Dumisani Muleya
3 July 2008
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.
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.
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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 tough stance against him and his illegitimate regime. Mugabe is the most hated man in Zimbabwe at this moment, and the Zimbabwean populace has been cowed into silence by blatant use of state machinery and force. Only a Zimbabwean resident in Zimbabwe at this moment understands what i am writing about.Being labelled a member of the opposition is a death sentence and we had pinned our hopes of deliverance from this 84 year old lunatic and his blood thirsty junta on the AU. Africa is failing the ordinary defenceless Zimbabwe by its failure to take decisive action on Mugabe, a leader disowned by his own people. Mbeki is obviously the wrong man for the job due to his support for Mugabe. The situation has degenareted under his watchfull eye and his so called and non existant "silent diplomacy". When shall Africa rise and take charge of its own political affairs? Its time for the old generation of African leaders to exit, ushering in the new genaration of progressively minded leaders
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 the percentage that the opposition had gained even before counting. With the experience of New Hampshire elections in the US, I wondewr why they ventured in making such a prediction. IMO the prediction gave Mugabe fodder to use that he needed a runoff. From that moment on all that was needed was to skew that votes to show a need for runoff. I hope that Tsvangirai rejects the GNU outright. We need a leader, for once, who will show that he does not crave power. If Mugabe wants it so bad let him have it. Any sign of support for GNU means that Tsvangirai is probably just another politician. Let's wait and see what the outcome is.
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 & Land)
No Financial Aid packages, only humanitarian,ie Food Program run by NGO's to ensure the population is feed and medicated accordingly.And that no one from In Zany PF can rob the funds
Inzany PF lost the elections, including the presidency, the Dictators of AU see that if this can happen in Zim it can happen to them too, so they play the 3 monkey trick , see, hear speak no evil, in relation to Mugabe, Which is why only a handfull of African countries had the spine and guts to speak out against Mugabe, the fact the AU allowed him in is incredible, Africa has a long way to before they can truly say they entered the 21st century. I think in the first instance Mbeki has to be removed from the negotiating table, he is PRO Inzany PF and Pro Mugabe, Sees himself as an intellctual, but show very little intellect, Annul the presidential election, Disarm War veterans and IN-zany PF Thug Militia, Install UN mandated African Peaceforce made up of non pro Zimbabwean Countries, Hold new elections and send Mugabe and his henchmen to war crime tribunal in Hague. On charges of Genocide, Infanticide, and Crimes against Humanity.
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'
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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 in which Mugabe is a part, any part. The economic assistance that Zimbabwe so desparately needs simply will not be available whilst Mugabe has his fingers on the controls. Nor is the trust or respect between the parties there to enable anything other than a very temperorary arrangement to survive.
The only option is a transitional government leading to free and fair elections in 4-6 months. It may be that neither Robert Mugabe or Morgan Tsvangerai play a role in that transitional government.This may be the only way in which each side of Zimbabwean politics will save face or have trust in the mechanism.