Add Your Photos and Video to This Story

Mugabe and Tsvangirai Meet for Historic Zimbabwe Talks

by Rob Walker | July 24, 2008 at 03:31 pm | 156 views | add comment

The two supposed President's of Zimbabwe met today for the first in a series of negotiations designed to end the bloodshed and economic turmoil that has enveloped the country since the failed March elections.

Some people think it's just a cop out, and don't trust Mugabe to follow through on any promises. To be sure, the way he controlled the elections, populace and police certainly doesn't suggest there will be a lot of real negotiation going on.

From Tsvangirai's letter to the people of Zimbabwe:

Yesterday I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara. This document commits our three parties to a framework of negotiations that will take place over the next two weeks.

I know that in signing this Memorandum of Understanding, I represent the hopes and aspirations of millions of Zimbabweans to end this crisis as soon as possible. Honest, hardworking Zimbabweans who want nothing more than a life that offers peace, security, economic opportunity, democracy and social and personal development. This is a responsibility that the Movement for Democratic Change and I take with the utmost seriousness.

Some bloggers have been writing regular updates on the latest in Zimbabwe.

In a bid to dispel criticism of his decision to shake the hand of President Mugabe and sit down for face-to-face negotiations, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has published an open letter to the people of Zimbabwe.

The letter emphasises the importance of meaningful negotiations with the Zanu-PF leadership if a peaceful settlement to the nation's crisis is to be found. In particular, Mr Tsvangirai calls for a cessation of government-inspired violence - something which previously he had insisted was a necessary pre-condition of talks.

Well... it makes it harder when the text books used to teach Math cannot keep up with the current situations. Consider this. When the ATM only gives out Z$100-billion at a time, enough only for two loaves of bread, students in grade school are learning about things like Z$1, and 20c and so forth. Many Zimbabwean children have never seen that type of money. These are the textbooks that were being used when I was in grade school 12 years ago!!!!!