Joyce Mujuru in SA for crisis talks

By Violet Gonda
23 March 2007

There was a hive of activity in South Africa Friday as leaders from ZANU PF and the two MDC factions held separate talks with South African government officials. Vice President Joyce Mujuru held crisis talks over Mugabe’s leadership with her South African counterpart Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. The two Secretary Generals of the MDC factions, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube also met the SA government Friday.

SA based foreign correspondent Andrew Meldrum said: “It cannot be a coincidence that she (Mujuru) appeared in South Africa at the same time as the two Secretary Generals …are also here and they have gone to Pretoria for talks with the government.”

It’s believed South African President Thabo Mbeki is trying to shake off his ‘quite diplomacy’ and instead is trying to play a positive role by bringing all Zimbabwean sides in for negotiations.

The details of what was discussed at this preliminary stage are being kept a secret. Biti and Ncube are said to have met the SA government as one group and Mujuru on her own.

Speculation is rife as to whether Robert Mugabe sanctioned Mujuru’s meeting, as she leads one of the ZANU PF factions that is believed to want Mugabe to retire. Meldrum said;“ I can’t believe that she would do anything without Robert Mugabe’s sanction. It would get out. They would see her flying down here. So it must be with his approval.”

Observers say Mugabe is being pushed by growing pressure within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) to negotiate. There is a feeling that South Africa, Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner and neighbour, is also being pushed to act by the fact that other African countries are moving ahead on this.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa recently likened Zimbabwe to a sinking Titanic, Jakaya Kikwete the Tanzanian president also called for SADC action and Ghanaian leader John Kuffour said the situation in Zimbabwe is embarrassing.

But a defiant Robert Mugabe told his party faithfuls at ZANU PF headquarters Friday that being 83 years old does not mean he is too old to rule. Speaking to the ruling party’s Women’s League, Mugabe said opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will rule over his dead body.

Mugabe also vowed to survive any Western attempts to dislodge him from power.