were not announced until May 2, when the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared that, although MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai had garnered more votes than Mugabe, he had not secured the simple majority (50 percent plus one vote) required to be declared president. A presidential runoff election was set for June 27 and held, despite Tsvangirai pulling out of the race because of violence against supporters of his party.6 Mugabe had himself declared winner of the election, which triggered a political impasse. The then president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, facilitated Southern African Development Community (SADC)-mandated talks between ZANU-PF and MDC with a view to resolving the stalemate. The Global Political Agreement and Promised Reforms In September 2008, ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations signed a Global Political Agreement (GPA), and in February 2009 formed a transitional power-sharing government. Mugabe retained the post of president, while Tsvangirai became prime minister and Arthur Mutambara, leader of the smaller MDC formation, deputy prime minister. The main objective of the new government was to “create a genuine, viable, permanent, sustainable and nationally acceptable solution” to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political crisis.7 In accordance with the GPA, ZANU-PF and MDC made commitments to chart a new political direction for the country. The parties raised expectations that the transitional government would immediately implement extensive reforms—including in the area of freedom of expression. Media and other reforms that did not place a financial burden on the government would be implemented promptly to demonstrate political will for change.8 In his inaugural speech, Prime Minister Tsvangirai proclaimed that the GPA was an “agreement that if implemented with good faith, will deliver a peaceful way forward toward a stable economy, a new constitution and free and fair elections.”9 He ended his speech by committing that “through parliament, the peoples representatives in the MDC and ZANU-PF, will pass legislation to restore the people’s freedoms, create the mechanism through which 6 Human Rights Watch, “Bullets for Each of You”, June 2008, p. 13. 7 Agreement between ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations, on resolving the challenges facing Zimbabwe (The Global Political Agreement), signed on September 15, 2008, art. 2. 8 Human Rights Watch interview with Jameson Timba, deputy minister for media, information and publicity (MDC), Harare, February 2010 and with Tabani Moyo, MISA-Zimbabwe advocacy officer, Harare, February 5, 2010. 9 Inauguration Speech by Prime Minister Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, delivered in Harare on the occasion of his swearing in as prime minister to mark the consummation of the Global Political Agreement, February 11, 2009. Sleight of Hand 8