Mbeki mediation reaches out to Zimbabwe civic society and analysts

By Violet Gonda
13 June 2007

Civic groups and analysts in Zimbabwe who had so far been excluded from the SADC mediation efforts were given a chance to meet with South African officials in Zimbabwe on Wednesday. Political analyst Dr John Makumbe, who was on the planning committee of the pressure groups, said those that met with the South African Ambassador in Harare include representatives of various umbrella bodies like the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Zimbabwe Election Support Network, the Women’s Coalition and Save Zimbabwe campaign.

The South African Ambassador Mlungisi Makhalima called for that meeting himself to find out their demands.

Makumbe did not attend the general meeting but attended a separate meeting with the Ambassador and his team in his capacity as an analyst. He said he put it to them that ZANU PF’s attempt to amend the constitution for the 18th time undermines the talks, as having a new democratic constitution is one of the major demands of the opposition at the negotiations. Dr Makumbe said: “They (SA team) were surprised that Mugabe was pursuing amendment no.18 more enthusiastically than he was showing any interest or zeal about the talks.”

The outspoken commentator said he also advised them on the need to have a third chair comprising civil society, churches and NGOs. The civic groups recommended an arrangement like South Africa had through the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), where everything was transparent and all stakeholders were involved.

Critics say Robert Mugabe is using delaying tactics, which has resulted in a couple of meetings between the protagonists being postponed. He has also continued to harass and arrest opponents. Dr Makumbe said when this issue was brought up the South Africans said there must be no pre-conditions. “They actually said - they were very quick to say President Mbeki has said there must be no pre-conditions and so the demands by the MDC that the violence should stop, the brutalities should stop and the people who are in prison should be released or tried in a court of law should not be part of the mediation process.”

Makumbe told them it would not be mediation if the other party is running for life: “And I said don’t you see what Mugabe has done. He has essentially weakened the MDC by literally raiding their headquarters, dragging their secretariat to prison and locking them up and taking all their computers and the MDC is hardly functional now.” According to the analyst, the SA officials said they understood these issues, and Mbeki would have to negotiate them at a higher level.

Meanwhile, media reports say the political parties are expected to meet this coming weekend in South Africa. Mbeki has so far been criticised for being too soft on Mugabe, whose delegation has been dragging its feet to the negotiating table.