Mbeki led mediation talks called-off

By Tichaona Sibanda
1 November 2007

Mediation talks between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition MDC have been postponed temporarily, dealing a new setback to efforts to find a lasting solution to the country’s crippling economic and political crisis.

The Thabo Mbeki led talks were called off on Wednesday night due to the death of Patrick Chinamasa’ son, who was reportedly studying at a college in Michigan, United States. A source told Newsreel from Johannesburg that Chinamasa’s son, who was 23 years old, died in his sleep on Wednesday, the day the talks resumed in Pretoria after a month long break.

Justice and Parliamentary Minister Chinamasa forms part of the Zanu PF two man negotiating team, along with Labour Minister Nicholas Goche. Tendai Biti, the secretary-general from the Tsvangirai led MDC camp and Welshman Ncube from the Mutambara MDC faction form part of the team from the divided opposition.

The talks, which are already behind schedule on several fronts, missed Tuesday’s deadline for agreement on a framework for free and fair elections.

‘The negotiating teams met the whole day yesterday (Wednesday) and only broke off late in the evening after Chinamasa got the news that his son had died in the United States. It was decided as a result that the talks be postponed temporarily to allow Chinamasa to arrange the repatriation of his son’s body for burial in Zimbabwe,’ said the source.

Despite ministers like Chinamasa preaching the evils of imperialism, they still send their children to the same countries they claim to despise. Political commentator Solomon Chikohwero branded the ministers as hypocrites, saying they stand accused of plundering the country’s wealth and spending fortunes on educating their children abroad.

The majority of the ministers educate their children outside Zimbabwe, often at top universities in the US, Australia and the United Kingdom. Australia has already deported eight students whose parents are senior members of Mugabe’s cabinet and there are calls for other countries to do the same as the government’s policies deny even basic education for ordinary Zimbabweans.