The main faction of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said on Sunday it remained committed to talks with the ruling Zanu-PF but hinted there were still sticking points.
The declaration came after claims in Zimbabwe’s state-controlled media that talks between President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and the MDC were now over and a draft agreement was about to be signed.
But in a list of resolutions agreed during a meeting on Sunday of the national council of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC, the party said the talks faced challenges.
The party remains committed to the process of dialogue despite the challenges, said the party.
The national council awaits the conclusion on the sticking points as soon as possible, it added.
The Tsvangirai-led faction of the MDC has remained cautious throughout several months of South African-mediated talks aimed at paving the way for smooth presidential and parliamentary elections next year.
The party says its supporters continue to suffer state-sponsored violence, a charge denied by the Mugabe government.
One of the party’s key demands ahead of the polls is for a new Constitution. That demand was reiterated at the Sunday meeting.
The struggle for a new Constitution is at the centre of our struggle for democratisation, said the party. Analysts say that demand is unlikely to be met.
South African President Thabo Mbeki is reported to have set this weekend as a deadline for the conclusion of the talks. Mbeki has come under criticism from Western countries for his softly-softly approach to the Mugabe government.
But Zimbabwe’s burgeoning economic and political crisis, marked by hyper-inflation, shortages and high levels of discontent, has spilled into South Africa where the authorities are battling a flood of illegal immigrants.
There has been speculation that only the smaller MDC faction could reach an agreement with Zanu-PF and participate in next year’s polls, further strengthening Mugabe’s hand. – Sapa-DPA