BY CHIEF REPORTER
HARARE
Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai shook hands for the first time in ten years on Monday, smiled for the cameras, and agreed to sign a contract that prepares the way for negotiations.
But three and half months after the historic March 29 presidential election unleashed political violence that killed more than 130 people, the real test is whether the reluctant partners can open talks and heal a deeply divided nation.
Much depends on how President Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai work together in the days ahead as they begin fully-fledged talks aimed at ending Zimbabwe’s drawn-out political and economic crisis.
“We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction,” a subdued President Mugabe said, adding: “we must act now as Zimbabweans, think as Zimbabweans and act as Zimbabweans.”
But the bitterness between Tsvangirai and Mugabe runs deep. They have traded accusations about inciting violence, stealing the vote, and destroying the nation.
South Africa President Thabo Mbeki, the SADC appointed mediator, had to prompt them to shake hands on Monday as the cameras rolled.
Power-sharing talks
The two men must conclude the power-sharing talks within two weeks and work to try to repair the lives of the more than 200,000 families displaced from their homes and the thousands injured in political violence who need food, water and medical care.
The mediation team that will oversee the negotiations has been expanded to also include Haile Menkerios, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, while the 53-nation African Union will be represented by AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping. The 14-nation SADC has added George Chikoti, a former follower of slain rebel guerrilla chief Jonas Savimbi, who is now Angola’s Deputy Foreign Minister.
Tsvangirai said it was time to bury the hatchet and committed himself to solving the problem.
“This is a collective effort that involves tolerance and putting the best interest of Zimbabwe first,” Tsvangirai said. “We are committed to ensuring that the process of negotiation becomes successful. We want a better Zimbabwe.”
Mbeki said the Memorandum of Understanding committed “…the negotiating parties to an intense programme of work to try and finalise the negotiations as quickly as possible. All the Zimbabwean parties recognise the urgency of the matters they are discussing and all are committed to trying to complete this process as quickly as possible.”
Zimbabweans welcomed the signing ceremony, but many were sceptical. Reports of violence continued to filter through from Manicaland and the Mashonaland provinces.
“The signing ceremony will probably water down the violence but I doubt if it will enable us to get back to our homes,” said Shame Gadaga (56), among 300 people living in a refugee camp in the eastern town of Ruwa.
End to violence?
Ambuya Madzore (61), whose son was murdered by marauding Zanu (PF) militia in Zaka, said the signing ceremony was meaningless.
“They can talk all they want, but how do I talk to the people who killed my son?” she said before breaking down into uncontrollable sobs.
Much of the bloodshed was perpetrated by armed Zanu (PF) militia against unarmed civilians. The violence, sparked by Zanu (PF)’s loss on March 29, brought a bloody end to decades of co-existence among Zimbabweans across the political divide.
Some residents in Harare’s poor ghettos however celebrated what they saw as a chance for peace.
“The general mood among people is that of happiness,” said Nyasha Mugunzva, whose barbershop was destroyed by the vigilante Mbare-based militia Chipangano. “We are tired of the political crisis. I was a barber but my shop was destroyed. Now I’m jobless and the end of this crisis means that I can rebuild my business.”
The negotiations are unlikely to be an uneasy affair, with Mugabe already hinting that he would like Tsvangirai as a junior partner in his government, while the MDC leader wants a fresh, free, and fair presidential election held under international supervision.
Mugabe has also hinted at changes to the constitution. He said: “We agreed that our constitution as it is should be amended variously.”
MDC lawmakers have questioned whether it is legal to make significant constitutional changes without a national referendum.
University of Zimbabwe political analyst Professor John Makumbe said: “It’s a tentative step in the right direction, but at this point everything is tentative. The situation in the country is desperate and the gulf between the parties immense.”
Post published in: News