Zimbabwe leaders agree talks pact
July 21, 2008: President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have signed a deal outlining a framework for talks on Zimbabwe's political crisis.
The pair - who shook hands after the signing - have been locked in a bitter dispute over this year's presidential elections.
Mr Tsvangirai described the agreement as a "first tentative step".
It says that talks on a power-sharing arrangement should be completed within two weeks of its signing.
Discussions will focus on security and the political and economic priorities of the new government. There will be a news black-out during the period of dialogue.
Each party will be expected to do everything possible to stop all forms of political violence and refrain from hate speech.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in Johannesburg, says it is difficult to foresee such quick progress in resolving the issues at stake.
The document does not address the central issue of Mr Mugabe's future or go into the details of how a power-sharing government will be formed, he adds.
Mr Mugabe insists that he must be recognised as Zimbabwe's president - a position rejected by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mr Tsvangirai, the MDC's leader, garnered more votes in the initial presidential poll in March, but election officials said there was no outright winner and called for a run-off.
Mr Mugabe won the run-off - but he was the only candidate after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, accusing the government of mounting a campaign of violence against his supporters.
First step
The document was signed at a Harare hotel during the first meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai in a decade.
Mr Tsvangirai said that in signing the deal - an occasion he described as historic - he and Mr Mugabe were committing themselves to the "first tentative step towards searching for a solution to a country that is in crisis". Morgan Tsvangirai speaks after signing the deal with Mr Mugabe.
He went on: "We want to make sure that every Zimbabwean feels safe, we want to share a common prosperity for everyone and we want a better Zimbabwe."
Mr Tsvangirai acknowledged that many "bitter words" had been exchanged between the two sides but said they all must exercise tolerance and work together if they wanted progress.
Mr Mugabe said the two sides had agreed on Sunday on the need for the country's constitution to be amended on various points.
"We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction," he said.
He also praised South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who helped broker the deal, for his mediation efforts.
Mr Mugabe added: "We shall be doing this as Zimbabweans, entirely as Zimbabweans with the help of South Africa."
Arthur Mutambara, who leads a breakaway faction of the MDC, also signed the agreement.
Mr Mbeki said: "All the Zimbabwean parties recognise the urgency of the matters they are discussing and all are committed to trying to complete this process as quickly as possible."
The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says Mr Mugabe seemed to be in conciliatory - and sometimes good-humoured - mood as he made the unprecedented move of appearing with his arch-rival in front of the media.
Mr Mugabe said the agreement was a serious matter for his Zanu-PF party, and that he hoped it reflected sincerity.
It was a breakthrough, our correspondent says, even if it was only a first step.
Both sides have had to swallow some pride and make some concessions to reach this stage, he adds, once it became clear that the solution to Zimbabwe's political crisis would not come in a winner-takes-all scenario.
New elections
The MDC has previously accused Mr Mbeki of being biased in favour of Mr Mugabe. Robert Mugabe speaks about signing the agreement.
The fact that the African Union (AU) and the United Nations joined the South African mediation efforts was crucial in persuading the MDC to agree to talk, analysts say.
Diplomats from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) are also involved.
The MDC still has several conditions to be met before starting substantive talks with Mr Mugabe.
Party spokesman George Sibotshiwe told the BBC that future dialogue would remain conditional on a complete cessation of violence and the release of all political prisoners.
The MDC wants some kind of "transitional authority" to organise new, internationally-monitored elections.
The party says at least 120 of its supporters have been killed, about 5,000 abducted and 200,000 forced from their homes since the first round of the elections, in a campaign of violence by pro-Mugabe militias and the army.
Cabinet ministers and military officials have denied the charges.
The deal between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai comes on the day that a new banknote was issued, for 100bn Zimbabwe dollars - the latest sign of the country's economic meltdown.
This is not quite enough to buy a loaf of bread and is worth less than US$1. The official inflation rate is 2.2m%.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Zimbabwe leaders agree talks pact
Zimbabwe leaders agree talks pact
July 21, 2008: President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have signed a deal outlining a framework for talks on Zimbabwe's political crisis.
The pair - who shook hands after the signing - have been locked in a bitter dispute over this year's presidential elections.
Mr Tsvangirai described the agreement as a "first tentative step".
It says that talks on a power-sharing arrangement should be completed within two weeks of its signing.
Discussions will focus on security and the political and economic priorities of the new government. There will be a news black-out during the period of dialogue.
Each party will be expected to do everything possible to stop all forms of political violence and refrain from hate speech.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in Johannesburg, says it is difficult to foresee such quick progress in resolving the issues at stake.
The document does not address the central issue of Mr Mugabe's future or go into the details of how a power-sharing government will be formed, he adds.
Mr Mugabe insists that he must be recognised as Zimbabwe's president - a position rejected by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mr Tsvangirai, the MDC's leader, garnered more votes in the initial presidential poll in March, but election officials said there was no outright winner and called for a run-off.
Mr Mugabe won the run-off - but he was the only candidate after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, accusing the government of mounting a campaign of violence against his supporters.
First step
The document was signed at a Harare hotel during the first meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai in a decade.
Mr Tsvangirai said that in signing the deal - an occasion he described as historic - he and Mr Mugabe were committing themselves to the "first tentative step towards searching for a solution to a country that is in crisis". Morgan Tsvangirai speaks after signing the deal with Mr Mugabe.
He went on: "We want to make sure that every Zimbabwean feels safe, we want to share a common prosperity for everyone and we want a better Zimbabwe."
Mr Tsvangirai acknowledged that many "bitter words" had been exchanged between the two sides but said they all must exercise tolerance and work together if they wanted progress.
Mr Mugabe said the two sides had agreed on Sunday on the need for the country's constitution to be amended on various points.
"We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction," he said.
He also praised South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who helped broker the deal, for his mediation efforts.
Mr Mugabe added: "We shall be doing this as Zimbabweans, entirely as Zimbabweans with the help of South Africa."
Arthur Mutambara, who leads a breakaway faction of the MDC, also signed the agreement.
Mr Mbeki said: "All the Zimbabwean parties recognise the urgency of the matters they are discussing and all are committed to trying to complete this process as quickly as possible."
The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says Mr Mugabe seemed to be in conciliatory - and sometimes good-humoured - mood as he made the unprecedented move of appearing with his arch-rival in front of the media.
Mr Mugabe said the agreement was a serious matter for his Zanu-PF party, and that he hoped it reflected sincerity.
It was a breakthrough, our correspondent says, even if it was only a first step.
Both sides have had to swallow some pride and make some concessions to reach this stage, he adds, once it became clear that the solution to Zimbabwe's political crisis would not come in a winner-takes-all scenario.
New elections
The MDC has previously accused Mr Mbeki of being biased in favour of Mr Mugabe. Robert Mugabe speaks about signing the agreement.
The fact that the African Union (AU) and the United Nations joined the South African mediation efforts was crucial in persuading the MDC to agree to talk, analysts say.
Diplomats from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) are also involved.
The MDC still has several conditions to be met before starting substantive talks with Mr Mugabe.
Party spokesman George Sibotshiwe told the BBC that future dialogue would remain conditional on a complete cessation of violence and the release of all political prisoners.
The MDC wants some kind of "transitional authority" to organise new, internationally-monitored elections.
The party says at least 120 of its supporters have been killed, about 5,000 abducted and 200,000 forced from their homes since the first round of the elections, in a campaign of violence by pro-Mugabe militias and the army.
Cabinet ministers and military officials have denied the charges.
The deal between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai comes on the day that a new banknote was issued, for 100bn Zimbabwe dollars - the latest sign of the country's economic meltdown.
This is not quite enough to buy a loaf of bread and is worth less than US$1. The official inflation rate is 2.2m%.
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