Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Kaunda urges political unity

Kaunda urges political unity
AFP Reporter
Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:09:00 +0000

FORMER Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, one of Africa's senior statesmen and a close friend of President Robert Mugabe, on Sunday urged Zimbabwe's political rivals to bury their differences.

"Mugabe and (Morgan) Tsvangirai need to bury their political differences thinking what is right for the people of Zimbabwe," said Kaunda, in Mozambique's capital Maputo for Victory Day celebrations.

Talks between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, whose Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) holds a parliamentary majority, became deadlocked in mid-August over Mugabe's desire to retain control of security forces, the opposition says.

Tsvangirai has rejected a power-sharing deal that would have seen security ministries reporting to Mugabe, and economic and social ministries to himself, the MDC leader told South African radio this past week.

South African President Thabo Mbeki is mediating the talks on behalf of Southern African Development Community.

AFP

Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, NEGOTIATIONS

posted by MrK @ 5:36 AM