Details of what transpired have not been released but informed sources say the continuing state-sponsored violence topped the agenda. Tsvangirai last week announced publicly that he would raise the violence issue with Mbeki and that his party’s continued participation in the talks was dependent upon evidence of a serious commitment by Mugabe and Zanu (PF).
More than 2000 cases of human rights violations have been reported in the past six months. Peaceful demonstrations by civic groups have been brutally crushed by the police, with hundreds detained, assaulted and injured. Soldiers have also beaten civilians on a number of occasions.
Rural supporters, in particular, are suffering harassment, intimidation and assault. Zanu (PF) thugs are reportedly chasing people from their rural homes and destroying their crops. Food is used as a political weapon. Because of hunger in the countryside, food distribution is done by traditional leaders, most of them aligned to the ruling party.
During the same period, more than 244 meetings of the opposition have been unilaterally cancelled or interfered with by the police.
The MDC leaders are believed to have told Mbeki firmly that Zanu (PF)’s stranglehold on the media must also stop, and repressive legislation such as POSA and AIPPA must be scrapped.
The question of the voters’ roll, which is a complete shambles, was also believed to have been raised at the weekend talks, together with the powerful diaspora vote.
In addition to international observation, monitoring and assistance for the elections, the MDC is insisting upon the appointment of a truly independent electoral commission. Mugabe’s envoys agreed to this months ago. But the wily politician continues to out-wit his opponents, as well as Mbeki, through a combination of deception and complex manoeuvring.
For example, this week the new electoral amendment bill was brought before parliament – just in time to make Mugabe look good at next month’s EU-ACP summit in Lisbon, where no doubt he will claim wide-ranging reforms. In effect the legislation is nothing but window-dressing as he has already re-appointed the old commission, made up largely of former soldiers.
Similarly, supposedly fresh and unbiased appointments to the Media and Information Commission board, in order to re-consider the application to publish by The Daily News, have seen new Mugabe apologists replacing the old.
Political observers believe it is likely that Mbeki will meet Mugabe on the sidelines of the Lisbon summit, but just how robustly he will communicate the MDC’s concerns and demands is in doubt.
Meanwhile, MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, told the joint parliamentary assembly of about 250 members of parliament from 79 ACP and 27 EU countries in Kigali, Rwanda this week that the MDC was absolutely committed to the ongoing talks but Zanu (PF) continued to pursue dubious electoral activities, including delimitation of constituencies, that served only to puncture people ‘s confidence in the electoral process.
The electoral process will once again be seen as flawed and manipulated to produce a Zanu (PF)/Mugabe victory. This will not resolve the current meltdown – it will exacerbate the crisis, which is catastrophic for the entire region, said Chamisa.
We appeal to SADC, the AU and the international community to bring pressure to bear on Mugabe and Zanu (PF) to get serious about the resolution of the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Post published in: News