Zimbabwe's principal political protagonists, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, have signed an agreement which establishes a framework for substantive negotiations to end the country's political crisis.
South African foreign affairs spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, confirmed this in a statement issued from Harare Monday.
"The agreement was signed by President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and [opposition leader] Arthur Mutambara," Mamoepa said.
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitator of talks, flew to Harare on Monday morning for the signing ceremony.
Mamoepa described the "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by the three leaders as "a positive step forward in the ongoing dialogue among the parties."
The impetus for the final breakthrough in the "talks about talks" which have been conducted over recent weeks appears to have been a decision on Friday to set up a "reference group," comprising African Union, United Nations and SADC diplomats with whom Mbeki will liaise. Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change has repeatedly challenged Mbeki's impartiality.
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Well, well, well...kuba, phiri, etc..all you haters of the so called "puppets of the west"....looks like your zero..sorry, hero mugabe is now shaking hands and negotiating with Morgan the paid puppet of the west. what say ye now?? Maybe the self styled first tart had a hand in it seeing as she was no longer allowed to fly to Britain and indulge her favorite passtime in Harrods etc. anyway, whatever my musings on the event..do give us the benefit of your skewed view on this please. I am sitting here trying to work out what bilge you will come up with to save face!!!
clearly Mugabe realises his illegitimate presidency requires some legitimacy in the form of the will of the people ie Tsvangarai. This is clearly Mugabe admitting to us all that he is not a legitimate president. Because a legitimate president would not have to hand power to an opposition. It must be really embarrassing for him to have to shake hands with someone who he thinks represents the west who he clearly hates so much. This is a win for the MDC. This justifies Morgan T pulling out of the run off. Because if he had stayed and competed in an obviously rigged environment, then you probably wouldnt see this negotiation take place. The problem, as I see it, is that Mugabe only wants to be seen negotiating. He wont concede anything, so the negotiation is a waste of time. I would like to see the reference group step in and take more control of Mbeki, because I can guarantee that Mbeki will tell them what they want to hear, not what is happening.
Blessed, be His name!!
"Quiet diplomacy" has secured the first baby-steps in the road to a better Zimbabwe.
Well done to Mugabe and Tsvangirai and huge praise to Thambo Mbeki for perservering in the face of non-African criticism of his efforts to resolve what is a most difficult and complex situation.
Well done too, to the Southern African Develoment Community and the African Union.
Long live African solutions to African problems.
If you don't compromise, you are a ruthless dictator. If you do, you are a flunky.
I hope they are able to bring the country together, shut up the western hypocrties (who sponsor mercenaries for the overthrow of african countries as a hobby), and do so without giving land to the children of the colonizers.
"A borrowed fiddle never finishes a tune." Zimbabwean Proverb
Peace and Justice!
hold on there a minute raiseeveryvoice....it is YOU lot on here that has called just about everyone that has disagreed with mugabe a puppet of the west..including the very same Morgan T mugabe is now supping tea with and shaking hands. So by extension your zero mugabe is also a puppet of the west!! As for the children of the colonisers jibe...if you had any common sense about you, you would know that virtually all mugabe's ministers' kids are studying in the very same ex colonial countries and are refusing to return to the land their fathers are currently dismantling..sorry..ruining..sorry..governing! Even the dictators kids got more sense than you lot posting here and kissing mugabe's butt and licking his boots!
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