South African President Thabo Mbeki travels to Zimbabwe on Thursday to meet officials of the ruling Zanu-PF and main opposition parties after reports that a deal to end a political crisis was imminent.
Mbeki has been mediating talks between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s government and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) for nearly a year at the urging of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
”President Mbeki will visit Zimbabwe within the context of the mandate bestowed upon him by SADC in March 2007 to assist the government and people of Zimbabwe to find a political solution to their political challenges,” South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late on Wednesday.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern suggested this week there had been a breakthrough in the negotiations and an agreement that would pave the way for free elections in March in Zimbabwe was only days away.
Ahern made his comments to reporters after a briefing by Mbeki in Pretoria.
Freedom walk
Meanwhile, the MDC said on Wednesday it planned a protest next week to demonstrate against a crumbling economy and press for a new Constitution it says will guarantee free and fair elections.
”Our march will be dubbed the freedom walk and is intended to highlight the suffering and plight of Zimbabweans, our demand for a new Constitution before the elections and most importantly an even electoral field,” Tendai Biti, the MDC’s secretary general, told journalists.
Biti said the opposition had notified the police as required by law and would meet law enforcement agents later on Wednesday to discuss the protest march, which has been set for January 23.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said earlier this month the party might boycott the March poll unless Mugabe’s government implemented a new Constitution.
The MDC and Zanu-PF have agreed on a new draft Constitution but there is a deadlock over when it should be adopted. The MDC wants it implemented before the election while Zanu-PF wants it after the vote. – Reuters, Sapa