07/22/2008

News / United States Wants Zimbabwe Talks to Express Popular Will

State Department waiting to observe “the evolution of this process”

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington -- The Bush administration will be closely watching talks between Zimbabwe’s political factions in Harare, according to a State Department spokesman, who also voiced U.S. support for a negotiation process “that leads to a result that expresses the will of the Zimbabwean people.”

The leaders of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a framework for power-sharing talks in an effort to resolve the political crisis marked by violence and intimidation by government supporters against their political opposition after the country’s March 29 elections.

State Department deputy spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said July 21 that the MOU provides “a vehicle for undertaking talks,” but that power-sharing discussions have yet to take place.

“We’re obviously keeping an eye on what’s happening there and we’re going to continue to watch it closely,” he said. “I think we’re waiting to see the evolution of this process.”

Gallegos said the United States is looking forward to a resolution that brings about new elections. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the June 27 runoff presidential vote between himself and President Robert Mugabe after weeks of politically motivated violence against MDC supporters. U.S. officials, including President Bush, have described the election as a “sham.”

Gallegos said U.S. officials want to see “an election that is free and fair and open, and that all parties can participate in without fear of aggressive acts against them.”

In July 15 testimony before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said talks between ZANU-PF and the MDC can succeed if they result in a “transitional government that could then prepare for an election so that we could get back to a democratic path.” (See “Zimbabwe’s Rulers Might Face Additional U.S. Sanctions.”

The MOU sets a two-week deadline for the parties to begin discussions on issues such as a unity government and holding new elections. Both sides also agreed to ease political tensions within the deadline.

The talks were mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki, who consulted with the African Union's top permanent official, Jean Ping, and Haile Menkerios, the U.N. envoy to Zimbabwe.

Describing the signing of the MOU as "a very historic occasion," MDC leader Tsvangirai expressed optimism that a solution to the political crisis can be found. “In fact, not finding a solution is not an option," he said.

President Mugabe said the memorandum was signed "to chart a new way of political interaction."

The signing ceremony in Harare was the first time political rivals Mugabe and Tsvangirai have met since 1998.

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