South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday he was ”very confident” that mediation efforts between Zimbabwe’s government and the opposition would produce a solution to the country’s political crisis.
”They [the talks] have gone very well. I came to Harare today to see the president and the leadership of the Movement for Democratic Change [MDC] so we can reflect on where we are and to report to them as facilitator how the talks have gone,” Mbeki said after meeting the two sides.
Regional leaders appointed Mbeki earlier this year to mediate between the main opposition MDC and the ruling Zanu-PF party ahead of elections next year.
‘Progress’
Meanwhile, the leader of the MDC said on Wednesday that talks with his government over electoral reform have made progress, but added that ensuring implementation will be crucial.
”I am confident that the agenda set through the [South Africa-led] mediation will address the fundamental concerns around holding free and fair elections,” Morgan Tsvangirai said in an interview. ”But we want to translate those ideas on to something on the ground so people can feel confident that the situation is safe; that there is a stop to violence.”
During previous elections in Zimbabwe, opposition supporters have been tortured and killed by government forces and supporters of the ruling party. The country’s economy is in meltdown, with the highest rate of inflation in the world, and millions have fled abroad.
Tsvangirai said the talks have centred on constitutional and electoral reform, but have stalled over freedom of assembly. He offered no further details.
Protests in Zimbabwe are frequently met with violence by the police, who beat up and arrest demonstrators.
Tsvangirai participated in a public debate on Zimbabwe in Kampala on Wednesday organised two days before a Commonwealth summit opens by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
He said his opposition MDC might shun next year’s election unless it is sure President Robert Mugabe will not rig it.
”We have gone through three national elections and we know it is always pre-determined,” he said, adding: ”We want free and fair elections … it will be suicidal to go through the ritual of elections to legitimise Mugabe.”
He also called on Commonwealth leaders to monitor the talks mediated by Mbeki under Southern African Development Community auspices and to ensure any future commitments are honoured.
Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader, has come under pressure to introduce reforms or step down. The 83-year-old walked out of the Commonwealth in 2003 and has shown no desire of returning to the 53-nation body of mostly former British colonies that he calls a stooge of British neo-imperialism. — Reuters, Sapa-AP