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Zimbabwe: MDC Zanu PF Talks Finally Begin in South Africa
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SW Radio Africa (London)
24 July 2008
Posted to the web 24 July 2008
Lance Guma
Talks between the MDC and ZANU PF began in South Africa Thursday after confusion about the actual start date.
There was intense speculation that both sides were already on the verge of securing a deal based on a unity government. Negotiators from both sides flew out from Harare to Pretoria on the same plane, before meeting at an undisclosed venue. The meeting comes two days after South African President Thabo Mbeki secured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara on Monday.
A confidentiality clause stops all parties from leaking details to the media, but information coming out suggests a unity government is on the cards. Newsreel understands discussions are taking place about making Mugabe titular President, with Tsvangirai as Executive Prime Minister. Speculation suggests half the cabinet will be from Zanu PF, the other half from the Tsvangirai MDC while the Mutambara MDC is set to get one cabinet post. The plan is for elections to be held in 2 years, under a new constitution. Zanu PF meanwhile is still very opposed to Mugabe being a titular head of state, with no powers. Several analysts believe that over the past 18 months of negotiations there is already a basic outline and in the next two weeks they will just be tying up the loose ends.
With so many people killed and tortured before and after the March 29 polls any deal with Mugabe comes at the risk of offending those who were victims of the Zanu PF terror campaign. Human rights group Amnesty International threw in a reminder Thursday, challenging both parties to the negotiations to ensure, 'there are no pardons for those who committed human rights violations in the post-election period.' They believe no lasting solution can be found if human rights abuses are not addressed and perpetrators brought to justice. Amnesty International also continues to receive reports of attacks on opposition officials in the country. They say even though some of the militia bases have been dismantled, 'some in rural areas including in Mashonaland West, Central and East provinces, still remain.'
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Many believe the talks will collapse over Mugabe's insistence that he be recognized as the legitimate President of the country, despite his one-man run-off election. Insiders say a ZANU PF politburo meeting on Wednesday made it clear to negotiators Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche that only a deal which involves Mugabe leading the next government will be acceptable to them. This is likely to be resisted by the opposition who do not want to be seen as getting into bed with ZANU PF and betraying their battered supporters. Some senior figures in the MDC have already made it clear only a transitional government that puts in a new constitution and runs fresh elections within 18 months is acceptable.
Indeed there is suspicion generally that the talks would be inconclusive because of Mugabe's insistence he remains executive President. By then, that is in a fortnight, Tsvangirai would have burnt his fingers rubbing shoulders with maverick Mugabe!
Cunning maverick Mugabe would thus ditch any future talks with MDC and will embark upon exterminating political opponents. Why Mbeki agreed to talks while 500 MDC supporters are still detained? Mugabe has maintained all repressive means under his control - how then could talks take place on a level playing field?
Amnesty Internation is right to warn against the granting of any pardon... [Read Full Text]
"One thing that is sure is that the commoners in Zimbabwe will never drop a tear should Mugabe exit! The once milk and honey flowing country will start afresh to breath again. Zimbabweans with the right institutions and a blend of civil society organisations would make sure a second Mugabe is never born in Zimbabwe, nay Africa!!"
The simple truth is that Africa needs a lot more Mugabes who are looking out for Africans interests instead of Europeans interests, western propaganda notwithstanding!
There is total news black-out of the talks; whatever is being reported by this sw radio pathetic writer is utter nonsense. Executive this or that and elections is mere speculation with an intention to incite negative reaction of the population if what is being thrown in the papers doesn’t come true. From these talks from SA how does this writer get to know about Zanu PF being opposed or in support of whatever is being discussed? Good journalism propels one to write about something else divorced from the talks up till there is a press conference by discussants. I have... [Read Full Text]
Yeah, Mugabe did sure take good care of those 120 MDC supporters that were murdered during the run off election. Oh. And the 20,000 Ndebele people he murdered in the 80's. Geez... imagine how Africa would be with more people like Mugabe. Africa would be full of Billionaires! Look what he's done for Zimbabwe!
awt from where did you get these figures? you seem to be mathematic minded now go ahead and tell us how many inoccent iraqis and americans have so far died in the so called war against terror
well lets start with the 3000 innocent americans that died when the twin towers got downed. And then lets look at all the suicide bombers in iraq that have killed many thousands of iraqi's and countless US military personel. Plus the many thousands that have been tortured and killed by sunni and shiite extremists. So yeah... theres a few alright. But really what you are trying say is that its ok because only 120 or so have died and only a few thousand have been tortured because you believe its happened on a much greater scale elsewhere. Well, if you... [Read Full Text]
EEh Baasi!! Pipe down, for goodness sake, you imagining things again!!! Why do fill your poor head with all these numbers??? Tinyarewo.
EEH baasi!!! for goodness sake, you are imagining things again!!! Why do you fill you poor head with all these numbers??? Haunyareba???
I'm imagining that 120 or so MDC supporters were murdered during the election? Well you did think that the first world war and second world war was only fought by england and germany. I guess those Anzacs in turkey were just there on a long holiday eh.
And 20,000 Ndebele people were murdered by Mugabe in the 80's? Well, I guess Mugabe must be imagining it as well... here's his recollection of it.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_RIBT6L10 its a strange thing to be in denial dont you think... you dont even realise you are... but you are...
prem lets give talks a chance. i believe the conclusion of same will include the release of the detained as well.
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