The statement signed by the rival parties’ lead negotiators in the talks taking place in neighbouring South Africa came as President Thabo Mbeki was expected to arrive in Harare on Thursday reportedly to push for a final power-sharing deal between Mugabe and main MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
United Nations (UN) political troubleshooter Haile Menkerios, who is part of a reference group formed by Mbeki to help in the Zimbabwe talks, was also expected in Harare to monitor progress in the talks, UN officials said.
The political parties said in the statement: We, ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations pursuant to Article 10 of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by our principals . . . condemn the promotion and use of violence as a political tool and call for the cessation and end to all politically motivated violence in the country.
The MOU signed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, leader of the smaller faction of the MDC, commits the feuding political parties to take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of political violence.
The MDC says more than 100 of its members were killed and at least another 200 000 displaced in political violence since the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections in which the opposition party and Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe and ZANU PF.
Tsvangirai, whose March victory fell short of the margin required to take power, pulled out of June 27 presidential run-off election because of political violence.
Western governments and a host of African nations rejected Mugabe’s victory in the subsequent one-man run-off election while the African Union and the regional Southern African Development Community stepped pressure on the Zimbabwean leader to begin power-sharing talks with the opposition.
The political parties in their statement do not blame violence on any individual or party, in what appeared an attempt not to ruffle feathers at a delicate period when negotiators are said to be close to concluding a power-sharing deal.
All three political parties accepted blame and undertook to act to ensure that their members, organs or structures were not involved in committing violence and other abuses.
They said they would: take all necessary measures within our power to eliminate all forms of political violence, including by non-state actors, and to ensure the security of persons and property and provide support to victims of violence.
ZANU PF lead negotiators Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche signed the statement on behalf of the party while Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma signed for the Tsvangirai-led MDC faction.
Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga signed for the Mutambara-led MDC formation.
Negotiators are said to have come up with at list two power-sharing proposals that Mbeki was expected to put before Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara in Harare today.
Sources tell ZimOnline that one proposal was for Tsvangirai to become executive prime minister, while Mugabe remains president. There would be at least two or three vice-presidents and two deputy prime ministers drawn from the three negotiating parties.
This proposal would accommodate Mugabe’s present vice-presidents, Joseph Msika and Joyce Mujuru. Other top officials of the negotiating parties such as MDC-Tsvangirai second in command Thokozani Khupe and Emmerson Mnangagwa, a Mugabe’s loyalist, would also benefit by being appointed deputy prime ministers.
The second power-sharing proposal was for Mugabe to remain at the top with Msika, Mujuru and Khupe as vice-presidents. Tsvangirai would become prime minister with Mutambara and ZANU PF chairman John Nkomo as deputy prime ministers.
The three political parties are also said to have agreed on how to share 20 cabinet positions as well as a possible blanket amnesty for Mugabe and his top officials that would see them escape trial for human rights abuses committed since coming to power 28 years ago.
Our sources emphasised that while much had been covered no deal had yet been concluded and there were still some sticking issues that could yet delay conclusion of negotiations or even derail dialogue altogether.
For example, the parties are said to differ sharply over the life span of the unity government with the MDC preferring a 24-30 month transitional period while ZANU PF insists on a five-year period.
The sources said while generally there was agreement on the titles Mugabe and Tsvangirai might assume there was a worrying lack of clarity over the exact powers or functions each would carry in the envisaged unity government. – ZimOnline
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