Monday, August 04, 2008
Mugabe, Tsvangirai to go eyeball-to-eyeball on talks
author/source:Star (SA)
published:Mon 4-Aug-2008
Special Correspondent
Harare - President Thabo Mbeki is to travel to Harare this week to meet with Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, in accordance with a restructuring of Zimbabwean power-sharing talks which have resumed outside Pretoria. According to a Zanu PF official close to the talks, an agreement - mediated by Mbeki - was reached late last week between the Zimbabwean rivals. This will mark the beginning of a series of face-to-face meetings to help ensure a swift settlement to the years-long crisis. It is understood Mugabe and Tsvangirai have agreed to discuss the more contentious issues of the country's future together and - in the presence of Mbeki - ensure they don't encounter another deadlock. The talks, which began on July 24 in Pretoria, reached an impasse last Monday when negotiators failed to agree on core governance issues. Representatives of both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change, along with their Zanu PF counterparts, walked away from the table to consult party leaders.
The Star understands that Mugabe and Tsvangirai entered into indirect communication with one another late last month when the talks began in Pretoria. Although they did not come face to face, they loosely negotiated the future direction of the country via intermediaries in Harare. They now have agreed to restructure formal negotiations, on the understanding that the appointed negotiators do not have the mandate to reach core decisions on their behalf. Until a settlement is agreed, Mugabe and Tsvangirai will meet weekly and hammer out any obstacles. They will then brief their mediators on the subsequent steps to be followed. Sources close to the talks believe a solution is weeks away. As chief facilitator of the Southern African Development Community, it is in Mbeki's interests to try and broker a deal before he assumes the presidency of the SADC this month. He then will assume the dual role of mediating the talks and overseeing them at the same time.
For more Zimbabwe Newspapers Online & Zimbabwe News
published:Mon 4-Aug-2008
Special Correspondent
Harare - President Thabo Mbeki is to travel to Harare this week to meet with Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, in accordance with a restructuring of Zimbabwean power-sharing talks which have resumed outside Pretoria. According to a Zanu PF official close to the talks, an agreement - mediated by Mbeki - was reached late last week between the Zimbabwean rivals. This will mark the beginning of a series of face-to-face meetings to help ensure a swift settlement to the years-long crisis. It is understood Mugabe and Tsvangirai have agreed to discuss the more contentious issues of the country's future together and - in the presence of Mbeki - ensure they don't encounter another deadlock. The talks, which began on July 24 in Pretoria, reached an impasse last Monday when negotiators failed to agree on core governance issues. Representatives of both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change, along with their Zanu PF counterparts, walked away from the table to consult party leaders.
The Star understands that Mugabe and Tsvangirai entered into indirect communication with one another late last month when the talks began in Pretoria. Although they did not come face to face, they loosely negotiated the future direction of the country via intermediaries in Harare. They now have agreed to restructure formal negotiations, on the understanding that the appointed negotiators do not have the mandate to reach core decisions on their behalf. Until a settlement is agreed, Mugabe and Tsvangirai will meet weekly and hammer out any obstacles. They will then brief their mediators on the subsequent steps to be followed. Sources close to the talks believe a solution is weeks away. As chief facilitator of the Southern African Development Community, it is in Mbeki's interests to try and broker a deal before he assumes the presidency of the SADC this month. He then will assume the dual role of mediating the talks and overseeing them at the same time.
For more Zimbabwe Newspapers Online & Zimbabwe News
