Zimbabwe braced for talks after historic agreement
On Monday Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai shook hands and agreed to begin talks in their first meeting in almost a decade
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Tuesday, 22, Jul 2008 08:26
Talks are expected to begin today after Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday agreed to start negotiations.
On Monday the two men shook hands and signed an agreement to begin discussions to end the country's political crisis in their first meeting in almost a decade.
The office of South African president Thabo Mbeki – who facilitated yesterday's historic agreement – was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying talks would begin today.
Speaking yesterday at a Harare hotel, Mr Tsvangirai noted the significance and irrationality of the "leader of the ruling party meeting with the leader of the winning party".
Mr Tsvangirai won the popular vote in the country's presidential election in March but was denied an outright victory after failing to gain an overall majority.
He later pulled out of a run-off vote in June, allowing Mr Mugabe to stand uncontested and re-elected, amid increasing politically-motivated violence.
But he said he now hoped both sides could work towards a "common good" of a more prosperous and secure Zimbabwe.
"[Moving towards] these negotiations I hope that all of us will always bear in mind the mother and the child who goes to sleep without food, the people that have been brutalised, the divisions, the hate speech - I hope that will become part of the past," the MDC leader continued.
"If we put our heads together I am sure we will find a solution.
"In fact, not finding a solution is not an option – I am sure we are all able to do our best. I can assure you from our party, we will do everything."
Speaking moments later, Mr Mugabe praised Mr Mbeki for his mediation and the "positive insensitivity" with which he had greeted criticism of his facilitation.
"You must become insensitive, stubborn to it, because it's wrong," Mr Mugabe, in as much a message to himself as Mr Mbeki.