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Zimbabwe: Hints of a Power Sharing Deal
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UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
7 August 2008
Posted to the web 7 August 2008
Harare
Negotiations for a power sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe's government and Zimbabwe's main opposition parties have nearly been concluded, people involved in the talks told IRIN.
An agreement is expected to be signed in the next few days between both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling ZANU-PF party, which has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.
The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 21 July, which paved the way for talks and committed the negotiators to a news blackout. However, speaking on condition of anonymity, a negotiator said: "We are just dotting the i's and crossing the t's. We should be forming a government in which we will be sharing power within the next few days."
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main MDC faction, is expected to return to Zimbabwe from South Africa, where the talks were conducted, on 8 August; Thabo Mbeki, appointed as mediator by the Southern African Development Community, is expected to arrive in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, the following day for the signing ceremony. If the power-sharing parameters were concluded in time, the agreement could be signed on 8 August.
According to the negotiator, in terms of the deal Mugabe would be retained as executive president, while Tsvangirai would occupy the post of executive prime minister. Arthur Mutambara, leader of the MDC break-away faction, was expected to be given an influential ministerial post.
"We have agreed to adopt a system which is almost similar to the French model, in which both the president and the prime minister wield a lot of power," the negotiator said.
The power-sharing deal was expected to last for five years, after which internationally supervised elections would be held. He said despite public posturing and claims that there were serious differences on the formation of a power-sharing government, the opposite was true.
"Generally, we have been agreed on many issues, and that is why we have almost completed the talks in a short time. Everybody involved in the talks acknowledges that the people have suffered for too long as a result of the political and economic hardships caused by the political stalemate."
Amnesty for all
Mugabe had demanded that all people implicated in politically motivated crimes, himself included, be exempted from any trials, although the MDC believed there should be some form of accountability, a senior ZANU-PF official told IRIN.
Mugabe and his government have been implicated in Operation Gukurahundi (The rain that washes away the chaff before the spring rain) in 1983 - also known as the Matabeleland Massacres - when the North Korean-trained 5th Brigade was the vanguard unit in a campaign against alleged dissidents. At least 20,000 people were killed in the operation.
Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 - also known as Operation Restore Order, and officially described as a slum clearance programme - left more than 700,000 people homeless after houses and shacks were bulldozed. United Nations Special Envoy Anna Tibaijuka, after visiting Zimbabwe, said the operation had breached both national and international human rights law.
The talks have gained so much momentum that it would almost be impossible to abort them. All parties have increased the number of negotiators and technical committees, while support staff have been flown in [to South Africa] to prepare for the signing ceremony expected by Saturday
In 2008, ZANU-PF lost its majority in parliament for the first time since independence and Mugabe came off second best in the first round of presidential voting. The military, war veterans and ZANU-PF militia were implicated in the deaths of scores of MDC supporters in the period before the run-off ballot, which led to Tsvangirai withdrawing his candidacy in protest.
"The talks have gained so much momentum that it would almost be impossible to abort them," the ZANU-PF official said. "All parties have increased the number of negotiators and technical committees, while support staff have been flown in [to South Africa] to prepare for the signing ceremony expected by Saturday. As ZANU-PF we have started inviting guests who should attend the ceremony where the power-sharing deal will be signed."
The negotiator said two key security ministries, defence and intelligence, were deemed "non-negotiable" by security chiefs, who are believed to have influenced Mugabe to cling to power after he lost the first round of voting.
"The MDC responded by saying home affairs, which controls the police and justice, were 'non-negotiable', as they wanted to safeguard themselves from possible unfair treatment before the justice delivery system," the negotiator said.
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"That is why very few people are surprised by reports that the homicide section of the country's largest police station in Harare was bombed over the weekend." No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the blast destroyed the records of investigations into the recent political violence.
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I have lived in colonion rule for almost fifty years, I was born in Jamaica and WENT TO Englang at the age of 10years old,I remember the trails and trublaction we went through,and are still, yes still going through in england the African decendent born outside of Africia go through hell,....unless you give up you r african culture and except the British way. President Robert Mugabe my hat off to you you are one of the few African ruler that will stand up to the so call super power, and rule your COUNTRY NOT SELL IT OUT, FOR... [Read Full Text]
As a very young Jamaican, you went to England on your own free will. It is a pity you entertain so much hate towards your host country.
Thousands of Zimbabweans are also in the UK, but they had to run away from murderer Mugabe to seek the protection of your host country. You should perhaps meet some of them before you sing the praise of dictator Mugabe!No party in Jamaica has ever held on to power for more than a decade. After 27 years in power, dictator Mugabe wants to cling to power illegitimately. he believes he is God-annoited.
Should... [Read Full Text]
Jasmin you are not living in reality with your out of step comments. You need to be reschooled and reoriented. Prem is right...you sure did not live or work in Africa under a dictatorship Jamaica hasn't even known...get real and listen to the heart beat of Africa my sister...you are totally out of touch with the black realities...shame on you for posting such comments!
You know you are a SOUTHERN RHODESIAN WHEN:
.1. You claim that Zimbabwe was the bread and basket of Africa, even though Zimbabwe (ZIM) exported almost all her agriculture products to EU, especially UK, and also grew Tobacco and other cash crops.
2. You claim that the white population in ZIM is 5% of the total population, without doing the math that shows (50,000/12,000,000) less than 0.5%.
3. You survey your black garden boy whether he would like the old Rhodesia back, and he nods his head with approval, and you conclude that the majority of black ZIMS want Ian... [Read Full Text]
You 150 % Asantewa i have been living in Zimbabwe for the past 28 years of my life. Mugabe has been running that country like a corner tuckshop and does not give a damn about the lives of more than ten million people who are currently suffering from his lack of foresight and leadership.
Those who are proud of Mugabe are just being blinded by his level of perfection in western education, a misdirected effort which has not yielded much for the ailing country. He is just articulate and eloquent but lacks basic indigenous wisdom which emphasises government by consensus.
Prem, its an obviousity that most of the people who ran away to the United kingdom went there before UK had introduced Visa requirements for Zimbabweans(2002. It is also common knowledge that those who went to UK are mercenaries- would do anything for money. Not that i blame them but as circumstances would have it, the pound power pulled them to go clean up old grannies at old age homes. How many people do you know that fled Zimbabwe because of fear for their lives. Lets call a spade a spade. They are economic migrants. They cannot even travel to... [Read Full Text]
You've no ideal what you're talking about: Butchering 20,000 Zimbwabweans by Mugabi is not what I'll consider standing up to the super powers. Mugabi and his gang of buchers are living like kings and queens at the expense of Zimbabweans. The very people who're suffering are the black Zimbabweans. You've no clue what it feels like to live under a dictatorship in Africa. I can sympatize and empatize with them. Trust me, because, I can feel their pains. About 80 % have no jobs, 30 - 40% HIV positive, over 50% of the kids can't go to school, turture is... [Read Full Text]
Jasmin i understand u may not have had a choice to move to the UK at age 10, but u have a choice now so why are u still there? i have a suggestion: move to zim now, i'm sure mugabe would love to have u. uor would u rather adore him from a distance??
My "hat off" to you for your ignorance and the lack of comprehension of the situation in Zimbabwe.mugabe freed the Zimbabwean people from colonial rule(respect for that) and inherited the healthiest economy in Africa and through failed leadership,inflation is highest in the world.Guess whose suffering?THE ZIMBABWEANS.Now you may argue that western sanctions have a lot to do with this situation but what good does it do to take a productive tobacco farm from a white Zimbabwean(who contributed enormously to the economy)and give it to an individual who will turn it into a soccer playground?mugabe's MAFIA REGIME intimidates its own citizens... [Read Full Text]
To: Greenbomber and Jasmin:
Subject: Self determination and pride
What is striking upon reading the comments here is that there is a sense among some "Zimbabweans"?? that President Mugabe is the root cause of the inflation and hunger in Zimbabwe. It appears to be the opposite in that President Mugabe has effectively for the most part redistributed the land to black Zimbabweans. However, he faced a formidable foe - the West- and a brainwashed black population that has been accustomed to taking orders from whites and earning salaries from whites and being fed by whites... [Read Full Text]
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