In addition, we have stated that no such negotiations can take place while the ZANU PF regime continues to wage war on my party and the people of Zimbabwe. This position has not changed.
There is a meeting currently taking place in Pretoria at which the MDC is represented by Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, and Deputy Treasurer-General, Elton Mangoma. Their presence at this meeting is solely to present the conditions under which genuine negotiations can take place and the mechanism under which these negotiations will be conducted as defined by the AU resolution. The lack of these conditions and an agreed framework in which negotiations can take place were the reasons for the MDC not attending the meeting between President Mbeki and Robert Mugabe last Saturday.
Those persons portraying this meeting as the beginning of negotiations between the MDC and ZANU PF are being disingenuous and exploiting the plight of the Zimbabwean people for political gain.
In addition, portraying these talks as negotiations also undermines the resolution of the African Union, the statements made by the G8 leaders and the current process underway at the United Nations Security Council, all of which are designed to pressure the ZANU PF regime to desist from its campaign of violence against the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe.
At present the state-sanctioned violence and repressive legislation employed by the regime is designed to silence the Zimbabwean people.
We in the MDC are committed to finding a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Zimbabwean crisis and we will take every opportunity to clarify our position and to allow the voice of the Zimbabwean people to be heard.
Our conditions for partaking in negotiations remain:
1)Â Â Â Â Â The immediate cessation of violence and the withdrawal and
disbanding of militia groups, paramilitary camps and illegal road blocks.
All structures and infrastructure of violence must be disbanded. Amongst
other things, war veterans, youth militia and others encamped on the edges
of our cities, towns and villages need to be sent home and be reintegrated
into society.
2)Â Â Â Â Â The normalization of the political environment, including the
release of the more than 1 500 political prisoners, cessation of political
persecution and allowing the currently besieged MDC leadership to conduct
business and travel without hindrance
3)Â Â Â Â Â The reinstatement of access by humanitarian organizations to the
people of Zimbabwe in order to provide food, medical and other critical
services through out the country.
4)Â Â Â Â Â Parliament and Senate must be sworn in and begin working on the
people’s business.
 5)  The mediation team is expanded to include an AU permanent envoy.
Until the above conditions are in place no negotiations can take place on the substantive issues facing Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean people.
For more information please call MDC on (South Africa) Nqobizitha Mlilo 0835274650 or George Sibotshiwe 0766330314 or (Zimbabwe) Nelson Chamisa 0912940489
Post published in: News