MDC reject unity govt, propose transitional authority

By Lance Guma
02 July 2008

Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected calls by the African Union for his party to enter into a government of national unity with Zanu PF, saying any talks should lead to fresh elections. Addressing journalists at his Harare home on Wednesday Tsvangirai argued that a unity government would simply ignore the will of the people as expressed in the March 29 elections and that this would not solve the country’s problems. ‘Our commitment to a negotiated settlement is not about power-sharing or power deals but about democracy, freedom and justice,’ he said. The MDC is instead proposing a ‘transitional authority’ based on the March poll, to prepare the ground for free and fair elections under a new constitution.

Tsvangirai stressed that there could be no talks as long as the Zanu PF sponsored violence continued. He demanded the release of all political prisoners, the disbanding of militia bases and torture camps and said the country’s security services should, ‘halt their partisan operations.’ He also expressed his party’s reservations about South African president Thabo Mbeki’s mediation. ‘It is our position that unless the mediation team is expanded to include at least one permanent representative from the African Union, and the mediation mechanism is changed, no meaningful progress can be made towards resolving the Zimbabwean crisis.’ He also threatened to pull out of any process that ignored their concerns.

On Wednesday European Union officials put their weight behind the African Union initiative to push for a government of national unity. However their spokesman, John Clancy, said that based on the March 29 elections Tsvangirai should lead such a government and have powers to push through reforms. The United States meanwhile wants to table a draft resolution in the UN Security Council placing an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and identifying more officials for its travel ban and assets freeze. True to form South Africa’s ambassador, Dumisani Khumalo, again came to Mugabe’s defence describing the text as, ‘too over the top. I don't think this is the kind of pressure that will work.’ Little wonder the MDC wants Mbeki replaced as mediator.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe National Students Union on Tuesday issued a statement calling on Zimbabweans to confront Mugabe’s ‘illegitimate regime.’ They said the, ‘ingredients of an election during the run-up to June 27 were absent, what rather characterised the run-up were ingredients of a war.’ On top of the violence the students say the run-off was held outside the legal 21 day period and as such the March 29 results should stand. ZINASU urged all elected councilors, members of parliament and senators to boycott all sittings that might legitimize Mugabe’s regime. Members of the business community were urged to shun deals with the regime.