Zimbabwe Talks: Day Two

by Jordan Yerman | July 11, 2008 at 11:01 am

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Talks between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and opposition MDC continue in Pretoria, South Africa, even as the United Nations delays a vote on further sanctions against Zimbabwe following the flawed election, in which the ruling party arrested, attacked and harassed opponents and stood unopposed on the day of the runoff.

In New York, the UN Security Council delayed the crucial vote to slap fresh sanctions on Mugabe and 13 of his cronies as opponents of the measures expressed support for the South African-mediated talks.

Held at an undisclosed location in Pretoria, the talks are being kept under wraps as the parties lay down conditions for negotiations.

Nqobizitha Mlilo, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change's chief spokesperson in South Africa, said the two sides would continue to discuss conditions needed to allow talks to go ahead. "We are meeting them [the ruling Zanu-PF] face to face. We are not afraid of them," Mlilo said.

The MDC has insisted substantive negotiations can only take place if violence is halted and more than 1 500 "political prisoners" are released.

It has also called for an expanded mediation team, including an African Union permanent envoy, and the swearing-in of lawmakers as the opposition now controls Parliament.

The real question is, how do you bargain with someone who holds all the cards?