The Editor, Sir:

The agreement that was recently signed by Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvan-girai was a very good step in the right direction.

What was impressive, too, was that this agreement was mediated not by the 'West', but by Thabo Mbeki, the South African president.

It shows that the 'big stick' policy that is often used to get developing countries in line is not always necessary.

The fact is that no one could have predicted that Zimbabwe would come to this. However, it is often said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and this might have been the case.

Zimbabwe was once the jewel of Africa, but the hyperinflation that now exists there and the political instability that is coming to an end, hopefully, has strangled Zim-babwe's growth.

Lift sanctions

The sanctions that have been imposed by the West have only made the suffering in Zimbabwe worse, but amid this I am sure Mugabe is still living lavishly.

Hence, the sanctions that have been imposed on Zimbabwe should be relaxed so that the hunger and mayhem that now exist there are reduced.

Mbeki should continue his mediation efforts and encourage both Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form a coalition government.

I am, etc.,

ROGER A. VASSELL

rogervassell@gmail.com

Via Go-Jamaica