Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday he had revised his opinion of President Thabo Mbeki’s attitude to the crisis in that country, calling their recent talks “very productive”.
The MDC has often been frustrated by Mbeki’s policy of quiet diplomacy towards the political and economic problems in Zimbabwe.
“I found the engagement with President Mbeki very productive and found his attitude to be open, concerned, and of course to be committed to finding a solution.”
Mbeki met Tsvangirai this week in his capacity as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) organ for defence, politics and security.
Tsvangirai has been touring the SADC region ahead of elections in Zimbabwe next march. On Thursday he returned from a meeting in Mauritius with Paul Berenger who is the current chairperson of SADC, and held a short press conference in Johannesburg before his return to Zimbabwe where he was recently acquitted of treason charges.
“I have had to revise my view of my attitude towards Mbeki and I found him to be more robust,” Tsvangirai said.
He criticised the Zimbabwe government’s decision to deport a visiting Congress of South Arfrican Trade Unions delegation and not allow them to meet the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and civic organisations.
“Our view is that it is abhorrent and not acceptable. It reflects the extent to which the Zimbabwe government has become paranoid,” said Tsvangirai, a former trade union leader himself.
He said his party was not boycotting the March elections. It had “suspended” its participation until concerns about election mechanisms were addressed.
This included a worry that an independent electoral commission would not be in place in time for the polls. – Sapa
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