Maravi

Zim inter-party talks resume

Zim inter-party talks resume
By George Chellah in Harare and Noel Sichalwe in Lusaka
Tuesday August 05, 2008 [04:05]

THE inter-party negotiations between the ruling ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations have resumed in Pretoria, South Africa. And eleven Transpa-rency International chapters in Africa urged all parties currently involved in talks that will determine the future of Zimbabwe to guarantee full transparency of the political process.
The resumption of the talks comes after a week-long break since the negotiating teams went on recess to allow them to consult their principals back home.

South African President Thabo Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga confirmed that the talks resumed on Sunday afternoon.
"They started this afternoon," said Ratshitanga.

Ratshitanga said further talks were held yesterday.

The negotiating teams from all the three political parties flew back to South Africa on Saturday.
President Mbeki, who is facilitating the negotiations, last week flew into Zimbabwe to personally brief President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Professor Arthur Mutambara.

President Mbeki expressed satisfaction with the progress of the inter-party negotiations between ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations, indicating that the talks would resume on Sunday.

On the same day, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai told Britain's Channel 4 News that he hoped the inter-party talks would give President Mugabe an honourable exit.
It is highly unlikely that the negotiations will conclude today as initially targeted by the two political parties when they signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that set the framework for the dialogue.

And according to a statement, Transparency International chapters noted that it was only by establishing a climate of transparency and accountability that Zimbabwe's leaders could ensure credibility of the talks to overcome that country's deep political, economic and humanitarian crisis.
"The ongoing widespread violence and intimidation, particularly against civil society representatives, must end immediately, the statement read. "In a Memorandum of Understanding between President Mugabe's party, ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change on 22 July 2008, all parties confirmed their commitment to build a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hate, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality and promised to adhere to a dialogue with each other with a view to creating a genuine, viable, permanent and sustainable solution to the Zimbabwean situation."
The organisations observed that the current situation in Zimbabwe, where citizens and civil society organisations feared retaliation for criticism or pursuing accountability, did not reflect the spirit of the memorandum.

"Transparency International strongly believes that a viable solution and a society free of corruption and founded on transparency can only be possible where political leaders are accountable towards civil society. The failure to provide regular information regarding the development or outcome of the talks threatens to diminish the legitimacy and credibility of the entire process," they noted.

The organisations noted that the civil society organisations, including those distributing aid to alleviate the suffering of the Zimbabwean people should be allowed to operate freely throughout the country.

They noted that without freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, corruption and other abuses of power could not be overcome.
"The arrest and questioning of activists have resulted in a climate of fear, mistrust and impunity that must end immediately," they stated. "In this defining moment for Zimbabwe, Transparency International chapters in Africa stand together in Pan-African solidarity and in support of TI Zimbabwe, to demand that the soon-to-resume talks rest on the pillars of transparency and accountability."

Transparency International observed that respect for active participation by citizens and NGOs demanding accountability was crucial for helping the people of Zimbabwe overcome their current suffering.

Among the countries that signed the statement include the Association Algérienne de Lutte contre la Corruption (TI Algeria), TI Cameroon, Ghana Integrity Initiative, TI Kenya and Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia.

Others are Transparency International Initiative Madagascar, Transparency Mauritius, Transparence Maroc, Association Nigérienne de lutte contre la Corruption, Transparency in Nigeria, Forum Civil (TI Senegal), TI South Africa, TI Uganda and TI Zambia.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on Sunday recovered two bombs at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters situated at Harare Central Police Station.

The ZRP recovered the two unexploded bombs after a bomb detonated at the station on Saturday night.
Police chief spokesperson senior assistant commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena told the state media over the weekend that the Zimbabwe National Army Bomb Disposal Unit found the bombs on the first floor of the building.
Bvudzijena said the first bomb, which exploded at about 18:45 hours on Saturday damaged 13 offices at the police station.
He said the bomb had been placed in a kitchen.
"No one was injured in the blast," Bvudzijena said.
Bvudzijena said the Police Forensic Section and the Army Bomb Disposal Unit on Sunday also recovered the fragments of the detonated bomb.

Labels: MoU, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 4:11 AM