Opposition in secret unity talks with Mugabe regime
A man walks past Movement for Democratic Change presidential election re-run campaign posters of Democratic Change in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
ZIMBABWE'S opposition has had secret talks with the regime of President Robert Mugabe, despite its increasingly brutal campaign of violence.
A delegation from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) discussed forming a government of national unity with ruling party Zanu-PF.
A senior source confirmed the meeting took place last week. Tendai Biti, the MDC's secretary-general, represented MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Two cabinet members, Patrick Chinamasa, the justice minister, and Nicholas Goche, the social welfare minister, attended for Zanu-PF. The meeting is believed to have taken place in Pretoria, the South African capital.
The source said it was a continuation of the dialogue mediated by South African president Thabo Mbeki, which the MDC had previously said was "dead".
Simba Makoni, the former Zanu-PF finance minister who came a distant third in the first round of the presidential election, said he was aware of the talks and last night urged the creation of a unity government. "I can confirm that there are communications between and among Zimbabwean leaders at various levels and these communications have to do with solving the crisis,'' he said.
But there was "no hope'' of a free and fair election and the presidential run-off set for June 27 should be cancelled, said Mr Makoni. Instead, Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe "should be sitting across the table, discussing the future of Zimbabwe".
Cancellation
One possible outcome would be the cancellation of the final round of the election, allowing Mr Mugabe to remain as president while Mr Tsvangirai becomes prime minister. Such a model resolved Kenya's political crisis earlier this year, when President Mwai Kibaki stayed in power and Raila Odinga, his chief rival, accepted the premiership. But this would leave Mr Mugabe in power, despite having come second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round.
The MDC is understood to be divided on whether to talk to Zanu-PF, with Mr Biti in favour and Mr Tsvangirai opposed to anything short of personal negotiations with Mr Mugabe.
Yesterday Mr Tsvangirai ruled out the possibility of an agreement being reached on a unity government before the election's final round. "A government of national unity negotiated before the run-off does not arise,'' he said.
According to the MDC, the regime's campaign of intimidation has resulted in more than 60 of its members and supporters being killed and 3,000 hospitalised. About 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, a move which would probably prevent them from voting and may enable Mr Mugabe to claim victory.
Mr Tsvangirai has said that he would form a "government of national healing", which could include some Zanu-PF figures. But so far, he has insisted on his right to be president.
He blamed Mr Mugabe for the recent violence and said that Zimbabwe was "effectively now run by a military junta''. (©The Daily Telegraph)
- Sebastien Berger in Johannesburg
