Mugabe in new attack on MDC, churches

Mugabe in new attack on MDC, churches

• Tsvangirai's father dies

• INTERVIEW Part 2: Moyo, Raftopoulos and Robertson

• INTERVIEW Part 1: Jonathan Moyo, Brian Raftopoulos and John Robertson

• Coltart 'would rather lose seat than compromise principles'

• David Coltart statement on political future

• Analysts back Annan's Zimbabwe plan

• Paul Themba Nyathi: MDC, Zanu PF cross-pollination of cultures

• MDC factions face off in Chitungwiza, Kadoma

• Human rights violators must be held to account

• Coltart: Why I can't join Tsvangirai faction

• Mbeki wants stability, not change - Tsvangirai

• Tsvangirai urges UN intervention in Zim

• It is possible to defeat Zanu PF

• Mbeki confirms Annan intervention in Zim

• Zanu PF, MDC negotiate transition government

• Jonathan Moyo: Beyond Budiriro, the state of Zim politics

• INTERVIEW: Zim opposition will not succeed without values

• New Zimbabwe.com Says: Budiriro results disastrous for opposition

By Lebo Nkatazo

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe used a police pass-out parade to launch a new astonishing attack on his critics Thursday.

The 82-year-old Zimbabwean leader whose rule is now threatened by the country's economic collapse also warned the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) against its planned street protests.

Mugabe railed: "The local forces of negation who claim to be champions of democracy while, in fact, they are willing conduits of violence and the vilification propagated by the West should not be allowed to ride roughshod over our people.

"The agents of violence and purveyors of falsehoods about the country, who regrettably have included a few churches and civil groups, should be warned that the long arm of the law will not allow them to disrupt business and disturb the rights of individuals who seek an honest living in our society."

Two months ago, Mugabe made similar threats, warning that MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was "dicing with death".

Tsvangirai, who is battling with a rival faction led by Arthur Mutambara for the control of the MDC, has proposed a "winter of discontent" marked by popular protests against Mugabe's government.

However, analysts still question the MDC's capacity and the people's readiness for such action which has failed to take-off in the past.

A leaked internal MDC document shows Tsvangirai's stance may have changed from that of confrontation to dialogue with Mugabe's Zanu PF party.

In a confidential document, titled MDC proposals for the resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis: Sign posts to peace, democracy, legitimacy, reconstruction, and national healing, the MDC says talks are the only way out of this predicament.

“The opposition and ordinary Zimbabweans suffer from incessant political repression and the negative effects of a collapsed economy, which cannot be reconstructed under the present political conditions,” it says.

“Therefore, no possible relief is on offer. Only a negotiated political settlement provides for a resolution of the crisis.”

The MDC says there is now consensus at home and abroad that the current situation was unsustainable and only dialogue would rescue the country.

In its document — also termed the Road Map — the MDC proposes phased talks, starting with Zanu PF and then later other political parties and civic groups.

“Our proposed road map entails the following:

Stage A: Negotiations and agreement between Zanu PF and MDC on the framework.

Stage B: Negotiations between MDC and Zanu PF on a transitional authority.

Stage C: Negotiations between civil society, Zanu PF, the MDC and other political formations on the involvement of civic society in various transitional bodies including the constitutional conference.

Stage D: The enactment by parliament of the constitutional conference act and the necessary amendments to the Zimbabwean constitution to cater for the transitional authority and cabinet and any other matters incidental thereto.”

The MDC says Stage E will deal with the drafting of the new constitution by the constitutional conference, while Stage F would focus on the holding of a referendum on the new constitution.

Stage G will concentrate on mechanisms for free and fair elections “for all arms of government under international supervision in terms of the new constitution.

“The two political parties should establish a legally recognised bi-partisan negotiating team to meet as soon as possible to map the route forward, discuss and agree on key issues to the process and draft the constitutional reform agenda for the constitutional conference,” the MDC states.

“The two parties in the bi-partisan negotiating team must agree to: the composition, structure, terms of reference; and methods of work of the constitutional conference. An Act of Parliament should establish the constitutional conference.”

It proposes an institutional framework comprising a standing committee on political issues, the bi-partisan negotiating team, a transitional executive council established by an act of parliament, national implementation committee, a security monitoring task force, international monitoring committee, independent electoral commission, and independent self regulatory media commission to support the process - additional reporting Dumisani Muleya
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com