The newspaper, quoting a Zanu PF official, says South African President Thabo Mbeki will travel to Harare this week to meet Mugabe and Tsvangirai. There is speculation the process has reached deadlock over who will lead a proposed unity government and Mbeki will sit through meetings between the two men to ensure the impasse is resolved. ‘Until a settlement is agreed, Mugabe and Tsvangirai will meet weekly and hammer out any obstacles. They will then brief their mediators on the subsequent steps to be followed,’ The Star reported.
Last week negotiations broke off amid official claims the negotiators needed time to consult their party leaders. Sources privy to the negotiations however told Newsreel Zanu PF was refusing to budge on the issue of Mugabe stepping down, insisting he should lead the next government. With a cloud of secrecy hanging over the talks the only clear thing is that the process will not meet its original 2 week deadline as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all the parties. The talks resumed on Sunday and
right through Monday were still ongoing. Mbeki’s spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga told journalists the parties had taken five days off last week to discuss issues with their principals. ‘So, logically there is no way they
will meet their original deadline if you take that into consideration,’ he said.
Later this month Mbeki will assume the Presidency of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and commentators say it is in his interest to try and resolve the crisis before that time. He is facilitating the talks on behalf of SADC and would be greatly compromised if, as President of the grouping, he has to supervise his own work.
The Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition for Zimbabwe has urged MDC and Zanu PF negotiators to ensure the concerns and will of the people of Zimbabwe form the basis of any settlement. In a petition to Botswana President Ian Khama the group demanded that political violence, intimidation and other violations of human rights should stop during the negotiations. They also added to concerns about the exclusion of civil society groups from the process arguing this might lead to issues affecting ordinary people being ignored. The group also slammed the idea of a Government of National Unity saying it was simply a quick-fix solution that has proved unsustainable in the long run.
Meanwhile, a bomb is reported to have exploded at Harare Central Police Station on Saturday. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said windows were shattered but there were no injuries. The explosion took place a day before negotiators for the political parties were due to resume talks. Police say they also discovered a second bomb that had failed to detonate. It is not known who was behind these alleged attacks but a number of observers believe it could be a set up by the regime, once again trying to make the opposition look bad. But as the media clamp down in Zimbabwe continues it is once again a guessing game as to the true facts.
SWRadio Africa