Zimbabwe: deal expected today on talks to end political crisis

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Doubts linger over Zimbabwe deal The ink that marks a possible resolution to the crisis that has dogged Zimbabwe for the last eight years may be dry, but the tears of grieving relatives are not.

Leslie Madamombe of Mashonaland Central province lost three brothers a week before the country's 27 June presidential run-off.

One was shot point-blank and the others forced to drink a lethal Chinese paraquat herbicide by militias from the ruling Zanu-PF party.

"[The agreement] should have happened long back," he says. "Nothing will ever bring my three dead brothers back."

Leslie's mother and elder brother Hilton still fear for their lives, guarded by armed police at a Harare hospital.

"I'm bitter, but I however look forward with hope," he says.

No embrace

National angst remains after President Robert Mugabe and his main political rivals, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara of the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that could pave the way for a lasting political settlement.

There was a handshake and a smile, but no embrace. It appears the rivals did not want to physically commit themselves that far.

The body language failed to provide a clue as to whether the ice had really been broken in the hotel where they held a brief meeting.

Mr Mutambara seemed at ease, Mr Tsvangirai disinterested, and Mr Mugabe was, as usual, self-confident.

The handshake was a temporary triumph for South African President Thabo Mbeki and his much-criticised "quiet diplomacy" policy on Zimbabwe.

At last, the rivals had come face to face.

They signed a commitment to "end polarisation, divisions, conflict and intolerance that have characterised our country's politics."

The talks are due to be completed in two weeks.

Economic collapse

With inflation at more than 2.2m%, unemployment at 80%, and basic food commodities vanishing from shelves, locals had been finding things tough, with millions forced into neighbouring countries.

It is a situation President Mugabe was finding difficult to wriggle out of.

Amid rampant inflation, Zimbabwe has printed a Z$100bn note

After winning the controversial run-off with an official tally of 85%, the economy became his newest challenger.

This time, he could he was never going to win, hence the huge climb-down for negotiations with Mr Tsvangirai - who he had previously characterised as a "puppet," "dumb" and a "frog".

For now, both rivals' loose tongues are tied by a clause in the new deal that states: "The parties shall refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or undermine each other."

In the townships, there is some confusion.

"We wait and see, it's difficult to trust Mr Mugabe," says Caleb, 34, from Chitungwiza, a dormitory town just south of Harare.

But Mudiwa, of Highfields said: "We trust all our leaders, we hope whatever they will debate, is good for us all."

"This is not the time to outdo one another, but to think about the suffering of the ordinary people."

Around the streets of Harare, the news came as a shock to many.

It drew laughter from those who thought it was a hoax, but excitement from others.

A security officer at a local hotel said people were looking forward to making sure "people are having enough food and they are having enough medication from the hospitals".

Taxi driver Johannes Phiri said: "I am quite happy, what's has been happening was very bad."

"With the agreement, everything will be all right so that we can survive and lead our normal lives again."

'Ball rolling'

A 40-year-old petrol attendant who refused to be identified said the country could return to the relative prosperity of the past.

"The ball is rolling on now. I'm sure the country is going to prosper, it is going to be a Zimbabwe like that one of the yesteryears."

Under Monday's deal, the objectives and priorities of new government are to "restore economic stability and growth," and to address the issue of sanctions and the land question.

The parties agreed to address the thorny issues of a new constitution, national healing, free political activity, the rule of law, and guaranteeing security.

In past weeks, Zanu-PF terror squads have torched countless rural homes, forcing villagers to flee into mountains where temperatures dropped to 6C.

The terror squads or militias are now expected to disband their bases, and preach peace.

"Will they ever do that, let's wait and see, I am very sceptical," says Leslie.

"Are people now able to walk freely with their party T-shirts without risking their limbs?" he asked.

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Morgan Tsvangirai has previously refused to enter into negotiations with the ruling party unless there is an end to violence

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Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and the Zimbabwean opposition were expected to sign a deal this afternoon committing both sides to formal talks over the country’s political and economic crisis.

The ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have been put under huge international pressure to enter negotiations after President Mugabe was re-elected in discredited elections earlier this year.

Patrick Chinamasa, the Justice Minister, said the framework for talks would be signed at a Harare hotel at around 2pm UK time. The negotiations will take place under the mediation of Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa, who flew in for today's signing ceremony. He was met at the airport by Mr Mugabe.

Asked to confirm that the MDC would sign, Mr Chinamasa said: “As far as I know, yes. If there any hitches, we don’t know about those at the moment.”

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC, has previously refused to sanction any deal with the government until militias halted all violence. MDC officials said today, however, that Mr Tsvangirai would sign the agreement in person.

He pulled out of the controversial presidential runoff vote because he felt he was threatening the lives of his supporters by asking them to vote against the ruling party.

He claims that 120 of his supporters have been killed since Mr Mugabe recognised his victory in the first round of the presidential poll on March 29.

Mr Mugabe blames the opposition for the bloodshed between the two rounds of the election.

The deadlock was broken last week when President Mbeki, who has been criticised by Mr Tsvangirai, agreed to expand the mediation process to include the African Union, United Nations and other officials from the Southern African Development Community as a “reference group.”

The breakthrough agreement, which will also be signed by a smaller MDC faction, is only a first step with little clear sign of how the formal negotiations would progress.

The president insists that the opposition should accept that he is the rightfully elected leader of Zimbabwe, while Mr Tsvangirai is demanding that the first round result should stand.

The opposition leader has rejected the idea of a national unity government, but he may accept a transitional phase if it leads to fresh elections.

Eldred Masunungure, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said: “Tsvangirai has so far done well to press for and win a role for both the AU and the UN in the mediation process, but he has to remain alert all the way because he is dealing with a foxy man – Mugabe.

“The actual negotiations are going to be a lot tougher and the MDC’s aim of easing Mugabe out of power or sharing executive power (with ZANU-PF) in a transitional government ahead of another election is going to be more difficult to get.”

Zimbabwe’s economic collapse under President Mugabe’s rule has flooded neighbouring countries with millions of refugees and left the once prosperous country with inflation of at least 2 million percent.

China and Russia vetoed tougher UN sanctions against the regime and it is hoped that the opposition can negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis.