The President in his exercise of power relies on the security forces – ‘All the time’: 26%; ‘often’: 25% [Q11]. Zimbabweans are divided on whether the MDC-T has been taking power away from ZANU-PF – 35% believe it has; 32% believe it has not [Q18D]. 58% of respondents approve or approve strongly of the power-sharing arrangement between the main parties (25% disapprove) [Q7]. 46% reckon that the 18 months of power-sharing were a success or a huge success (21% estimates that it has been a failure or a huge failure) [Q8]. 2.2 Assessments of power-sharing in the Inclusive Government A complex picture emerges of Zimbabweans simultaneously approving of the power-sharing agreement – and believing it has been a success – and then making clear that the IG power-sharing arrangement is a distant second best alternative, if not something that should never substitute for democratic elections (Table 3) [Q9]. Table 3: Assessments of power-sharing vis-à-vis competitive elections Statements September 2009 (%) Power-sharing is a good alternative to competitive elections, 17 the latter rarely works well Power-sharing is a second best solution, to be used only when 43 elections fail Power-sharing is a bad alternative that should never replace 33 competitive elections December 2010 (%) 14 42 35 Question: ‘Which of the following descriptions of power-sharing comes closest to your view?’ [Q9] Note: The percentages exclude ‘none’ and ‘don’t know’ responses When overall assessments of the decision of the political leaders to enter into power-sharing were called for, from the perspective of how the respondents were ‘feeling today’, the power-sharing arrangement received the support of 58%. 25% disapproved (and 14% were not sure) [Q7]. It was notable that the support for the dispensation had changed little compared with opinions assessed in September 2009. Then 62% had approved and 23% disapproved (and 13% were not sure). In both surveys 3% declared ‘don’t knows’. Power-sharing is, by far, not the governance option of choice of Zimbabweans – 42% say it is the second best alternative, after elections, and a substantial 35% feel that power-sharing ‘is a bad alternative that should never replace competitive elections’ [Q9]. This latter sentiment could also be one of the parallel support indications for the MDC-T (see below). A comparison with the 2009 survey findings indicates remarkable consistency in Zimbabweans’ views on these dimensions of power-sharing agreements in relation to elections (Table 3). 19