MDC, Zanu PF talks enter second day

MDC, Zanu PF talks enter second day

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By Lebo Nkatazo

TALKS between Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF party and two opposition factions entered a second day on Friday, with officials mainly haggling over conditions for “substantive talks” which could result in a face-to-face meeting between President Robert Mugabe and his rivals.

There was confusion on Friday afternoon when an opposition spokesman made a statement that Tendai Biti, the chief negotiator for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai had left the talks in South Africa and was returning to Zimbabwe.

Nqobizitha Mlilo said in an interview with Associated Press that more talks are expected, but could not set a date. He stressed that Biti was in South Africa not to open negotiations, but to lay down conditions for talks including an end to violence blamed on Mugabe's supporters.

However, New Zimbabwe.com got through to Professor Welshman Ncube, the chief negotiator for a rival MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara who said they would not be breaking off until Saturday.

“Tendai is here as I speak, and to my knowledge we are all leaving for Zimbabwe on Saturday,” Professor Ncube said.

The talks, aimed at laying the groundwork for fully-fledged negotiations to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis, are the first since Mugabe won a new term as president in a June 27 poll widely denounced as a sham.

In New York, the United Nations Security Council delayed a crucial vote to slap fresh sanctions on Mugabe and 13 of his cronies as opponents of the measures expressed support for the South African-mediated talks.

Held in an undisclosed location in Pretoria, the talks were being kept under wraps as the parties set conditions for negotiations.

Tsvangirai has insisted substantive negotiations can only take place if violence is halted and over 1,500 "political prisoners" are released.

They have also called for an expanded mediation team including an African Union permanent envoy and the swearing in of lawmakers as the opposition now controls parliament.

"Those are the issues, that's the sole agenda. There is no substantive agenda," Mlilo said.

South African President Thabo Mbeki is the region's long-time mediator between the opposition and Mugabe's ruling party.

South African government officials -- though not Mbeki himself -- were involved in the discussions in the capital Pretoria, said presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga.

Zanu PF was represented by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Labour Minister Nicholas Goche, and the MDC factions by Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
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