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Mbeki's Zimbabwe mediation 'has failed'
Cape Argus (SA)
February 22, 2008

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20080222112349801C434308

The collapse of President Thabo Mbeki's mediation to resolve the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe is a disaster that has failed to achieve one of its main aims a free and fair election, says the troubled country's main opposition.

On Thursday the Movement for Democratic Change lifted the lid on talks which collapsed last month when President Robert Mugabe unilaterally proclaimed a March 29 date for general elections.

"Sadly and regrettably, the dialogue has failed and failed beyond reasonable doubt," said Tendai Biti, lead negotiator for the main MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mbeki was given a mandate by the SA Development Community in March to facilitate dialogue between the MDC and Mugabe's Zanu-PF party following a crackdown on opposition activists.

Mbeki, who has been criticised for his policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe, had given repeated assurances that conditions would be in place to ensure elections would be free and fair.

However, with talks shrouded in secrecy, the South African government was, as late as last week, still insisting that Mbeki's efforts had been a success and that the election date was a sign of this.

"We take exception to the suggestions that our participation in this election is proof of the success of the SADC (mediation). It is possibly proof of the failure of that process," Biti said.

Biti, who was accompanied by Welshman Ncube, chief negotiator for the smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mutumbara, gave a detailed account of the negotiations and how Zanu-PF had reneged on agreements to implement a new constitution and make legislative reforms before an election was held.

The opposition itself is divided and will be contesting the elections separately.

However, Mutumbara has indicated that he will throw his support behind former finance minister and Zanu-PF loyalist Simba Makoni who announced his plans earlier this month to challenge Mugabe.

Mugabe, who turns 84 today, has led Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Opponents blame him for an economic meltdown since 2000 that has left Zimbabwe with acute shortages of gasoline, hard currency food and most basic goods. The official rate of annual inflation has rocketed past the 100,000% mark, officials say.

Biti said they had been "cautiously optimistic" about the talks and had to "pinch themselves" to believe some of the concessions Zanu-PF negotiators were making.

However, he said negotiations began to fail in early December as Mugabe was leaving for the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

The summit, boycotted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown because of Mugabe's presence, was hailed as a triumph by Zimbabwean media.

Negotiators for Zanu-PF insisted that elections take place in March 2008 and any reform happen after that.

Mbeki attempted to resolve the deadlock when he visited Harare in January but failed and it was "agreed that no useful purpose would be served by continuing" with the dialogue.

Ncube emphasised that the breakdown was not caused by Mbeki or his team of facilitators being incompetent.

"We think that the facilitating team always believed that Zanu-PF would realize what is in the national interest and would respond positively . . . In that they were mistaken," he said.

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