On the streets of Harare, there was deep unease about Morgan Tsvangirai's decision to enter power-sharing talks with Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu (PF) party.

A photograph taking up half the front page of the propaganda Herald newspaper, with Mr Mugabe holding the hands of Mr Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara - the leader of a smaller faction of the MDC - produced a sense of shock among many.

“Tsvangirai should never have shaken his hand,” said Joram Kanyepi, a bricklayer. “This man has had him beaten, put in jail, prohibited him from holding rallies and killed his supporters. But Tsvangirai is a man of peace,” he said. “He really wants to make things better for people.”

“Shaking hands with Mugabe?” asked Denson Hukwe. “That should never have been. He should have said Mugabe must release all his people from jail before he would sign.”

Deep mistrust of Mr Mugabe was widely shared. “Mugabe is a crook, he just wants to fool Tsvangirai,” said someone who gave his name as Chirikure. “He was not shaking hands with his heart. He wants to get Tsvangirai into a government where he can control him and there is no opposition, like he did to Zapu.”

There were numerous references to the Zapu party of the late Joshua Nkomo, the leader of the Ndebele people of western Zimbabwe, who was forced into talks with Zanu (PF) in the late 1980s after a pogrom by the Zimbabwean security forces that left up to 20,000 civilians dead. Zapu was absorbed into Zanu (PF) and its leaders co-opted into ineffectual positions.

“Tsvangirai must never allow there to be a government of national unity [an option strongly pressed for by President Mbeki of South Africa, the chairman of the talks],” said Danny Pikayi, a business executive. “The moment they do that, what happened to Zapu will happen to the MDC. The only thing these talks can lead to is some kind of transitional arrangement leading to new democratic elections.”

The sense of caution was echoed in interviews with ordinary Zimbabweans, still trying to digest the meaning of the memorandum of understanding signed by both parties, from the only source available - the deeply partial state media. Several spoken to yesterday believed that the talks were over and that a new government had already been formed.

Times Recommends

• Rio Tinto four held as China prepares case
• Diplomats must keep heads down and trousers up
• When in Rome should one make like Berlusconi?