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Associated Press
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Peace Talks on Agenda in Zimbabwe—Eventually
July 21, 2008 01:24 PM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
President Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed an agreement Monday to hold talks about a possible unity government in the divided country.
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The agreement, the fruit of preliminary talks that began July 10 to define the parameters of future negotians, “is understood to be broad in outline and many areas of disagreement remain,” reports the Guardian, but it is nonetheless welcome after months of politcal violence.
The meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai—fierce political rivals widely believed to hate one another—was held in a hotel in Zimbabwe capital Harare and mediated by the South African president, Thabo Mbeki.
Tsvangirai called the agreement “the first tentative step” toward solving Zimbabwe’s political problems. “This is a very historic occasion,” he said. Mugabe, who, unlike Tsvangirai, did not smile during the meeting, said the agreement would serve “to chart a new way of political interaction.”
Tsvangirai dropped out of a June 27 presidential run-off due to continuing violence instigated by Mugabe’s government that killed 103 opposition supporters, according to the Movement for Democratic Change, the opposition party.
Many world leaders condemned Mugabe’s actions after he won the run-off, in which he was the only candidate. Some called the election a sham. Following the election, there was international pressure for both sides to enter negotiations and end the violence.
The meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai—fierce political rivals widely believed to hate one another—was held in a hotel in Zimbabwe capital Harare and mediated by the South African president, Thabo Mbeki.
Tsvangirai called the agreement “the first tentative step” toward solving Zimbabwe’s political problems. “This is a very historic occasion,” he said. Mugabe, who, unlike Tsvangirai, did not smile during the meeting, said the agreement would serve “to chart a new way of political interaction.”
Tsvangirai dropped out of a June 27 presidential run-off due to continuing violence instigated by Mugabe’s government that killed 103 opposition supporters, according to the Movement for Democratic Change, the opposition party.
Many world leaders condemned Mugabe’s actions after he won the run-off, in which he was the only candidate. Some called the election a sham. Following the election, there was international pressure for both sides to enter negotiations and end the violence.
Headline Link: Mugabe and Tsvangirai sign agreement to hold talks
The meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai is thought to be the first meeting between the rival leaders since the formation of the MDC in 1999.
Source: Guardian
Background: Turmoil following original election; peace talks begin
Following the original election in March, unrest continued in Zimbabwe as Mugabe’s election recount further delayed the announcement of the election results. Amid reports of violence, opposition leader Tsvangirai fled the country.
Source: findingDulcinea
In the week before the run-off election, support for Mugabe among African leaders was waning as his former ally, African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma, issued statements sharply critical of the govenment party, Zanu-PF.
Source: findingDulcinea
The two parties began the peace process earlier this month, when they agreed to hold preliminary talks. "This is where we are going to talk about issues of violence and it is from these discussions that the MDC will decide whether to engage in full negotiations if our conditions for an end to political violence are met. We will also have to agree on the agenda for the talks," according to an MDC source.
Source: Reuters
© 2009 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
