Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa is leading the Zanu PF delegation to the talks in Pretoria, South Africa. In the photo Chinamasa was attending a news conference in Pretoria, outside Johannesburg May 30, 2008. Photo credit: Reuters.
TALKS between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change are reported to have stalled without an agreed framework for talks to resolve the situation in Zimbabwe according to sources within the opposition.
Zanu PF denied the accusations and reportedly said the talks would continue this week despite any initial setbacks.
These are the first preliminary talks between the two main parties since the harmonised presidential and parliamentary elections which started on March 29 and ended with a run-off presidential election on June 27.
The two sides met in Pretoria last week Thursday to lay the groundwork for fully fledged talks which are being brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki who is mandated to do so by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and recently endorsed by the African Union.
The two parties met with South African officials representing President Mbeki..
The spokesman of the MDC-T, Nelson Chamisa blamed the ruling party for not negotiating in faith. He cited an “incredible catalogue of acts of bad faith” on the part of the ruling party.
“They have clearly shown that they are not willing to be serious about the negotiations. They are talking white, but in actual fact they are acting black,” said Chamisa adding that “the situation on the ground points to a deficit of goodwill on the part of the Zanu PF.”
The ruling party rejected Chamisa’s claims.
According to the state run Sunday News talks are progressing well and once the memorandum of engagement has been drafted, it will be submitted to the parties' principals, who will either endorse or reject it.
The memorandum of engagement will set out the terms for the talks, the time frame, the composition of the negotiating teams and the agenda for negotiations, among other issues.
Although Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted inter-party talks held at State House last Saturday, with President Mugabe and the MDC formation led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, he finally sent a delegation to take part in the negotiations in Pretoria.
Tendai Biti, the MDC-T secretary general, who is facing treason charges, is attending the talks after his passport was released under relaxed bail conditions.
Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa said he was confident that the negotiating parties would find solutions to the country's problems if Britain and the United States did not interfere with the process.
ARTICLE ATTACHMENTS
READER OPINIONS
Zimbabwe massive • zimbabwelive@aol.com Subject: Sanctions Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:29:15 • Mugabe and his mates have ruined the counrty. Sexy lady is correct and mind you this started back in the 90`s when bob and crew had to embark on structural adjustment programmes i.e. ESAP because they could no longer make their payments to the IMF etc. They began looting then and what the illiterate masses can only say now is SANCTIONS, SANCTIONS.
KTM Mzansi • chepfungwa@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Talks? Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:47:11 • At this point in time, time is running out for both sides. MDC is desperate to regain some gains it seized in March and Zanu after going after the run-off are seeking for talks to proceed fast so that a Mugabe-led GNU cabinet can be appointed fast and possibly try to go off the hook from the int'l community. However, nothing will proceed as long as MT is not included in the talks. If the talks go ahead with Mutambara and Mugabe, a GNU can be appointed from these quarters but let's not forget that MT has 100/210 MPs in Parly which translates to close to 48% of this house. This is enough to block passage of bills in Parly. Surely the so-called GNU must reflect people from this force. Nothing at least for now can be done to reverse this parliamentary arrangement. Let's not forget that a GNU is what AU and SADC are waiting for to give legitimacy to the gvnt of Zimbabwe.
So Zanu must take MDC-T seriously. Rushed through talks will not bring legitimacy. Meanwhile let's continue to pray, victory is certain and settlement is coming soon. Britain and America are at pains trying to recover from the embarrassment of the sanctions vote. so MDC-T must be tactical at this stage in choosing allies. AU and SADC are waiting for a settlement and by being tactful in courting African leaders, a settlement can be drawn up.
Sadhaki Observer • n/a Subject: as usual Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:37:48 • MDC was waiting for the result of sanctions at UN . Is it a coincidence that Uk stated yesterday that they don`t believe in talks and therefore shd be rubbished that we hear the MDC telling the press that the talks are stalled? Zanu Pf is wasting time engaging with MDC-T, they must just engage Uk directly since they are the ones giving MDC-T instructions.
Morgan Tsvangirai is like a drugged teenager,he doesnt know which way to go - he has to wait for his drug master to indicate which way he shd go. shd therefore zimbabwe be held ransom by drug addicts?
N/A • N/A Subject: NOTHING Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:32:13 • Sexy lady my sister you have believed all the lies that the media is pushing through out TV newspapers etc. Mugabe has not ruined Zimbabwe. Sanctions have destroyed our country. Even if today we were to give Morgan Tsvangirai the leadership of the country, and we all insist that no going back on land reform, sanctions will not be lifted and hence recovery will take long. We all need to know that. Just read this Zimbabwe Democracy Act then you will know what I mean. Saka please don't rubbish Mugabe.He is our Hero and shall continue to be- AMEN.
lessie • na. Subject: BETTER SOONER THAN LATER! Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:04:19 • Let's face it down the line there were flaws in the Lancaster House Agreement in that the small print was not legally included and underlined in bold red stating that no incoming British government had any right to change tack.
From experience we must not have any flaws in the new Agreement between us and if there are differences it is better now than later on down the line.
The bottom line is that we are all Zimbabweans and we must agree for no one else's sake except our own.
We on the outside have every faith in you all and we will continue to pray that your meetings are annointed. Aluta continua!
Linda • sexylady@anymail.co.za Subject: Nothing Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:45:40 • Nothing will be down right if President Mbeki is the person run the talks between both party's from zimbabwe. more people needed for this to go forward as it is going backwards. Mugabe must not stand as President as he has run down Zimbabwe and made the people starve. Mugabe the head Zimbabwe will be died.
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