PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has indicated that talks with opposition leaders on creating an all-inclusive government had ended inconclusively, but that they would resume on Monday.
After a 14-hour marathon session on Sunday, a jovial President Mugabe told reporters that there was no deal yet. Asked by a journalist if a deal had been signed he said: “Not yet. We are not through but we will continue tomorrow.”
President Thabo Mbeki was mandated by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union to mediate in the talks. He is currently at the Rainbow Towers Hotel where the talks are taking place.
Reuters news agency reported that Tsvangirai declined to comment when he emerged, saying he expected Mbeki to release a statement on the negotiations.
The Zanu PF party on Saturday said a ‘milestone’ had been reached when negotiators returned from South Africa where they were negotiating in secrecy, and also when the MDC accepted President Mugabe’s legitimacy as president.
Common agreements are said to have been reached in relation to the land issue, sanctions, sovereignty, non-interference, freedom of assembly and association, the media and sanctions.
The talks are said to be focussing on the structure and scope of the new all-inclusive government.
Critics say the ongoing discussions are the clearest sign yet that an agreement was within reach. Many people are optimistic that a final acceptable deal could increase the chances of recovery from the economic and political crisis currently gripping the country.
Zanu PF and the MDC have been patching up their differences in the last few days. On Thursday they issued a joint statement condemning widespread violence in the country. The MDC subsequently issued another statement promising not to reverse President Mugabe's land policy.
The MDC formation led by Arthur Mutambara wrote an a newspaper over the weekend that a compromise was close. Despite limitations, it offered the "best temporary measure to extricate the country from its worst situation".
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Zimbabwe massive • zimbabwelive@aol.com
Subject: Incredible and only in Africa.
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:59:00 • So it is said that these honourable folks were up till 3a.m. I wonder how many of them were still wide awake when at parliament they fall asleep after 30 minutes. MDC are still begging for scraps after they won the elections, comical if you ask me.
They are going to get nothing!
Isaac Bwoni • ibwoni@gmail.com
Subject: Talk
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:07:06 • Land, land and land....and all that is harboured by it should be totally Zimbabwean. Those foreigners who think should own more than Zimbabweans themselves should simply go back and own more in their own countries.
Omuhle • n/a
Subject: n/a
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:36:45 • Could your reporter please direct us to the statement issued by the MDC promising not to reverse Mugabe's land policy?
Further more could you expound on what reversing the land policy means? Does this include returning land to the Dutch farmers, who were invited to come and farm in Zimbabwe by Mugabe in the 90's ? These farmers paid for the land they got, they were part and parcel of a governmental agreement which Mugabe chose to forget in the chaos that engulfed the land reform process.
Can we also have some insight into whether taking back farms from those with multiple farms constitutes reversing the land reform process.
We all know these talks are on a transitional govt, nothing else. After a couple of months, with proper judicial structures restored, with an impartial police force, Chihuri and Chiwenga in retirement, we will not stand aside and listen to nonsense such as this when you tell us MDC agreed to let those who stole and looted remain with the proceeds of that period. So do not attempt to hoodwink us.
Taneta • n/a
Subject: n/a
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:35:16 • Much as we all expect fruitful conclusion of the current talks, I am very, very despondent. I am so despondent because I simply cannot see any good faith on the part of ZANU PF. Look, they are refusing to disband the torture camps they established towards the run up to the June 2008 presidential election run off. People continue to be harassed by State agents. Chiefs and headmen, all on the ZANU PF gravy train, are wrecking havoc on defenceless peasants, charging them them fines for belonging to the MDC. I am so despondent because I understand Mugabe does not want to relinquish any of his sweeping powers to Tsvangirai inspite of the fact that the latter commands a massive following in parliament and has equal if not more public support within Zimbabwe. I am despondent because ZANU PF wants to retain all their cabinet ministers and simply expand the cabinet to include elements from the MDC. We have said this before. If Tsvangirai is not careful, he is going to be rendered non existent as a formidable alternative to the present regime, in the same manner that the late Joshua Nkomo was swallowed and emasculated in the 22 December 1987 unity agreement. Zimbabweans will NOT forgive Tsvangirai for letting them down. There is so much pressure on Tsvangirai and his team in the negotiations. They must not succumb to these pressures. Neither should they fall for the offer of a few meaningless cabinet posts. As long as Mugabe remains executive president he can hire and fire anyone, Tsvangirai included. Has Tsvangirai demanded an entrenched clause in the proposed constitution that would guarantee his proposed Prime Minister position? There must be a very strong entrenched clause, guaranteed or underwritten by the African Union, SADC, and the United Nations, making it impossible for Mugabe or any of his successors, to dismiss Tsvangirai. Maybe this fact has already been overlooked. It would be unfortunate if that is the case. I know exactly how Mugabe operates and the pressure he is facing from his politburo and the Joint Operations Command. But ultimately it should be the interests of the majority of Zimbabweans that should be decisive in all this.
Sekuru Mhofu • mhofuy@gmail.com
Subject: The truth about MDC Leaders
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:23:28 • I would like to set the record straight once and for all,His Excellency Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai is the Leader of the MDC while the overzealous Aurthur Mutamburi is a leader of a run-away little mdc of Welshman Ncube and Baba Sibanda (mdc-WN & GB)
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