Wade expected to talk tough when he meets Mugabe

By Henry Makiwa
28 November 2007

Robert Mugabe faces a heated meeting with tough-talking Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade who arrived in Harare Wednesday morning.

Wade jetted in for a two-day state visit and held a press briefing upon arrival, emphasising that he was in the country to pave the way for talks between Britain and Zimbabwe. Speaking to journalists Wade also emphasised that his visit had “not been influenced by anyone.”

Nonetheless, observers and analysts agree that talks on the South Africa coordinated mediation process between Mugabe’s ruling party and the opposition are likely to take centre stage. The row between Harare and London which has been threatening to derail the forthcoming EU/AU meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, will also be discussed. Mugabe has confirmed that he plans to attend the meeting.

Wade is thought to be against the idea of Mugabe attending the Lisbon conference because it will divert attention from important issues that need to be discussed and it could hamper the chances of the entire African continent to establish a new economic relationship with the West.

Wade’s spokeswoman Fatou Tandian spoke to journalists in Dakar on Tuesday and said; “the visit is in the framework of the Lisbon summit.”

Political analyst Dr. John Makumbe said the outspoken Wade is likely to advise Mugabe to “postpone packing his bags.”

Makumbe said: “Wade is going to tell Mugabe his piece of mind and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he has been kicked out of State House by Mugabe, or that Mugabe has walked out of the meeting. Most Africans are getting impatient with Mugabe. He is especially being utterly selfish by insisting to attend this summit and is holding all African souls to ransom. We need Brown to attend because Britain is a key country in the EU; and we need to come out with economic concessions that will ensure that the African continent continues to progress.”

According to the latest projections by commercial experts, Zimbabwe is a sore spot on the African continent as it’s economy continues to spiral down, when all other countries are recording growth. Mugabe blames Britain for the country’s crisis, accusing the former colonial power of going back on its role to facilitate land redistribution and sabotaging the economy. Mugabe remains in denial that bad governance and the corruption in the regime have created Zimbabwe’s crisis.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday he would boycott the planned December 8-9 Lisbon conferences in protest at Mugabe’s attendance. Mugabe insists he will be in Lisbon whether Brown likes it or not.

The Senegalese leader, a critic of South African President Thabo Mbeki’s efforts to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe, has called for an active role for other African leaders in negotiations between Mugabe and the MDC. As he now seems to be part of the mediation process he will become the third African leader to be involved, after Monday’s announcement from Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, who said he will be holding discussions with Mugabe.