Zimbabweans have seen so much over the years that wariness comes more naturally to most of them than optimism. IRIN reports on the short joyride from joy to cynicism that characterizes Zimbabwe as the negotiations for a unity government that even if successful will be a long time in alleviating the ZANU-PF-imposed suffering of the masses. There will be little hope without a settlement but even if the sides manage to break the stalemate over the composition of the cabinet it is difficult to see a short-term future with much upside. Stability and prosperity will still be a long time in coming.