Get serious about talks, SADC leaders tell Mugabe

babwean can reveal that South African President Thabo Mbeki, apparently sensing danger due to the imminent collapse of the talks following the apparent display of a negative attitude by the Harare regime, last week sent a delegation to Harare.
Led by Safety and Security minister, Sydney Mufamadi, the delegation is reported to have met Mugabe and tried to revive the talks. Informed sources say the mediation efforts face collapse with reports that both opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions complained to Mbeki about the attitude shown by Zanu (PF) and hinted that they might soon announce a pull out.
This followed failure by the ruling party representatives to attend the third meeting in South Africa recently. It has also been reported that Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique as well as Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia have made contact with Mugabe, urging him to engage the opposition in dialogue.
The SADC leaders are making concerted efforts to secure meaningful commitment and progress on the dialogue initiative and are racing against time ahead of their summit set for Lusaka soon. “The leaders all responded with what seemed to be panic to reports of Mugabe frustrating the talks, as well as him proceeding with his Constitutional Amendment Number 18,” an impeccable source said. “They are all convinced the talks’ route is the only one left for them to try and save Zimbabwe and the prospect of it failing spells doom for the region.
Diplomatic sources also told this paper this week that AU chair, President John Kuffor of Ghana had communicated with Mugabe and MDC factions’ leaders in trying to push for the engagement of the political parties in dialogue.
Foreign affairs minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi was not immediately available for talks, whilst Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa, one of the Zanu (PF) representatives at the talks, insisted that the ruling party “remains committed to dialogue that is done transparently and sincerely”.
Efforts to obtain comment from Mbeki’s office in Pretoria failed whilst MDC (Tsvangirai) secretary general Tendai Biti said his party was worried by Zanu (PF)’s approach but remained committed to the dialogue initiative. – Staff reporter