Media and public embargoed from Zim crisis talks

THE Zimbabwe crisis talks that begin on Thursday between the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change and the ruling Zanu PF party will be conducted in secrecy and the media and the public are not allowed access to the discussions.

All parties to the talks are barred from speaking to the media and the venue of the talks has not been disclosed. There will be a briefing at the end of the two-week talks.

Some media reports say the talks started late yesterday, but a spokesman in South African President Thabo Mbeki’s office said they will begin ‘in earnest’ on Thursday.

Zanu PF is represented by justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and his labour counterpart, Nicholas Goche and Morgan Tsvangirai's faction of the MDC is represented by the party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, and its chairman, Lovemore Moyo. The smaller faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara is led by Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

There have been mixed responses to the talks with civil society, especially the National Constitutional Assembly voicing concern that the talks will be representative of the wishes of Zimbabweans and doubting the sincerity of the players in respecting those wishes.

NCA National Chairman Lovemore Madhuku says he feels the Memorandum of Understanding should have been signed by a more representative group which includes civil society to be truly representative.

Presidential aspirant and former finance minister hopes that the talks will be ‘sincere’ and expressed concern at being left out of the signing ceremony.

Representatives of the main political parties are all expected in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital by Thursday. President Mbeki continues with his mediation efforts after a re-endorsement of his negotiation mandate from the Southern African Development Community and the African Union.

Previous talks were also shrouded in secrecy attracting condemnation and criticism from other political and civic groups in the country.
 

The talks are expected to last for two weeks. Previous talks lasted for almost a year.