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Zimbabwe: Rivals Set Out Terms for Unity Talks
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Dumisani Muleya
Johannesburg
THE outlines of a negotiation - if not a deal - in Zimbabwe began to form for President Thabo Mbeki yesterday as that country's two main political protagonists laid down markers in the wake of an African Union (AU) call this week for Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai to form a "unity" government in Harare.
Mugabe's information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said the incumbent Zanu (PF) had no objections to a unity government, while Tsvangirai 's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rejected the idea, but instead proposed a transitional government leading to new elections, and insisted on the presence of an AU envoy during any negotiations that Mbeki might try to facilitate.
Tsvangirai also said any talks would have to start from the basis that he had won the elections held on March 29 .
While the two sides may seem far apart, they may have actually provided Mbeki and any other mediators with a starting point.
"Government is ready for dialogue with whoever - a dialogue for national unity in Zimbabwe," Ndlovu told Agence France Presse.
The two sides' clearer positions on negotiations began taking shape as Mbeki, the Southern African Development Community facilitator, said Mugabe had no objections to a government of national unity.
In an interview with the SABC, Mbeki said: "He (Mugabe) said they were committed to that (a government of national unity). Even as we were sitting at the meeting the Zimbabweans were interacting amongst themselves."
The detente between the parties gives Mbeki an opportunity to facilitate negotiations and a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders.
Tsvangirai said that while he remained committed to negotiations, his party would not talk to Zanu (PF) unless certain conditions were met.
He said talks must be based on the outcome of the March elections, which he and his party won. He also said he did not want a government of national unity or a power- sharing deal with Mugabe, but a transitional arrangement that led to fresh elections and a new government.
Tsvangirai said while he acknowledged positive sections of the AU resolution on Zimbabwe, taken this week in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, he was concerned about the body's call for a government of national unity.
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He said instead of a government of national unity, the AU should appoint a permanent envoy to work out an urgent solution. Mbeki could not mediate on his own, as he had proved not to be impartial.
Mugabe would always agree to a GNU. Three reasons:- firstly, he knows that his legitimacy is a sham in the eyes of the world as well as amongst his peers - a GNU is best outcome that is realistically available to him; secondly, the fuse on the timebomb that is the Zimbabwean economy is burning faster and faster - he needs to find away of spreading the responsibility for that catastrophe; and thirdly - he completely duped Nkomo in the previous GNU and he thinks he will be able to do it again.
I cannot, however, envisage a GNU... [Read Full Text]
A GNU is definately not the solution to Zimbabwe's crissis and it boggles the mind how the AU could seriously envisage a GNU as a solution.The man has brutaulised innocent, ordinary Zimbabweans for voting for the opposition in the March 29 election.More than 100 people lost their lives and countless more displaced, some having all property and possesions accumulated in a lifetime destroyed, and the crime, voting for the MDC and having a different political opinion from Zanu PF. Mugabe is a man who is now beyond reasoning with, and i dont understand why the AU failed to take a... [Read Full Text]
Mugabe needs to take responsibility for his actions in downward spiral of Zimbabwe, and stop using the pathetic excuse of blaming it on the west. Yes this man was a freedom fighter, but what freedom is he fighting for now? He is ruining the lives of millions of Zimbabweans in his quest for to hold on to power. He is a disgrace to mankind, and for those who support him, you are fools.
This GNU mentality is a bad thing for Africa. Kenya, in recent memory, did it and Zimbabwe is going on with it's own version of it. I do not know why the AU was so passive on the issue. However we are now setting the precedence for old imbeciles who do not want to give up power in Africa. All you have to do is stir up unrest during or after elections and call for a GNU. I do believe that the international observers share some of the blame when they used "exit polls" to determine... [Read Full Text]
The AU is as weak and indecisive as Mbeki, is as a mediator, the last time they tried the National Unity Government,tens of thousands of Ndebeles was killed, Mugabe is a meglomaniac, He only understand money in his pocket,power, greed and illusions of grandure, Mugabe has to be hit were it hurts, Personal Finances
1.Freeze all oveseas Accounts,(the money is stolen just like drugs money). 2.Ban/Ground Air Zimbabwe from Flying across Neighbouring countries Airspace, This will Keep them all in Zimbabwe, 3.Deport their children/relatives from all countries and send them back to Zimbabwe. 4.A Total Arms Embargo.(Air &... [Read Full Text]
You need to pack and go back to the slave plantation. Please, no, my bad; Afraka still needs all of you with the colonial mindsets to come home to a free Afraka where consciousness of the spirit, mind and body rule our world!!!!
Peace n' love.
I wonder what is your defination for 'FREE AFRICA'
I also fail to understand how someone can have the nerve to show such support and loyalty to Mugabe and his cronies after the way they have caused the decay of Zimbabwe. I also fail to understand how some people don't see how Tsvangirai also contributed in the decay of Zimbabwe with his call for sanctions years back when he lost elections unfairly. Both of these leaders who want to rule Zimbabwe destroyed our country and we want it rebuilt to its former splendour. Mugabe and his cronies obviously can not do it, if they failed to do it during... [Read Full Text]
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