Negotiators meet Mbeki to try to break talks deadlock

By Tichaona Sibanda
17 December 2007

Negotiators from the two MDC factions and the ruling Zanu-PF party met South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria on Saturday in an attempt to break the deadlock over some outstanding issues from the SADC sponsored talks.

The two MDC factions are united in insisting that elections cannot be held in March next year. Eddie Cross, policy co-ordinator for the Tsvangirai led faction told Newsreel on Monday that one of the major sticking points was Zanu-PF’s refusal to implement the transitional constitution, which all sides agreed to three months ago.

‘Unless these issues are dealt with, we don’t see ourselves participating in any election. The negotiators met Mbeki and the MDC factions insisted that it is impossible to have elections in March. Unfortunately he (Mbeki) had to rush to Polokwane for the ANC congress and promised that he would deal with the issue this week,’ Cross said.

After almost six months of talks, the country’s feuding political parties remain unable to reach agreement on the implementation of the resolutions that have been agreed to.

Several key issues remain undecided. Chief among them according to Cross is the introduction of a new constitution before elections. Robert Mugabe insists the constitution will only be implemented after the elections.

‘The negotiators still have to settle a couple of issues, and I’m optimistic that this will be done soon. But if Mbeki fails to unwrap the issues that remain outstanding, issues that are crucial to a free and fair election, then we will insist on the issue going to the SADC heads of state for another emergency summit,’ added Cross.

A number of other issues were also brought to Mbeki’s attention, ranging from Zanu-PF’s unilateral decision to appoint known party sympathisers to the Zimbabwe Election Commission and the demarcation of new constituency boundaries without input from the MDC.

‘All these moves are being done outside the spirit of the SADC sponsored talks. We told Mbeki that all the appointments must be reversed and that the MDC must be consulted on these issues because we are still a partner in the negotiations,’ said Cross.

He explained that a new constitution defines issues of citizenship and allows millions of Zimbabweans living in the diaspora to exercise their right to vote. These and all other issues contained in the new constitution are in accordance with SADC protocols on free and fair elections, according to Cross.