[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Last gasps of Zim's elite deal

[Patrick Bond]

Progress on Zim election talks, but ...
Kampala, Uganda    
21 November 2007 05:00

The leader of Zimbabwe's opposition said on Wednesday that talks with 
his government over electoral reform have made progress, but added that 
ensuring implementation will be crucial.

"I am confident that the agenda set through the [South Africa-led] 
mediation will address the fundamental concerns around holding free and 
fair elections," Morgan Tsvangirai said in an interview. "But we want to 
translate those ideas on to something on the ground so people can feel 
confident that the situation is safe; that there is a stop to violence."

During previous elections in Zimbabwe, opposition supporters have been 
tortured and killed by government forces and supporters of the ruling 
party. The country's economy is in meltdown, with the highest rate of 
inflation in the world, and millions have fled abroad.

Tsvangirai said the talks have centred on constitutional and electoral 
reform, but have stalled over freedom of assembly. He offered no further 
details.

Protests in Zimbabwe are frequently met with violence by the police, who 
beat up and arrest demonstrators.

Tsvangirai participated in a public debate on Zimbabwe in Kampala on 
Wednesday organised two days before a Commonwealth summit opens here by 
the Royal Commonwealth Society.

He said his opposition Movement for Democratic Change might shun next 
year's election unless it is sure President Robert Mugabe will not rig it.

"We have gone through three national elections and we know it is always 
pre-determined," he said, adding: "We want free and fair elections ... 
it will be suicidal to go through the ritual of elections to legitimise 
Mugabe."

He also called on Commonwealth leaders to monitor the talks mediated by 
South African President Thabo Mbeki under Southern African Development 
Community auspices and to ensure any future commitments are honoured.

Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader, has come under pressure to introduce 
reforms or step down. The 83-year-old walked out of the Commonwealth in 
2003 and has shown no desire of returning to the 53-nation body of 
mostly former British colonies that he calls a stooge of British 
neo-imperialism.

Mbeki will briefly visit Zimbabwe on Thursday for talks with the 
country's major political players, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

"President Mbeki's visit is aimed at deepening the process of dialogue," 
said his spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga on Wednesday.

The meeting in Harare is part of a "brief stopover" Mbeki will make on 
his way to Uganda for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Ratshitanga could not say to whom Mbeki would be talking. "He'll be 
meeting representatives of the political leadership. It's not up to us 
to decide who he meets." -- Sapa-AP, Sapa, Reuters