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Tsvangirai's travel documents confiscated, Mugabe not sincere about talks
Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
August 14, 2008

The travel documents for Movement for Democratic Change president Morgan Tsvangirai have been confiscated by suspected members of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) masquerading as immigration officials at the Harare International Airport this afternoon. The MDC leader and three senior officials including Secretary-General Tendai Biti are supposed to attend a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit to be held in South Africa. The MDC leadership was invited by SADC to attend the summit.

The confiscation of Tsvangirai's travel documents proves beyond doubt that the regime of President Robert Mugabe is not sincere about the formation of an all-inclusive Transitional Authority (TA) to urgently resolve the national crisis. The move renders the ongoing power-sharing talks between ZANU PF and the MDC an academic exercise that is far removed from the aspirations of the majority of Zimbabweans.ZANU PF is still in a state of denial about today's political realities that the people of Zimbabwe are yearning for change and restoration of their basic rights.

Our work in various communities througout the country shows that the majority of Zimbabweans are tired of the current political stalemate and urgently want their dignity restored. As the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) we fear that the imminent collapse of national dialogue will lead to a State-sponsored terror campaign against pro-democracy groups and activists.We fear that the coming weeks in Zimbabwe are going to be extremely difficult for human rights work in an attempt to force Tsvangirai to agree to power-sharing deal with ZANU PF.

CCDZ would like to reiterate the resolutions of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe that any deal between Tsvangirai and Mugabe that does not respect the will of the people WILL NOT be accepted.We urge the political leadership to take the people of Zimbabwe seriously and urgently spell out a national agenda that recognizes Tsvangirai and the mainstream MDC as critical players in the resolution of the national crisis.

Most importantly we urge President Mugabe to engage the MDC and civil society in genuine national dialogue to resolve the constitutional deficit and humanitarian crisis in the country.CCDZ will only endorse dialogue that will lead to sustainable and durable democracy.We urge all pro-democracy groups to vigorously campaign and demand the establishment of a Transitional Authority that has the following mandate:

1. Address the humanitarian catastrophe ,particularly provision of food, water and medication to the suffering masses.
2. Facilitate a participatory process for the drafting of a new democratic constitution that will be endorsed through a referendum.
3. Facilitate fresh elections conducted under the supervision of credible national and international bodies.

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