Top of that agenda is an issue the negotiators want clarified by the
facilitator Thabo Mbeki. The former South African Head of State is
reported to have written a letter to Morgan Tsvangirai sometime last
week, at which he allegedly used undiplomatic language towards the MDC
leader.
The deeply offensive letter caused so much anger within the MDC top
brass that lead negotiator Tendai Biti vowed last week he would not
travel to South Africa for any talks as a result of Mbeki’s disrespect
for Tsvangirai.
Biti was quoted by the weekly Financial Gazette last week saying he was
not going anywhere and he would instead be in Dotito, while they (Mbeki
and other negotiators) meet in South Africa.
‘The truth of the matter is that we are not going to that meeting. We
have stated our position and we are not going anywhere and are not
meeting anyone,’ Biti said in the Fingaz interview.
After a flurry of diplomatic maneuvers between the South African
government, Mbeki and SADC, the MDC were finally persuaded to attend
the talks. The party only decided on Monday to send their team.
‘They grudgingly left Harare this morning. So they have demands that they are taking with them to the talks,’ our source said.
The other two issues that the MDC will raise are the fraudulent
alteration of the Global Political Agreement of the 15th September 2008
by ZANU PF, and the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Number 19.
This last issue includes the equitable distribution of ministerial
portfolios, the composition and powers of the National Security
Council, the unresolved issue of the provincial governors and the
appointment of Permanent Secretaries and ambassadors.
SWRadio Africa
Post published in: News