The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the country's rival political parties, failed to take place on Wednesday contrary to media reports.
The ceremony would have marked the beginning of full-scale negotiations between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations.
But because of the veil of secrecy surrounding the 'talks about talks,' we have not been able to confirm or obtain credible information on the process. Reports said progress had been made, since the two MDC formations and ZANU PF met in South Africa last week, but that they met a glitch on Wednesday when the Tsvangira MDC refused to sign.
It's reported Tsvangirai said he was waiting for African Union Commission Chairperson Jean Ping to appoint another facilitator to work with current 'middleman' Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.
An official with the Tsvangirai MDC, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said there was no fixed time frame for signing the pre-talks deal and the party was taking time to hold internal consultations with its structures. The National Executive Committee of the Tsvangirai MDC is expected to be formally briefed about the MOU on Thursday.
The official said Tsvangirai is being put under pressure to sign the MOU to give impetus to Mbeki's mediation.
The Tsvangirai MDC has called for an end to violence and release of political prisoners before any dialogue could take place. An official from the Mutambara MDC, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said all three parties had agreed to sign the MOU, in principle, as it also included an interim clause calling for an end to violence.
The fact that the discussions are being conducted in secret makes it extremely difficult to inform Zimbabweans. 43 civil organizations met in Harare on Tuesday and called for the political parties to be transparent and to consult widely with other stakeholders.
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By claiming that there was no crisis in Zimbabwe on the eve of an AU Summit held recently while killings, maiming and raping were being conducted with Mugabe's tacit encouragement, Mbeki has shown where he stands hand in hand with blood-stained illegitimate Zimbabwe President.
Mbeki therefore needs to co-partner with an AU appointed mediator like Koffi Annan for the sake of building confidence in the proposed "talk" process.
MDC-Tsvangirai is following logic; the maverick Mugabe should not be allowed any freedom to cheat!
ZANU-PF should first boot him and his clique out for a honest deal to be given the chance to succeed.
Why does Mugabe want to negotiate with the MDC anyway? As far as he is concerned the MDC is but a puppet of the west. He also believes that his overwhelming majority in the run off (sham) election gives him the mandate to rule as he pleases. So why does he care what the MDC thinks? Why does he even want to be associated with a perceived puppet of the west that only wants to recolonise Zimbabwe and take its resources?(as he sees it). You dont see other policital parties around the world winning, then negotiating with the party they defeated to give them some power to form a government. So why does Mugabe now want to give some of his power to the MDC, ie the puppet of the west?
It is because he did not win as he would like the world to believe. Just as it happened in Kenya. Real and Legitimate winners don't negotiate away their mandate and power to govern.
Exactly. My point here is that the very fact that Mugabe is willing to negotiate with the MDC is blatantly admitting that they did not win the election fairly. Because if they had won fairly, there would be no need for negiations to share power.
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