Zimbabwe: Talks Hang in Balance As Mugabe Outflanks Rivals
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
21 August 2008
Posted to the web 21 August 2008
Dumisani Muleya
Harare
ZIMBABWE's power-sharing talks are hanging in the balance, with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) saying Zanu (PF)'s intention to convene parliament on Tuesday would be a "clear repudiation" of the framework for dialogue.
The move to assemble parliament has left relations between Zanu (PF) and the two MDC factions in disarray.
It also threatens to sabotage talks that were said to be in their final stages. The talks have deadlocked over the division of executive powers between President Robert Mugabe and the MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai.
MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti yesterday said assembling parliament would ruin the talks and widen the gap between the parties.
"Any decision to convene parliament will be a clear repudiation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), and an indication beyond reasonable doubt of Zanu (PF)'s unwillingness to continue to be part of the talks. In short convening parliament decapitates the dialogue," Biti said.
"The MoU makes it clear that no party shall take any decision or measure that has a bearing on the dialogue, save by consensus. Such a decision or measure includes, but is not restricted to, the convening of parliament or formation of a new government. In the present case, the MDC has not consented to the convening of parliament," Biti said.
His stance contradicted that of Tsvangirai and another party spokesman Tapiwa Mashakada, who said the composition of a new cabinet was their main concern, and not the reconvening of parliament as such.
Tsvangirai is understood to be relying on a coalition agreement with the breakaway MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara to protect him from attempts by Mugabe to secure a parliamentary majority by co-opting MPs from his or the other faction in the party.
But senior MDC officials last night confirmed to Business Day that there were fears that Mugabe would "make a deal" with sufficient opposition MPs.
"There is a feeling of uncertainty ... our worst fears are that Mugabe would manipulate the situation," one official said.
Zanu (PF) holds 99 seats, the main MDC 100 and the Mutambara faction 10 seats, while Mugabe needs only 106 seats to form a government.
Welshman Ncube, Mutambara's secretary-general and chief negotiator, said they had no objections to the convening of parliament. The latest stalemate gave President Thabo Mbeki, the talks mediator, an added challenge. His task could be more difficult if Mugabe appoints five senators and 10 provincial governors to the 93-member senate.
The main opposition MDC won 24 seats in the senate, the breakaway faction six and Zanu (PF) 30 in the March 29 poll.
The appointment of senators and governors is part of the talks.
Convening the 210-member parliament would also require a speaker to be elected -- a post that is also part of the discussion at the talks. The issue of senators, governors and the speaker had not been resolved when talks stalled last week.
Southern African Development Community leaders approved the convening of parliament during their summit last weekend in Johannesburg.
Mugabe immediately started preparing for the swearing-in of MPs on Monday, and the opening of parliament on Tuesday -- causing consternation within his party and the opposition circles.
Zanu (PF) hardliners and ministers who lost their parliamentary seats oppose talks.
Relevant Links
Army, police and intelligence chiefs who meet under Joint Operations Command -- which also serves as Mugabe's power base, are also opposed to the talks -- especially the proposal that Tsvangirai should attend their meetings.
Read comments. Write your own.
Can my good man Tsvani afford to procrastinate??? The nature of poliyics do not allow that sort of lackadaissical approach. In the meantime his voters are going hungry and starving. Why cant the MDC see the bigger picture and sign on for the new administration whilst he has the opportunity. The restless young men around RMG are his main problem, not sekuru. RMG knows his days are numbered and few. But those guys of Tsvangi and Biti's age are not going to let go quietly unless Tsvangi is inclusive and show respect.
Can my good man Tsvani afford to procrastinate??? The nature of poliyics do not allow that sort of lackadaissical approach. In the meantime his voters are going hungry and starving. Why cant the MDC see the bigger picture and sign on for the new administration whilst he has the opportunity. The restless young men around RMG are his main problem, not sekuru. RMG knows his days are numbered and few. But those guys of Tsvangi and Biti's age are not going to let go quietly unless Tsvangi is inclusive and show respect.
Ethnicity-minded Aka.. is now turning coat! Yesterday he was praising Bob the murderer. Today he is describing Tsvangirai as his good man! What a circus?
Bleeding Zimbabweans don't mind if he changes his mind with deep sincerity. Beware hyphocrisy is the devil behind Zimbabwe's rotten situation.
Why was Aka. applauding murderer Mugabe when his thugs physically assaulted Tsvangirai on the eve of the elections? He was still singing the praise of the hero turned lunatic!
Aka.. knows very well if he does not change side, he will be swept off his feet by the almighty waves of changes emerging at… [Read Full Text]
Thats not the spirit my dear prem, we should accommodate diffirent opinions as they catalyse our mental growth. It is good to debate as an opposer to enable the defender to give more reasonig. Whenever one gets back to his senses, reconciliation is essential.
Dear Negotiator, I note you assume Aka.. is getting back to his senses. Waouw! I have no problem with that; on the contrary we are canvassing for our crowd to get bigger and bigger. The problem lies with whether his sincerity with what MDC stands for is only skin-deep! He will have to clearly state he has dumped the lunatic and show remorse for having indirectly contributed towards maintaining an illegitimate President. The forum can also become a Truth & Reconciliation dialogue! The ball is in his courtroom.
My baasi, I am not a turncoat nor am l a coward. on the contrary l am still resolute for most of what president has carried out for Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, a lot of serious errors and mistakes have been done along the way. And it is not for a white person to correct me just as the Jews would not accept criticism from a German ... no matter how sensible his point maybe. Recent history cannot just be swept under the carpet..l mean our colonial slavery of the argument. Remeber most of us only voted for the first time in… [Read Full Text]
It is hard to show respect for IGNORANCE ! Akupofrubbish, I am true African so don't start your hogwash about white Rhodesians, you are so riddled with hatred you just jabber on with your rubbish !
What a terrible shame showing on your face! You will go down in history as the lunatic who continued playing Mugabe's tune despite his "lot of serious errors and mistakes" as you put it!
Yesterday only you were mounting Zimbabwe/Malawi/Zambia against Botswana on ethnic ground. Today you say it is not for a white man to correct you?? It's even worse than the position adopted by lunatic Mugabe. He is fast catching up with senelity. But it is dead sure that you are already struck by a very serious state of senelity!!
Today you are against whites; you are already… [Read Full Text]
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From reading the article, I am not able to see how Mugabe is said to have outflanked his opponents. In fact if you go to the original MDC conditions for talks, you will realise that the convening of Parliament was one of the key demands of the MDC. I tell you guys, Mugabe is in trouble this time around. I do not understand why your reports try to give the impression that he is doing well. His problem is the economy, which is refusing to be rigged. The Zimbabwean economy has collapsed. Tsvangirai can afford to procrastinate and that sends… [Read Full Text]