Links ~ 8 September 2008

Zimbabwe MDC celebrates 9th anniversary (Canada Free Press)
MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai said to the gathering at the rally that the delay in the signing of the talks between his party and Zanu PF is because Mugabe does not want to cede “sufficient” powers to him. ‘We would rather have no deal than a bad deal. It’s simple. They should do what people want. Mugabe should be head of state and I head of government. If he does not accept that, let it be. We have time and people on our side.” Tsvangirai said that on March 29 the people of Zimbabwe voted for change and that change can’t be “betrayed” by a signature. “Tsvangirai signature is not his. It is for the people of Zimbabwe. On March 29 you spoke that you want change and not cosmetic change.”

Mbeki bids to save Zimbabwe talks (BBC)
South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki is due in Harare to revive Zimbabwe’s deadlocked power-sharing talks. [...] South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said Mr Mbeki would meet both men, as well as Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a smaller opposition faction.

Tsvangirai criticises President Mbeki, again (Zimbabwe Guardian)
In fresh criticism of the Southern African Development Community’s appointed mediator, Tsvangirai said he would not change his position in power-sharing negotiations if pressured by President Mbeki. “President Mbeki is coming but don’t worry about him. He is not the one who is going to sign the agreement,” he told a crowd gathered to commemorate the MDC party’s ninth anniversary in Gweru this weekend. “He is going to have to persuade me to shift my position. But don’t worry. One thing I will not do is to sell you out,” continued.

Tsvangirai wants election to solve Zimbabwe deadlock (ABC)
Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it will not sign a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe unless his powers are reduced. Mr Mugabe has threatened to form his own government if the MDC does not sign up to a power-sharing deal that installs opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister. But Mr Tsvangirai says there is no point in being prime minister if he is not given sufficient powers. He says the President can resolve the political deadlock by calling a new election to be observed by foreign monitors.

Whites fine for Zanu-PF, not for MDC (The Zimbabwe Times)
Mugabe in the early days of Zimbabwe’s independence basked in the glory of overstated Western adulation, while Zimbabwe benefited from the backing and support of a Western world anxious to support a government they somehow believed would constitute a departure from the African post-independence stereotype of corruption, economic mismanagement, lawlessness and abuse of civic rights. Aid funds poured into Africa’s newest nation while Mugabe was toasted in Western capitals. A knighthood was conferred on him by Queen Elizabeth the Second at Buckingham Palace while members of the Zanu-PF Women’s League ululated in Harare. A number of universities on both sides of the Atlantic recognised him through honorary degrees.

The first lie is that Western nations are natural enemies of Zimbabwe.

The second falsehood, more significantly, is that Zanu-PF hates while people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Zimbabwe Ruling Party Dismisses Opposition Call For Fresh Elections (VOA)
President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party has dismissed as frivolous and an affront to Zimbabweans calls by the leader of the main opposition for fresh elections. Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is challenging President Mugabe to fresh elections under international supervision, which he predicts he would win. Tsvangirai added that his MDC would rather quit the stalled power-sharing talks than sign an unsatisfactory deal, which he claimed would be detrimental to the opposition.

What legacy will Mugabe bequeath to us? (The Zimbabwe Times)
Robert Mugabe will be remembered for his rule by fear. He implanted so much fear among the population that the central image of his rule by fear became Chikurubi, the maximum security prison where many of his enemies and critics were sent to die. He turned the whole nation into a vast prison.

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