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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Talks, dialogue, negotiations and GNU - Post June 2008 "elections" - Index of articles
CPIA
applauds the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by the main
political parties
Leonard Kapungu, Centre for Peace Initiatives
in Africa (CPIA)
July 25, 2008
The Centre for
Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) joins other Zimbabweans in applauding
the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding by the three political parties on 21 July 2008.
This was indeed a momentous occasion.
We hope that the substantive
talks now underway will be conducted in a mature and rational manner
in the spirit of compromise, with the interests of Zimbabweans at
the centre of the discussions. We sincerely hope that the hard bargaining
and 'horse trading' inherent in negotiations will be
tampered with selfless pragmatism so as to bring about a long lasting
solution to the political impasse, economic meltdown and social
dislocation besetting the country. In their quest for and pursuit
of a mechanism that guarantees peace, stability and good governance,
there is need for the negotiators to be single-minded and focus
on the big national picture at the expense of self interest and
narrow partisan considerations.
We also believe that
the negotiations should go beyond the short and long term solutions
in purely constitutional terms. We are convinced that the talks
present a glorious opportunity for the negotiators to bring on board
other issues, such as reconciliation. The short history of Zimbabwe
is littered with political and social upheavals which cry out for
redress. Physical, mental and emotional wounds caused by Gukurahundi,
Murambatsvina and the violence and trauma in recent weeks are examples
of areas that require attention. We, therefore, appeal to the negotiators
to think in terms of creating a reconciliation mechanism in the
very near future. We do not have to reinvent the wheel either! We
have the Rwanda model, the Ghana model, the South African model
and templates of Balkan countries in Europe and a number of South
American countries. We are of the opinion that for the country to
move forward with a shared vision and a sense of renewal it is absolutely
necessary to revisit the whole question of reconciliation -
genuine national reconciliation without which there will always
be cracks that can be exploited by opportunists.
Secondly we would like
to appeal to the negotiators to ensure that Zimbabweans buy into
the new dispensation to emerge from the talks. We cannot think of
a better way or any other way of involving the citizens except through
a referendum. To this end the document being crafted by the negotiators
should have the seal of approval and legitimacy of all Zimbabweans,
through a referendum, before it becomes the Supreme Law of the Land.
Finally, we hope and
pray that the negotiators will be able to deliver at the earliest
opportunity. In the meantime we call upon the Government of Zimbabwe
to protect all its citizens and refrain from any acts that unnecessarily
threaten them. At the same time we call upon all political parties,
trade unions, civil society, individuals and the media to refrain
from provocative actions and making careless statements.
Visit the CPIA
fact
sheet
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