Mbeki visit triggers tensions

Sources privy to the discussions between Mbeki,
President Robert Mugabe and the MDC leaders, Morgan
Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara said the opposition
had been persuaded by Mbeki to contest elections in
March under an “amended electoral framework as well as
the amendments done to the constitution”. The MDC has
been calling for a new constitution and the
postponement of the elections beyond March due to the
unconducive environment that doesn’t guarantee the
holding of free and fair polls.
Mugabe has dug his heels on the matter and insisted
elections should be held in March under the current
constitution, a position that had threatened a
collapse of talks as the MDC mulled pulling out and
boycotting the polls.
However, the reported capitulation by the MDC is set
to take it on collision course once again with civic
society organizations that have invariably called for
a new constitution as a pre-requisite for the holding
of elections.
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman,
Lovemore Madhuku said, “If the MDC agrees to contest
elections under this constitution and electoral
framework, they will have only themselves to blame. We
remain opposed to anyone intending to hold elections
in this environment and the MDC must be warned.”
Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) chairman
Reginald Matchaba Hove also pronounced the indignation
within civic society over the reported move by the
opposition. “We can’t imagine Zimbabweans agreeing to
hold elections under the current electoral system,
already characterized by a lot of irregularities in
voter registration, delimitation and other vital
issues to do with running of elections,” said.
Civic organizations unequivocally blasted and
threatened to cut ties with the MDC after the
opposition had support constitutional, media and
electoral reforms deemed by many critics as piecemeal
in nature. – Itai Dzamara