Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Talks hang by thread
Clemence Manyukwe, Financial Gazette (Zimbabwe)
December 06, 2007

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712060805.html

TALKS between ZANU PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) hung by a thread yesterday after Morgan Tsvangirai's faction, in its most definite move yet towards ditching the process and pulling out of elections, gave the ruling party a week to deliver on promises made during ongoing negotiations.

The MDC faction's demands include a new constitution, the repeal of repressive media and security laws and the granting of the right to vote to Zimbabweans living abroad before next year's elections.

The Tsvangirai faction's national executive met yesterday while the Arthur Mutambara faction's and the ruling party's negotiating teams were in South Africa, thrashing out outstanding matters as the process headed into the home stretch.

The Financial Gazette understands that all parties in the process have agreed that the talks must be concluded by Saturday, December 15.

Tsvangirai's faction of the MDC will hold an executive meeting a day later, spokesman Nelson Chamisa said late yesterday, to review progress. It is at this meeting that the decision whether or not to boycott the polls is likely to be made.

Tsvangirai is under pressure from hardline supporters within his party and civil society allies to withdraw from the polls, so as not to lend President Robert Mugabe legitimacy.

They said a free and fair election was not possible without its demands being met.

"The national executive resolved that while acknowledging the ongoing deliberations in Pretoria, the MDC demands that ZANU PF delivers on the following tangible imperatives and deliverables pending the meeting of the national council of the party on the 16th of December 2007 to review the whole progress of the dialogue," Chamisa said.

"A new constitution must be introduced prior to the elections as agreed. The reconstitution of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), according to what was agreed under Amendment number 18 in particular, and a new voters' roll as a prerequisite for free and fair elections."

Observers said it was now impossible for the talks to deliver most of the MDC's demands, especially on a new constitution. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki, has already told negotiators it was too late to discuss a new constitution, and has instead urged the two parties to negotiate on electoral reforms to ensure a free poll.

The MDC also demanded that the delimitation of constituencies must be done according to what was agreed to in the talks. The party also called for an end to alleged acts of violence.

It said ZANU PF "must implement agreed principles with regards to POSA (Public Order and Security Act), AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act), the Broadcasting Act and electoral laws ... (and that) the international community must be allowed to operate unimpeded in monitoring of elections."

The opposition party's firm stance is in sharp contrast to the upbeat comments made by President Mugabe about the talks. The process represented the "dawn of a new era" in relations between ZANU PF and its opponents, he said.

Delivering the state-of-the-nation address in Parliament on Tuesday, President Mugabe said: "The ongoing talks between ZANU PF and the MDC factions have ushered in the dawn of a new era of constructive engagement across the political divide. Already one spin-off from this process has been the narrowing of differences and the establishment of broad consensus."

The negotiations, which began in March, have seemed shaky at critical stages of the process.

On August 21, during a heated debate in Parliament, MDC legislators accused ZANU PF of flagrantly flouting agreements that had been reached thus far.

This debate took place days after cordial exchanges between the two sides following the passing of constitutional amendments, with Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa telling Members of Parliament on September 18 that there was "unity of purpose" between the two sides.

But MDC chief whip Innocent Gonese pointed out how ZEC had proceeded to unilaterally appoint officers and prepare for delimitation against agreements on far reaching reforms for the commission.

Contrary to what was agreed on the role of members of the uniformed forces in elections, new members appointed to the commission recently have military backgrounds.

This afternoon, ZEC will announce a committee to lead the demarcation of constituencies, a process that is well behind time, but over which the opposition has demanded further scrutiny.

Another result of the talks, the Electoral Amendment Act gazetted on November 16, bars state security agents from involvement in the running of elections.

A boycott of the elections will, however, only leave the opposition in further disarray, unless Tsvangirai can persuade the rival faction, led by Mutambara, to follow suit.

But Gabriel Chaibva, spokesman for the Mutambara faction, said yesterday: "We have had Constitutional Amendment No 18 in Parliament and the Electoral Amendment Bill. Look at those pieces of legislation. We have no good reason to doubt that our demands for free and fair elections will not be met."

Asked about ZEC's use of personnel who should be barred under the new law, he said the Electoral Amendment Bill was still a proposed legislation, and when it becomes law, "we believe that it will be followed."

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP