Overseeing the tumultuous American economy is one thing, but serving alongside Mugabe? That definitely wins first prize in the "most undesirable job" category.
Yet Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's opposition leader, took the plunge today as he was sworn in as prime minister in a unity government with Mugabe. Not only will he now have the...ummm pleasure?... of ... cooperating? (apologies, I appear to be at a loss for words)... with Mugabe, but is also handed the responsibility of dealing with an economy in ruins, 90% unemployment, and a cholera epidemic which has killed close to 4,000 people. Sounds glamorous, doesn't it?
Now there are some who are optimistic about this newfound partnership, arguing that the power-sharing deal may be the first step in solving the Zimbabwe crisis (or crises, as the case may be). Yet others (myself included) fear that this may in the long-term only discredit Tsvangirai and his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and do little to engender genuine reform. After all, under the agreement Mugabe retains control of the security and intelligence forces, which have done so well to keep him in power.
Mmmmm... another fantastic political science experiment in the making.