What they said about Zimbabwe deal

BREAKTHROUGH: President Mbeki

• Mbeki announces deal, calls for international support

• Mbeki's 'twin cabinet' plan has Mugabe on the backfoot

• DOCUMENTS: The power-sharing document Tsvangirai refuses to sign

• Text: Memorandum of Understanding between Zanu PF and MDC

Posted to the web: 11/09/2008 21:10:28
"It's made in Zimbabwe, and owned by Zimbabwean people. The rest of the world needs to respect that the people of Zimbabwe have taken a decision."

President Thabo Mbeki, speaking at the announcement of a power sharing deal in Zimbabwe

"We have got a deal."

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai at the conclusion of the power sharing talks in Harare

"Now I just want to rest. I feel totally relieved. Zimbabweans can start living their dreams again."

Professor Welshman Ncube, the chief negotiator for the MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara

"I am absolutely certain that the leadership of Zimbabwe is committed to implementing these agreements."

South African President Thabo Mbeki

"We never paid any attention to criticism about 'quiet diplomacy'. All diplomacy is quiet, if it isn't quiet, it's not diplomacy, it's something else."

President Mbeki savouring his diplomatic breakthrough after years of criticism about his approach on Zimbabwe

"I hope that this agreement will pave the way for a durable peace and recovery in Zimbabwe and contribute to rapid improvement in the welfare and human rights of the people of Zimbabwe, who have suffered for long."

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

"This a good deal for Zimbabwe. It is not about Zanu PF or MDC, people should now move forward for the national good."

Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvagirai

"We understood what was required to produce a positive outcome when we were asked by Sadc to facilitate dialogue. We have handled negotiations elsewhere in exactly the same way. But for some strange reason, we cannot understand what was perfectly acceptable in other places in Africa was not acceptable in Zimbabwe. But we did not let this distract us from our purpose."

President Mbeki talking about his mediation efforts in other African hotspots like Lesotho, Burundi, the DRC, the Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire where there was little world interest

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