Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara sign deal
By Violet Gonda
21 July 2008

The leaders of ZANU PF and the two MDC formations came face to face for a signing of an “historic” Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement is supposed to pave the way for substantive negotiations to end the political and economic crisis. This was the first time that arch-rivals Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai had met since the formation of the MDC more than 8 years ago.

While the event has been described as “momentous” and “historic” by some media, Zimbabwean observers are more cautious. And if there was any hope that this was going to be the beginning of a more open process, that hope was quickly dashed. The ‘breakthrough’ engineered by SADC and South African President Thabo Mbeki, to bring the main political parties to the negotiating table, started with some journalists and western diplomats being denied access.

Harare based Associated Press correspondent Angus Shaw was one of those journalists barred from covering the event. He said the security was very tight and there were riot police and armed soldiers, with sniffer dogs. Shaw said only selected and invited people were allowed into the signing. He said: "Western diplomats who were there were turned away, and those of us from the foreign press, without what the government considers adequate accreditation, were asked to leave the place immediately.”

“Southern African diplomats were obviously there. There weren’t many other African diplomats. Of course the Norwegians, the British and so on were all shooed away from the hotel,” Shaw added.

The foreign correspondent said what was supposed to be the signing of a major event was really very tense and very unpleasant. The signing took place at the Rainbow Hotel and Towers – formerly known as the Sheraton.

Another journalist who spoke, on condition of anonymity, said: “If this is the beginning of a real democracy for Zimbabwe and a new dispensation then we are in real trouble when only a select few from the media are allowed to cover such national events.”

The event was broadcast live by the state broadcaster ZBC and by Al Jazeera – the only foreign news network allowed to broadcast from Zimbabwe.

It’s reported the political parties, under the guidance of President Thabo Mbeki, will embark on a two week process, to negotiate the way forward.

Analysts are concerned that once again Mugabe is showing himself to be a clever manipulator, trying to buy himself more time.

Shaw said the MOU document doesn’t contain the conditions which are going to be the main sticking points, such as Mugabe’s demand that he be recognised as President. Shaw said: “It is a very, very bland four page document.”

It’s reported all sides will be able to judge the sincerity of the other during the two week talks, which will begin later this week in Pretoria. The talks will be supervised by South Africa, together with the United Nations and African Union diplomats on the sidelines.

At the signing in ceremony Tsvangirai appealed for tolerance and an end to hate speech and violence, saying there is no-one with a monopoly on patriotism. Mugabe showered praises on Thabo Mbeki for his mediation efforts and warned that this will be a Zimbabwean effort, with no western help. Giving a clear look inside Mugabe’s mind as to how he is looking at the talks – he emphasized repeatedly on the need to “cut off whatever were influences from Britain and America.”

Meanwhile members of civil society and some student groups urged the need for broader dialogue, encompassing all stakeholders. The Zimbabwe Youth Network said violence should stop before any genuine talks begin. They had urged Tsvangirai not to put his signature on the Memorandum until Mugabe stopped all violence and disbanded all structures committing the violence.