Mbeki set conditions for Zimbabwe opposition

Mbeki set conditions for Zimbabwe opposition

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By Lebo Nkatazo

SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki has given Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) three pre-conditions before the resumption of talks with President Robert Mugabe to find a resolution to the country's political and economic crisis.

Mugabe, meanwhile, has been given unreserved terms, a senior government minister said on Wednesday in the House of Assembly.

The Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities, Emmerson Mnangagwa, acting as the Leader of the House in the absence of Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, boasted that while the fractious MDC groups had been given conditions by Mbeki, Mugabe was given free reign.

Mnangagwa was answering a question raised by MDC shadow minister of justice and Bulawayo South MP David Coltart, and follow-up questions by two other opposition legislators, Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma) and Gibson Sibanda (Nkulumane).

“The first thing that President Mbeki is requiring them (MDC) to do is accept and recognise that President Robert Mugabe is the president of Zimbabwe and he won the 2002 elections. Point No. 2, he is asking the opposition to denounce violence. When that is done, an enabling environment can be created…the ball is in your court.”

President Mbeki was tasked by SADC leaders with bringing the opposition to the negotiating table with President Mugabe to find a solution to the deteriorating political and economic situation in the Southern African country.

Mbeki has since written to the MDC and the government laying the ground rules for any future talks. There has not been any public comments by any of the leaders about the contents of Mbeki's letters to Mugabe and the two MDC leaders, Arthur Mutambara and Morgan Tsvangirai.

Madzimure asked Mnangagwa in Parliament what conditions had ben given to Zanu PF and Mugabe by Mbeki.

“Unfortunately, there are no conditions given to the other side. The conditions that have been given are the ones that I have articulated,” he said.

“I am taking this opportunity to acquaint Hon. Sibanda and his colleagues about those issues and you should be grateful that I am willing to inform you. I am able to tell you so that you are wiser when you go out."

If true, Mnangagwa's claims will further rile opposition officials who have argued that Mugabe was to buy more time for his beleaguered government by seeming to go along with talks, then stalling.

The MDC wants a new constitution to to be the basis of any talks with Zanu PF ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections called for next year. Mugabe has already said the current constitution is "dear" to him and is unlikely to cooperate.

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