Talks between the MDC and ZANU PF began in South Africa Thursday after confusion about the actual start date.
There was intense speculation that both sides were already on the verge of securing a deal based on a unity government. Negotiators from both sides flew out from Harare to Pretoria on the same plane, before meeting at an undisclosed venue. The meeting comes two days after South African President Thabo Mbeki secured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara on Monday.
A confidentiality clause stops all parties from leaking details to the media, but information coming out suggests a unity government is on the cards. Newsreel understands discussions are taking place about making Mugabe titular President, with Tsvangirai as Executive Prime Minister. Speculation suggests half the cabinet will be from Zanu PF, the other half from the Tsvangirai MDC while the Mutambara MDC is set to get one cabinet post. The plan is for elections to be held in 2 years, under a new constitution. Zanu PF meanwhile is still very opposed to Mugabe being a titular head of state, with no powers. Several analysts believe that over the past 18 months of negotiations there is already a basic outline and in the next two weeks they will just be tying up the loose ends.
With so many people killed and tortured before and after the March 29 polls any deal with Mugabe comes at the risk of offending those who were victims of the Zanu PF terror campaign. Human rights group Amnesty International threw in a reminder Thursday, challenging both parties to the negotiations to ensure, 'there are no pardons for those who committed human rights violations in the post-election period.' They believe no lasting solution can be found if human rights abuses are not addressed and perpetrators brought to justice. Amnesty International also continues to receive reports of attacks on opposition officials in the country. They say even though some of the militia bases have been dismantled, 'some in rural areas including in Mashonaland West, Central and East provinces, still remain.'
Many believe the talks will collapse over Mugabe's insistence that he be recognized as the legitimate President of the country, despite his one-man run-off election. Insiders say a ZANU PF politburo meeting on Wednesday made it clear to negotiators Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche that only a deal which involves Mugabe leading the next government will be acceptable to them. This is likely to be resisted by the opposition who do not want to be seen as getting into bed with ZANU PF and betraying their battered supporters. Some senior figures in the MDC have already made it clear only a transitional government that puts in a new constitution and runs fresh elections within 18 months is acceptable.
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Indeed there is suspicion generally that the talks would be inconclusive because of Mugabe's insistence he remains executive President. By then, that is in a fortnight, Tsvangirai would have burnt his fingers rubbing shoulders with maverick Mugabe!
Cunning maverick Mugabe would thus ditch any future talks with MDC and will embark upon exterminating political opponents. Why Mbeki agreed to talks while 500 MDC supporters are still detained? Mugabe has maintained all repressive means under his control - how then could talks take place on a level playing field?
Amnesty Internation is right to warn against the granting of any pardon to anybody.
Thanks the fate of Karadzic, Al Bashir and other similar bloodstained oppressors should remind Mugabe that he may end up in a similar situation. How sad for a hero turned oppressor?
One thing that is sure is that the commoners in Zimbabwe will never drop a tear should Mugabe exit! The once milk and honey flowing country will start afresh to breath again. Zimbabweans with the right institutions and a blend of civil society organisations would make sure a second Mugabe is never born in Zimbabwe, nay Africa!!
"One thing that is sure is that the commoners in Zimbabwe will never drop a tear should Mugabe exit! The once milk and honey flowing country will start afresh to breath again. Zimbabweans with the right institutions and a blend of civil society organisations would make sure a second Mugabe is never born in Zimbabwe, nay Africa!!"
The simple truth is that Africa needs a lot more Mugabes who are looking out for Africans interests instead of Europeans interests, western propaganda notwithstanding!
There is total news black-out of the talks; whatever is being reported by this sw radio pathetic writer is utter nonsense. Executive this or that and elections is mere speculation with an intention to incite negative reaction of the population if what is being thrown in the papers doesnt come true. From these talks from SA how does this writer get to know about Zanu PF being opposed or in support of whatever is being discussed? Good journalism propels one to write about something else divorced from the talks up till there is a press conference by discussants. I have a feeling that the negotiations have a totally different focus from what the anti-mugabes dream of. As usual the same prophets of doom against Mugabe are bound to have yet another failure surprise to dictate the Zimbabwean discourse after these 2 weeks. Lance and crew have been horrible losers against Mugabe but will never tire, I feel very pitiful for their wasted misguided energy.
Yeah, Mugabe did sure take good care of those 120 MDC supporters that were murdered during the run off election. Oh. And the 20,000 Ndebele people he murdered in the 80's. Geez... imagine how Africa would be with more people like Mugabe. Africa would be full of Billionaires! Look what he's done for Zimbabwe!
awt from where did you get these figures? you seem to be mathematic minded now go ahead and tell us how many inoccent iraqis and americans have so far died in the so called war against terror
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