Johannesburg — PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki is expected to fly to Zimbabwe today to witness the signing of a crucial deal between parties locked in power-sharing talks.
The move, if not scuttled at the 11th hour as consultations were taking place late last night, would pave the way for focused talks between main political parties engaged in talks on a government of national unity.
Mbeki, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator in Zimbabwe, is expected to oversee the signing of the deal - which the parties also call a memorandum of engagement - by President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara.
Tsvangirai's group, however, was last night divided on approving the deal, which could jeopardise Mbeki's visit.
Negotiating parties agreed on a working framework in Pretoria last week, notwithstanding the MDC's statements that there was no "agreement".
This led to a final draft on Monday, which was approved by the parties yesterday.
Sources said negotiations could start in earnest tomorrow if the signing went ahead today.
"Talks are expected to be short and precise. That is why Mugabe has stopped the appointment of a new cabinet and swearing in of a new parliament. He wants to give dialogue a chance," a source said.
Mbeki's envoys - Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi, director-general in the Presidency Frank Chikane and presidential legal adviser Mojanku Gumbi - would also be present.
Meanwhile, SA yesterday described calls for the expansion of the SADC facilitation team, voiced by the MDC and governments of countries such as the UK and Liberia, as a "fake argument".
At a briefing in Pretoria, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said: "This is a fake argument, and diverts from the real fundamental issue ... I don't believe that at this very crucial moment adding new bodies, simply to sit in the same room, is what is required."
Pahad said Mbeki would meet African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping to liaise on any progress made in talks to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis.
With Hopewell Radebe
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The wily Mr. Mugaba continues with his plans.
I understand that, constitutionally, if a member of parliament is not sworn in within 21 days of his/her election, the seat will be filled by a Presidential appointee.
That would eliminate the last electoral bone in the ZANU-PF's throat.
Blood-stained illegitimate President Mugabe under whose bankrupt and brutal rule thousands got killed, maimed or raped will one day be dragged to the International Criminal Court!
The article refers to "talks breakthrough" concerning a memo on talks about talk for peace keeps silent about the monstrous role og Mugabe in the politically motivated atrocities. History will nevertheless catch on with Mugabe and his cronies.
Remember the fate of the former Argentinian dictator??
To Stupid prem Go to hell, you stupid, shameless Fool.. Whilst progressive Zimbabweans and level headed people around the world are relieved about this all you Western puppets think of is how to scuttle the talks.... lEAVE OUR LEADER CDE MUGABE ALONE!!! TALKS ARE GOIN ON WELL..whether u like it or not!!!
DestinyK. Stop being an idiot. There is no progresion whatsover in what Mugabe regime is doing. All they are trying to do is to cover themselves against possibly trial against the killing of innocent people first during the gukurahondo and now against the MDC supporters. We all want peace in Zim but NOT with MUGABE in the picture. Unfortunately people like you are either arrogant or ignorant. You are obviously not level headed, continue barking and let the display how naive you are.
Kwacha !!! AMEN AMEN AMEN !!! Great Zimbabwe is for ever and may GOD give our president fortitude and determination to see the fight to the end and pass the stick of the relay race to ONLY a member of his team ... not one who may run in the opposite direction or do some other dastard thing . PAMBERI na va MUGABE !!
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