Zimbabwe

MDC says it is ready for talks

Article published on the 2008-07-19 Latest update 2008-07-21 07:43 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai
(Photo: AFP)

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change said Saturday it is ready sign an agreement that will pave the way for substantive talks on the country's crisis after the African Union and UN agreed to help bolster the mediation. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had earlier insisted on an expanded meditation before agreeing to full talks to be chaired by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

"There has been some progress on the negotiation front," according to RFI correspondent Jean Jacques Cornish, who is in Durban for the talks.

"South African President Thabo Mbeki, who's been mandated by the region to mediate in the Zimbabwe crisis has named a high-level reference group from the UN, the African Union and Sadc to assist in the process," he added.

The news comes as ministers from the 14-member Southern African Development Community meeting in the South African port city of Durban are warning that the crisis in Zimbabwe has weakened the unity of the southern African body.

This move would be in an effort to reach a compromise over the crisis following Mugabe's controversial re-election last month.

"There has been some progress on the negotiation front," according to RFI correspondent Jean Jacques Cornish, who is in Durban for the talks.

"South African President Thabo Mbeki, who's been mandated by the region to mediate in the Zimbabwe crisis has named a high-level reference group from the UN, the African Union and Sadc to assist in the process," he added.

Several African nations, including Zambia and Botswana, have broken ranks and condemned Mugabe's landslide victory in the June 27 run-off poll, which Tsvangirai boycotted because of attacks on his party's supporters.

This indicates a significant rift between the member states.

Others among them like South Africa whose president Thabo Mbeki is leading the mediation, have backed Mugabe and opposed UN and EU sanctions against Harare.