A landmark deal between Zimbabwe’s political rivals was hailed by South Africa’s media on Tuesday as a new dawn for the troubled nation and a diplomatic coup for the under-fire mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki.
”Hope in a handshake,” read the front-page headline of the Star, over a picture of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai together at Monday’s signing ceremony in Harare, while Business Day trumpeted a ”New Dawn in Zimbabwe as Mugabe accepts deal.”
In their first meeting in over a decade, Tsvangirai and Mugabe agreed to hold fully fledged talks aimed at resolving a political crisis sparked by disputed elections in March, which has led to a deadly bout of violence.
The agreement was overseen by Mbeki, who has previously been heavily criticised for his refusal to publicly condemn the 84-year-old Mugabe and faced calls from Tsvangirai to be axed as mediator.
The Times said the signing had ”finally bought Mbeki a moment in the sun”, adding he now ”needs our support as he pushes on with these critical talks”.
”There is, for the first time in more than a decade, real hope that Zimbabwe will move forward,” it said in an editorial.
The Star agreed that ”credit must go to President Mbeki, who has had to endure scathing criticism over his quiet-diplomacy approach”.
”For now, it appears to have paid off,” it added.
However, the same paper said it was too early to start popping the champagne corks, pointing out that the atmosphere was ”far from cordial” at the signing ceremony, despite the bonhomie exuded by Mbeki.
”Not to be mistaken as a breakthrough, yesterday [Monday] marked but the beginning of a delicate process, an agreement on behalf of both men to talk, at the very least,” it said.
First round of talks
Meanwhile, negotiators from Zimbabwe’s opposition and ruling party were due to hold a first round of talks in South Africa on Tuesday aimed at putting an end to the political crisis.
The day after Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change’s (MDC) Tsvangirai signed the deal, their representatives were expected in the capital, Pretoria.
”They will start later today in South Africa at an undisclosed venue. Later this afternoon,” Mbeki’s spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said.
Edwin Mushoriwa, spokesperson for a smaller faction of the MDC that will also be present at the negotiations, said that ”the talks will be held in Pretoria, but far away from town and the media. These will be two weeks of intense discussions.”.
Both sides agreed in their memorandum of understanding inked in Harare to observe a media blackout during the negotiations, which should be wrapped up within a fortnight.
However, a source in Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party confirmed that Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Labour Minister Nicolas Goche were flying to South Africa.
”We expect that they will leave later in the day,” he said.
And a source in Tsvangirai’s wing of the MDC said its main negotiator, Tendai Biti, and national chairperson Lovemore Moyo would fly out in a matter of hours.
”We are just finalising one or two things before we go,” said the source.
While commentators have warned significant obstacles remain in the path towards forming ”an inclusive government”, both Tsvangirai and Mugabe tried on Monday to draw a line under a crisis sparked by the disputed elections in March.
”We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction,” said Mugabe.
Tsvangirai, for his part, said it was time to put the ”bitterness” behind him and said he was committed to finding a solution with his old rival.
”We want a better Zimbabwe … If we put our heads together I am sure we can find a solution,” he said. — AFP
