South Africa tells Robert Mugabe to surrender
This article in The Sunday Times outlines the agreement that the paper claims will emerge from the talks currently going on between leaders of Zimbabwe’s main political parties:
… The Sunday Times has learnt that Mugabe, who has vowed that Tsvangirai will never be in government and that “only God can remove me from power”, faces humiliation over the terms of the deal that he will be forced to sign next month.
He will remain as president in name only and all real power will be held by a 20-member cabinet under Tsvangirai as prime minister. The opposition MDC will have 11 cabinet posts to nine for Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.
Apparently Sydney Mufamadi read the riot act to Zanu PF officials to force them to engage in talks:
According to the officials who were present, he told them bluntly: “You don’t have a government. You can’t summon your parliament. You have no legitimate president and thus you can have no cabinet. You cannot behave as you have been doing. Real talks have to start right away.”
The article also claims that Thabo Mbeki warned Robert Mugabe that he could no longer protect him from the threat of prosecution for crimes committed against the Zimbabwean people.
We recommend you read the full article here.
July 27th, 2008 14:00
If true, this is huge! LEt’s hope Mugabe holds to his word (not likely), signs the deal and gets the hell out of the way.
July 27th, 2008 14:16
I don’t believe this article. It has no substance or sources.
July 27th, 2008 16:09
It’s weird, and sniffs of propaganda.
One thing’s for sure: There’s something missing from all this, and that’s democracy.
July 27th, 2008 21:49
I noticed that the Australian also picked up on this story, quoting The Sunday Times.
As negotiations were meant to be in secret, and as The Sunday Times makes no mention of a ‘leak’, it seems more likely to be a fabrication rather that 100% sourced.
One thing is certain however, Mugabe’s regime cannot heal Zimbabwe’s problems on its own, although, at the back of Mugabe’s mind is the continued belief that China will come to the rescue. He will not need the West’s money, China will provide all that is needed, and allow him and his cronies to continue their lives of corruption. They made the decision some time ago that this was their path of destiny. It is important that the current negotiations actually deliver true democracy, and not just a shop window of democracy.
Regarding the Matabele massacres, I certainly think key figures should be investigated, as this was genocide on a large scale and should not be forgiven. But it may not be the first priority for an MDC goverment. That is food, medicines and a peaceful country under the rule of law.
July 27th, 2008 23:52
This is the guardian’s take on the current talks: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/26/zimbabwe
I’m not sure what to make of this, but I am hoping against hope that the Sunday Times has it right!
July 28th, 2008 10:56
The Times article sounds like wishful, western thinking. Mbeki has never before in his years of mediating exhibited the decisive clarity and firmness being attributed to him now. But, here’s hoping!
July 28th, 2008 14:16
Re: The article by Richard Dowdon in The Guardian:
This was a good, although somewhat pessimistic article. However, it got me thinking:
I wonder if it would be possible for Morgan Tsvangirai to promise to immediately put in place a totally new land reform programme. His government could set up a new loans company, which could give people shares in farms throughout the country, with grants and loans that only need to be paid back in future years. In the meantime they would be able to farm and produce whatever they wanted with grants to get the machinery, crops and livestock they needed. This would be a major incentive to convince the mediators that they should take over control from Mugabe, as his land reforms have clearly not worked. It would also be essential that the new government controls the uniformed services so that the farmers are left to farm in peace.
July 28th, 2008 19:56
There is no government in Zimbabwe, no parliament, no law and order and no president at the moment.
There is no economy in Zimbabwe, no democracy. The person in leadership stole the election. His cronies stole the farms and ranches that a presently productive.
The one who came close to being legitimised has his supporters perpetually tortured.
As the Times states, Mugabe was read an altimatum to cooperate in the talks on this basis.
I wonder why he was not simply arrested, his cronies rounded up and charged with theft and murder.
I wonder what is there to understand in this so called memorandum of understanding.
July 28th, 2008 20:17
After reading Secretary Bird’s link on Richard Doowden’s article. I really regret writing the above comment. The article sums up the political situation in Zimbabwe.
Why the MDC does not research AND learn from the past baffles me. And why the party itself is split makes my pessimism worse.
Mbeki has never struck me as capable of dealing with Mugabe at all. Neither will he broker anything substantial for the future political and economic stability of Zimbabwe.
Anyway South Africans have always seen Zimbabweans as second best to them and this meltdown is further proof of our inferiority to them.
No wonder their president is dragging his feet in the daftest and most mind boggling display of mediation.
He even evaded the issue of a Mugabe exit as a result of the talks.
He obviously knows more than we do before the talks have even begun.