P>CAJ News can reveal details of consultations that have been done by the MDC factions this week after Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa and Labour minister, Nicholas Goche representing Zanu (PF) at the talks that were scheduled to kick off in Pretoria.
Top sources in Zanu (PF) said the ruling party is reluctant to proceed with the talks and shall continue to play the delaying tactics.
MDC Tsvangirai faction secretary general, Tendai Biti said that their side is disappointed. “We are
disappointed by Zanu (PF) as it shows that it not only takes the dialogue initiative without due seriousness but that it also views us without due respect,” he said.
“We can’t continue traveling all the way to SA only to find that our colleagues in Zanu (PF) have
other ideas. We might be forced to accept that Zanu (PF) is not serious after all.”
Chinamasa refused to discuss the issue when asked on Wednesday why they had not traveled to South Africa for the talks as agreed. Even Goche declined saying “we are sure about what we are doing”.
A government sources said that there is reluctance by the regime to commit in the talks which are likely expected to culminate in constitutional and electoral reforms en-route to finding a negotiated settlement to the debilitating political logjam in Harare.
Mbeki, who was mandated by the Sadc leaders in March to mediate in the Zimbabwean political crisis, is reported to be determined to find a solution based mainly on reforms and a rescue package for Harare.
Zanu (PF) is inimical to the proposed reforms, which would effectively democratize the country and level the electoral field thereby providing a basis for its ouster through the ballot.
For that reason, the ruling party is trying to evade the talks but political observers note that Mugabe will find it difficult to escape this time around because of the heightened interest on the Zimbabwean crisis in Africa and particularly within SADC- CAJ News.