[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Tsvangirai sez Mugabe ok as prez?

[Patrick Bond]

(Is there a logic here? The political zig-zags leave me dizzy: "In a 
separate interview to the Sunday Telegraph, Tsvangirai said under such a 
scenario Mugabe could possibly remain as a figurehead president." And 
won't a constitutional process take another year at least? And what if 
the int'l - esp. AU/SADC - pressure isn't kept up?)

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Zimbabwe's MDC to Seek Transition Talks: Tsvangirai

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said in interviews 
published Sunday he would push for negotiations with President Robert 
Mugabe on a new constitution and fresh elections.

He also kept open the possibility that Mugabe could remain as a 
ceremonial head of state.

Speaking ahead of the expected announcement that Mugabe had won 
re-election in Friday's run-off vote in which he was the only candidate, 
Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party would use 
its parliamentary majority, which it won in elections in March, to force 
negotiations over a transitional arrangement.

"We must bring the old man to the negotiating table as soon as 
possible," he was quoted as saying by the Mail on Sunday from Harare.

"We have the power to control parliament, and that is recognised even by 
Mugabe's ZANU-PF ... We must force a transitional agreement for a set 
time-frame and work towards a new constitution for Zimbabwe.

"I am confident we can achieve that if international pressure keeps up."

In a separate interview to the Sunday Telegraph, Tsvangirai said under 
such a scenario Mugabe could possibly remain as a figurehead president.

"I don't think it's inconceivable for such an arrangement to include 
him, depending, of course, on the details of what is being proposed and 
what are the arrangements."

International condemnation has continued of Friday's vote, which was 
boycotted by the MDC, with the United States pledging to tighten 
sanctions against Mugabe's "illegitimate" government.

Tsvangirai won the first round of the election, but pulled out of the 
contest last weekend after nearly 90 MDC supporters were killed in 
attacks he blames on pro-Mugabe militias.