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In a statement released in Harare, the US State Department said its government was in support of negotiations but said dialogue should lead “to a result that expresses the will of the Zimbabwean people”.
Mugabe representing his ruling ZANU PF party on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with opposition MDC party leader Morgan Tsvangirai paving way for formal talks on how to share power and end Zimbabwe’s 10-year political and economic crisis.
State Department deputy spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the MOU provides “a vehicle for undertaking talks,” but that power-sharing discussions have yet to take place.
“We’re obviously keeping an eye on what’s happening there and we’re going to continue to watch it closely,” he said in the statement. “I think we’re waiting to see the evolution of this process.”
Gallegos said the US was looking forward to a resolution that brings about new elections.
Tsvangirai withdrew from the June 27 presidential election run-off between himself and Mugabe after weeks of politically motivated violence against MDC supporters.
US officials, including President George Bush, have described the election as a “sham”.
Gallegos said Washington wanted to see “an election that is free and fair and open, and that all parties can participate in without fear of aggressive acts against them”.
In a July 15 testimony before the US Senate foreign relations committee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said talks between ZANU PF and the MDC could succeed if they result in a “transitional government that could then prepare for an election so that we could get back to a democratic path.
The MOU sets a two-week deadline for the parties to begin discussions on issues such as a unity government and holding new elections. Both sides also agreed to ease political tensions within the deadline.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, southern Africa’s mediator on Zimbabwe, facilitated signing of the MOU with assistance from African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping and Haile Menkerios, the United Nations envoy to Zimbabwe.
Describing the signing of the MOU as “a very historic occasion,” MDC leader Tsvangirai expressed optimism that a solution to the political crisis can be found. “In fact, not finding a solution is not an option,” he said.
Mugabe said the memorandum was signed “to chart a new way of political interaction”.
The signing ceremony in Harare was the first time political rivals Mugabe and Tsvangirai have met in public in 10 years.
They last met in 1998 when Tsvangirai was secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) pushing for better pay and living conditions for workers.
A year later Tsvangirai formed the MDC. – ZimOnline
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