THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 08 2010 22:49 | LAST UPDATED Feb 08 2010 22:49 |
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President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pledged a new chapter in their bitter relationship on Monday as they agreed to hold fully fledged talks on ending Zimbabwe's political crisis. At a ceremony in Harare overseen by long-time mediator South African President Thabo Mbeki, Mugabe and Tsvangirai shook hands and said it was time to work together after one of the most bitter periods in the country's history. "We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction," said Mugabe. "We must act now ... as Zimbabweans, think as Zimbabweans and act as Zimbabweans," he said. Tsvangirai, for his part, said it was time to put the "bitterness" behind him and said he was committed to finding a solution with his old rival. "We are committed to ensuring that the process of negotiation becomes successful," he said. "We want a better Zimbabwe." Tsvangirai hailed the signing as an "historic occasion". "This is a very historic occasion," he said, calling the agreement "the first tentative step" towards ending the country's protracted political crisis. Although copies of the memorandum of understanding were not immediately available, Mbeki said that all parties wanted a rapid resolution to their dispute sparked by elections in March. "It commits the negotiating parties to an intense programme of work to try to finalise the negotiations as quickly as possible," said Mbeki. "All the Zimbabwean parties recognise the urgency of the matters they are discussing and all are committed to trying to complete this process as quickly as possible." Commentators have said that the biggest sticking point on resolving a crisis sparked by disputed elections will be the reluctance of either man to accept a position seen as inferior to the other. But comments by Mugabe that there was an acceptance of a need to amend the former British colony's Constitution will fuel speculation that they may come to an agreement similar to that which recently brought an end to a post-election dispute in Kenya with the creation of a new post of prime minister. "We agreed ... that our Constitution as it is should be amended variously," said Mugabe. The meeting between the two men was their first since Tsvangirai formed his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at the end of 1999. The former trade-union leader has twice been charged with treason and needed hospital treatment for head injuries last year as he was assaulted by members of the security forces ahead of an anti-government rally. The pair's bitterness hit new heights during the course of a recent election that saw Tsvangirai push Mugabe into second place in a first round of voting on March 29. The MDC leader subsequently pulled out of a second round of voting at the end of last month after dozens of his party's supporters were killed in attacks that he blamed on pro-Mugabe thugs. Ignoring widespread calls to shelve the ballot, Mugabe went ahead and staged the poll, winning a predictable landslide victory. The 84-year-old has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980. Once seen as a post-colonial success story, Zimbabwe's economy has been in meltdown since Mugabe began a controversial land-reform programme at the turn of the decade and inflation now stands at 2,2-million percent. -- AFP TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
Comments
Alisdair Budd on July 21, 2008, 9:03 pm
Its a day that most Zimbabweans have been waiting for and its great that for the first time in a decade we can see a flickering light at the end of the tunnel. However there are great challenges that lie ahead and the last we want to see is a swallowed MDC. i await to see what will happen to the politiburo that Mugabe once said to Joshua Nkomo that it is more important than the parliament. has he changed? what will happen to the defence and security chiefs who said they would never allow Tsvangirayi to rule the country? has their position changed? will the negotiations' outcome manage to change their allegiance from mugabe to the nation of Zimbabwe? what about the CIO who are a private security force for Mugabe? i will not forget the parrots manning herald and ZBC will they learn fast that they serve the country not ZANU PF, for these i await to see how they will report today's signing , i hope they will not turn it to Mugabe's victory. on another note what will happen to the assylum seekers in UK and all the nice countries, will they gladly welcome this gesture and come home when Tsvangirayi gets into government. it will be a great task and the events of the coming weeks will be interesting to say the least. to Mbeki thanks and to all Zimbabweans lets join hands and build our nation.NDATENDA
obert hodzi on July 21, 2008, 10:50 pm
We as Africans we are happy of what the leaders of Zimbabwe are doing,I think know Tsangirai understands the course of the mediation is not the same as in Kenya,as he wanted Koffi Anan to lead the process and know he is doing what is right for people of Zimbabwe and the SADC region.Not withstanding what the leberater has done too the economy of Zim.
The rest of the world has seen what President Thabo Mbeki is capable of doing when parties are willing to do what is right for thier country "you can take the Cow to the river but you cannot force it to drink" thats what President Mbeki did,he brought both to the table but did not force them to talk if they dont want to talk.
katleho Mantutle on July 22, 2008, 11:10 am
There are those who think they alone have the knowledge to facts. Please read the Lancanster House Agreement first of all, Alisdair Budd.
2)Read the ZDERA of 2001. 3) The British behind the violence in Zimbabwe 2008. What we have seen in life is the white man always thinks he knows best, what rubbish is that. Zimbabwean problems are created to make sure that no other African country should try to be independent, as total independence will mean massive wealthy loss for the western world, as the natural resources which keeps them afloat are taken out of Africa through agreements which seem heavily tilted in favour to the West instead of the black African. The Anglo-American Conglomerate operates on and through the colonial legislations which was a direct inheritance of croacked and at times blantant robbery.
Thuthukani Mkhize on July 22, 2008, 11:45 am
Great agreemts has been signed in life, the Ireland delimitation agreements were never seen immediately after they were signed, as these negotiations are not for public consumption, why should they be made public. When South Africa signed agreements with ANC, did the agreements make it in the papers for the public to debate. Why should these do so? When people of Zimbabwe decide how their country should be ruled, its not according to who is loved and favoured by the west who should take the Hot seat. The Hot Seat is for those who do what the Zimbabweans want because, its what is right. When the NGOs keep wanting to feed people in Zimbabwe, why is that the ones who are already starving in Somalia, why is that they are not running there instead and keep saying their interests are the people. What about the politics and the interests of the financers and fund sponsors OF THE NGOs. Lets not play kids games with serious matters here, dont be fooled by the agendas of NGOs I have worked with them.
Thuthukani Mkhize on July 22, 2008, 11:57 am
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1) Mugabe has a history of ignoring pieces of paper, reneging on them and then blaming everybody else. (the Lancaster House Agreement) so what's "historic" about this one in a long line of others?
2) The zanu govt has still not lifted the ban on ngos, so ~5 MILLION zims estimated to be facinf famine are still not being allowed food as a sign of Mugabe's bad faith, and the ANC, MBeki, AU, SADC, and UN can get a piece of papet signed but not get a single bag of maize meal ou of a warehouse. (the starving tortured zims really appreciate this "historic success" guys.)
3) Mugabe has told the Zim army to "maintain alertness" (continue maaiming, raping, torturing, abducting and raping, as a sign of his bad faith)
4) we haven't been even given a copy of it, so why are you lauding a secret douemn that we cant even check and which they are either trying to keep secret, or are unable to use a photocopier, email or fax.
5) this is an "African solution to an African problem". roll on the famine as the politicians wave piece of paper.
(6 Historically there was another politician who said "I have here in my hand a piece of paper signed by Mr Hitler, that says we will have peace in our time." A couple of months later he invaded Poland. Get real guys.)