21 July 2008
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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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… [Read Full Text]
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… [Read Full Text]
It is high time some accepted that Mugabe, like many Africans, is smarter than they have previously given him credit for.
Mugabe won the presidential elections.
It's too early to celebrate enthusiastically but it is right and proper to celebrate the small but significant success of the start of talks nonetheless.
All parties are likely to want a revised constitution and one that ensures the land revisions, introduced after independence by Zanu-PF, cannot be undermined at any time in the future by self-interested non-Africans.
Shame on those who are trying to paint these talks as weakness on anybody's part. Some… [Read Full Text]
In which world are you living?
Would you sing the same rotten song had maverick Mugabe kill, maim or rape your wife, sister, daughter, son or any close family members? I admit there are guys who can because they want to continue to enjoy picking the crumbs falling from the table!
You should at least respect the fallen victims of monstrous Mugabe because they held political views opposed to the hero turned bloodstained dictator.
The "children of the colonisers" would be you, raiseyervoice. Native people in Zimbabwe were San Bushmen until you killed them all.
A better solution as you say would have been for the west to sponsor a resistance to wipe out mugabe and his idiots. As it stands now zimbabwe will have to move ahead saddled with an illigitemate president hanging on for dear life.
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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… [Read Full Text]