF party has made it clear that any outcome that fails to recognise his election as president would be unacceptable.