/ 7 May 2003

Mounting pressure on Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it will launch a mass action campaign to demonstrate the people’s ”displeasure” with the government of President Robert Mugabe.

MDC representative Paul Themba Nyathi said on Tuesday the protest action would begin within the next two weeks, ”might last longer” than a two-day stay away held in March, and involve demonstrations.

Following an inconclusive visit on Monday by three senior African presidents trying to open a dialogue between Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Nyathi said ”our premise was talks can only yield something if further pressure is brought to bear on Mugabe”.

Mugabe demanded recognition as Zimbabwe’s legitimately elected leader by the opposition before engaging in talks on resolving the country’s crisis. He said the MDC would have to drop its court challenge to the results of last year’s controversial presidential election in which Mugabe was declared the winner.

”I am the president of the country, I have legitimacy which the MDC doesn’t recognise,” Mugabe said.

”Does the MDC now say they recognise me? That is the issue. If they do, that means the MDC court action has to be withdrawn and we can start talks.”

Nyathi said the MDC had rejected Mugabe’s conditions for talks.

”The three presidents who came here, if they had any doubts on Mugabe’s destructive rule, now have no doubts,” Nyathi commented.

”All he does is be a spoiler, but at the moment his back is against the wall. He’s not as important a factor as he claims to be.”

Presidents Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa held separate talks in Harare with Mugabe and Tsvangirai, to encourage them to restart a dialogue process which collapsed last May because of the MDC’s court challenge.

Obasanjo told journalists that the three visiting leaders were ”delighted” Mugabe and his government were ”very anxious” for negotiations.

”There is a little point [the MDC’s court challenge] which we can work out. We will work on it as quickly as possible.”

Muluzi said after Monday’s deadlock that he was asked by Mbeki and Obasanjo to hold further talks with Tsvangirai ”very soon”.

In the meantime, Commonwealth members Australia and Britain are calling for ”maximum international pressure” to be maintained on Mugabe’s government to restore democracy and human rights.

Speaking following a meeting in London with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Blair said: ”The situation in Zimbabwe remains a very serious situation indeed. There has not been real progress there at all, in our view.”

Blair referred to a lack of proper democracy and adherence to human rights and to ”the appalling humanitarian situation that has been exacerbated by the political situation”.

Howard said there was ”no question” of Zimbabwe’s suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth being lifted unless the country returned to democracy.

”Even more importantly than that, the suffering of the people, both black and white, in Zimbabwe is not only distressing but inexcusable and appalling and a terrible indictment of someone who has lost any pretence of governing for the welfare of the people of that country,” he added.

International Development Secretary for Britain Clare Short, later on Wednesday added that she believes Mugabe is likely to lose power soon.

”My instinct is the end is coming.” ‒ Sapa