Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara sign agreement

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara sign agreement

SHAKE ON IT: Arthur Mutambara (left) extends his hand to greet Morgan Tsvangirai as President Robert Mugabe watches on at a ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding at a Harare hotel on Monday, July 21, 2008

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By Lebo Nkatazo

ROBERT Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara on Monday put their signatures to a memorandum of understanding document that paves the way for power sharing talks between Zimbabwe's main political parties.

Mugabe, the leader of the ruling Zanu PF party, said the agreement allowed the country's major political players to "chart a new way to political interaction".

Mutambara, the leader of a smaller faction of the opposition MDC, said the deal had set up a "cross-party generational agenda" to haul the country back from economic ruin and political intolerance.

MDC leader Tsvangirai, describing the signing of the deal at a Harare hotel as a "very historic occasion", urged the leaders to exercise tolerance, compromise and put the best interests of Zimbabwe at heart, adding: "There, you will not find me wanting."

South African President Thabo Mbeki, derided by western leaders over his 'quiet diplomacy' in Zimbabwe, said the three leaders had committed themselves to "an intense programme of action".

Professor Jonathan Moyo, an author and only independent legislator in Zimbabwe's Parliament said Mbeki's success in bringing the parties together marked a "triumph for African diplomacy".

"It's a wonderful experience," said Moyo, a former Information Minister in Mugabe's government.

President Mbeki said negotiators from the three parties who have been in discussions for over a year have two weeks to hammer out a power-sharing arrangement which is supported by the regional trade bloc, SADC, the African Union and the United Nations.

Moyo said the challenge was not an insurmountable one as the negotiators have discussed most elements of what needed to be agreed on.

He observed: "They have been talking for a year now. We can’t pretend that they have been talking for the first time, when they have produced a whole constitutional amendment, amended five pieces of legislation, and drawn up a draft constitution. Only a visitor from Mars can hold the view that they will start to talk seriously after this signing of the memorandum of understanding."

President Mugabe won a controversial sixth term in office on June 27 in a one-man election boycotted by Tsvangirai who accused the 84-year-old veteran leader of using violence and intimidation against his supporters. Over 100 MDC activists were reported killed in violence blamed on Mugabe's supporters.

A failing economy and growing international isolation have forced Mugabe to negotiate with the MDC factions who now control the House of Assembly between them, but are edged out by Zanu PF in the Senate.
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