Zimbabwe Rivals set out terms for Unity Talks while others take refuge

by amyjudd | July 3, 2008 at 01:20 pm | 99 views | add comment

Brown urges Africa to get tough on Mugabe

The African Union has called for Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai to form a 'unity' government this week, and yesterday the outlines of a negotation began to form for President Thabo Mbeki.

Mugabe's information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said the incumbent Zanu (PF) had no objections to a unity government, while Tsvangirai 's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rejected the idea, but instead proposed a transitional government leading to new elections, and insisted on the presence of an AU envoy during any negotiations that Mbeki might try to facilitate.

Tsvangirai also said any talks would have to start from the basis that he had won the elections held on March 29 .
While the two sides may seem far apart, they may have actually provided Mbeki and any other mediators with a starting point.

"Government is ready for dialogue with whoever - a dialogue for national unity in Zimbabwe," Ndlovu told Agence France Presse.

The two sides' clearer positions on negotiations began taking shape as Mbeki, the Southern African Development Community facilitator, said Mugabe had no objections to a government of national unity.

Of course Mugabe has no objections to a 'unity' goverment, as it won't be a unity government - it will still be a dictatorship in all reality.
However, about 200 opposition supporters have now sought refuge in the US Embassy in Zimbabwe and ambassadors are working with humanitarian orgainzations to help find them accomadation.

Opposition leaders said backers of President Robert Mugabe have been attacking opposition supporters.

More than 300 opposition supporters who sought refuge at the South African Embassy in Harare last week have been taken to a camp outside the capital.