Maravi

(HERALD) Zim talks to continue in SA

Zim talks to continue in SA
Herald Reporter

THE inter-party dialogue between Zimbabwe’s main political parties resumes in South Africa this weekend on the sidelines of the Sadc summit. Senior officials from Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations yesterday confirmed the resumption of the talks, which Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri hopes will lead to a peaceful social environment, which will free the nation to robustly confront the economic difficulties it is facing.

The talks adjourned when MDC-T leader Morgan Tsva-ngirai requested to "reflect and consult" on a sticking point in the dialogue. MDC leaders Arthur Mutambara and Tsvangirai flew to South Africa yesterday while President Mugabe leaves today. The parties have agreed on every aspect of an all-inclusive government except on a single issue which Tsvangirai wanted to consult over.

Zanu-PF principal negotiator Cde Patrick Chinamasa confirmed that the three principals from the negotiating parties would travel to South Africa with two negotiators each for the talks.

"We (Cdes Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche) are travelling to South Africa with President Mugabe today as the negotiations continue.

"The talks never collapsed and all parties are committed to the dialogue. I would also want to confirm Zanu-PF’s commitment to see the talks end successfully sooner rather than later to the people’s expectations," he said.

Cde Chinamasa said there was pressure for the country to convene Parliament and form a Government.

"We cannot continue wandering around without direction, hence the need to swear in parliamentarians and open the House so that the elected members can continue to fulfil their constitutional mandate."

MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube, who will be joined by his deputy, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, confirmed the resumption of the talks, saying Mutambara flew to South Africa yesterday.

MDC-T acting spokesperson Tapiwa Mashakada said Tsvangirai left for the talks yesterday evening.

"He has flown out of the country with secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma, who are the main negotiators," he said.

Tsvangirai had failed to travel earlier in the day after immigration authorities confiscated his travel document.

Mashakada said Tsvangirai got back his document and was able to travel on an evening flight to South Africa.

Principal immigration officer Mr Evans Siziba said he would only be in a position to comment on why Tsvangirai’s documents were seized today after getting a report of the previous day’s events at the airport.

Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations had signed 13 agreements before Tsvangirai abruptly pulled out of the South African-mediated talks on Tuesday evening.

The party’s negotiators, Biti and Mangoma, had been authorised by Tsvangirai to append their signatures to the 13 agreements as and when they were reached.

At the time Tsvangirai pulled out of signing the final document, endorsed by President Mugabe and Mutambara, only four issues had remained on the agenda.

Zimbabweans have urged the negotiating parties to come up with a settlement so that the country finds solutions to the challenges it is facing.

Comm-Gen Chihuri yesterday applauded South African President Thabo Mbeki for the role he is playing in facilitating and mediating in the talks.

"Allow me to point out and express my sincere appreciation and recognition of the role being played by South African President Mr Thabo Mbeki, which has seen a convergence of opinion which the nation hopes and trusts will lead to enduring peace in the country.

"As the ZRP, we are naturally hopeful that these efforts will lead to the promotion and sustenance of a peaceful social environment, which will free the nation to robustly confront the economic challenges," said Comm-Gen Chihuri.

He was addressing 25 Zimbabwean police officers who had just returned home from United Nations peacekeeping duty in Sudan and Liberia.

Twenty-two served in Sudan while the other three were stationed in Liberia for the past 12 months.

Comm-Gen Chihuri briefed the officers about the harmonised elections, Presidential election run-off and the Memorandum of Understanding, which was recently signed by Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations to pave way for full-scale talks to resolve Zimbabwe’s problems.

"The move that has been taken by the three major political parties in the country to engage in negotiations with a

view to solving the country’s economic and political problems should be applauded," he said.

He urged the officers to discharge their constitutional mandated task professionally because professionalism was the force’s hallmark.

The police chief said he was convinced that the personal and professional conduct of the officers during their missions was beyond reproach since no adverse reports had been received from the UN.

"I want to commend you for a successful tour of duty. You did the country proud by raising our national flag high and upholding the organisation’s impeccable track record in service delivery," he said.

The force would continue to ensure that peace prevailed countrywide especially within the farming areas through a vigorous enforcement of policing measures and strategies meant to flush out criminals engaging in acts of vandalism.

Labels: MDC, NEGOTIATIONS

posted by MrK @ 7:33 PM