By Violet Gonda
11 July 2005

International pressure mounts against Robert Mugabe with the latest news that he is being pressured to hold talks with the leader of the opposition Morgan Tsvangirai. It's reported that Nigerian President Olusegan Obasanjo launched this initiative during last week's African Union summit in Libya.

Obasanjo told MP's in London that he had difficulties persuading Mugabe to hold talks, but said the Zanu PF leader finally succumbed to pressure after the Nigerian leader persisted. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to have already agreed to talks for "a power sharing government."

But as usual no-one in Zimbabwe seemed to know anything about this or is prepared to comment. ZANU PF officials refused to comment at all and after several unsuccessful calls to various MDC officials William Bango, Tsvangirai's personal assistant said, "It's improper and immature for the MDC leader to comment now as he has not had any contact with the Nigerian leader since the announcement was made." Bango added: "The best person to explain the roadmap fully is Obasanjo himself and the MDC will wait to hear about who is going mediate and when."

Although some observers have said the news that Mugabe has agreed to talk with the Tsvangirai is a step in the right direction others are sceptical about his sincerity in entering talks with the MDC. Political Commentator Professor Stanford Mukasa said, "this is not the first time Mugabe has agreed to hold talks with the MDC and this is not the first time Mugabe has agreed to anything, only to change his mind later."
The London Sunday Times reports that diplomats close to the talks said Obasanjo telephoned two former regional leaders he has identified as potential mediators. The favourite is said to be Joaquim Chissano, former president of Mozambique who was best man at Mugabe's wedding to his second wife Grace.

It's reported that the talks would be held in either Zimbabwe or South Africa.