Zimbabwe’s leading opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), on Tuesday denied that negotiations had resumed with President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party.
“This is media speculation. There are no talks in the country and this has been confirmed by Zanu-PF,” MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said.
“Until the talks are formally resumed, talks about talks become exploratory in nature and, of course, pre-negotiation must be preceded by exploratory shuttles [by church leaders] between the two parties,” he told a news conference.
“All those cannot be concluded as talks,” he said, adding “but we are looking at breaking the impasse so that the talks can resume”.
“We have done everything in our power to reduce tension between the MDC and Zanu-PF. That must not be misinterpreted as capitulation,” he said.
Tsvangirai welcome a recent speech by Mugabe in which he said the two parties should settle their differences internally “as sons of the soil” without seeking foreign help.
“Recent developments have put the talks agenda even at a higher level … it will help create an environment in which the two parties will be prepared to negotate this crisis,” he said.
But Tsvangirai called for the statement to be translated into concrete action, notably in reversing the ban on Zimbabwe’s only independent daily newspaper.
“Let’s see The Daily News ban lifted … and all the restrictions that are being imposed lifted, so that we can demonstrate that there is seriousness,” he said.
The forced closure of The Daily News was politically motivated, he said.
“We view the closure of The Daily News as an attack, as an attack on the MDC. The paper has just become a victim of the whole strategy to emasculate the independent communication channels.
“We are not saying The Daily News is owned by the MDC, or a mouthpiece of the MDC, but we believe in the spirit of freedom of association.
“Any closure of any newspaper is an affront to democracy,” he said.
He said the MDC would launch a campaign to fight for a lifting on the Daily News ban. — Sapa-AFP
Daily News shutdown a ‘political act’