MDC MPs attend opening of Parliament
By Tichaona Sibanda
24 July 2007

MDC MPs from the Tsvangirai faction, on Tuesday, attended the opening address of Parliament by Robert Mugabe for the first time in four years. Tsvangirai described their presence in parliament as being in the spirit of the SADC Heads of State initiated dialogue between Zanu (PF) and the MDC.
He said: ‘It is my sincere hope that Zanu PF and Mugabe will also show restraint and maturity.’
MPs from the Mutambara camp have not been boycotting the opening sessions.
Unconfirmed reports have linked the release of 15 MDC activists from remand prison on Tuesday to the mediation talks. As part of negotiations to end the political and economic crisis in the country, the MDC has been demanding that government release all its activists held in jail on flimsy charges, before round-table talks could commence.
In response Zanu (PF) has been pressing for the MDC to recognise Robert Mugabe as the legitimate President of Zimbabwe. A source said there have been a flurry of messages between Pretoria, Zanu (PF) and the two MDC’s in the last few days.
The source added that this could have led to Tsvangirai instructing all his MP’s to attend the official opening of Parliament by Mugabe Tuesday
Gonese said as responsible leaders they should be seen doing anything conducive to find a resolution to the crisis, adding that ‘in situations like these we should all go above some of the issues in order to alleviate the suffering of the people in Zimbabwe.’
Asked if this was the beginning of the normalisation of relations between his party and Zanu (PF) Gonese said; ‘It takes two to tango. But we have never felt that we were the obstacles to the harmonisation of relations between the two parties. We are committed to democracy, the rule of law, but our opposite colleagues pretend as if everything is normal in the country.’
Gonese said their presence in Parliament during the opening address was welcomed by their Zanu (PF) counterparts who seemed happy to acknowledge the gesture. The Mutare Central MP however said Mugabe’s speech was not a true reflection of the problems on the ground.
‘It was the usual myopic views of things, so when the appropriate time comes to respond to his speech we will do so from an informed viewpoint,’ he said.
In his speech Mugabe said strict price controls will continue. He blamed droughts and sanctions for the economic woes and once again blamed the UK and her Western allies.