Zimbabwe

Tsvangirai returns for more talks with Mugabe

Article published on the 2009-01-17 Latest update 2009-01-17 16:54 TU

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrives at Harare International Airport.
(Photo: Reuters)

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, is back in Zimbabwe for the first time in two months for new talks with President Robert Mugabe as the country continues to be plagued by cholera, hyperinflation and crumbling public services.

Tsvangirai left Zimbabwe in November to attend a summit in Johannesburg, before spending time travelling around Africa and Europe to try and garner international support for the opposition MDC.

“I hope the meeting will find a lasting solution to the crisis,” said Tsvangirai after arriving in Harare.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, his predecessor Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican President Armando Emilio Guebuza will mediate the talks, which aim to end disputes over a power-sharing agreement.

Some commentators believe SADC (the Southern African Development Community) is losing patience with disagreements about the specifics of a unity government.

“SADC is possibly getting impatient with the political leaders in Zimbabwe, and is wants to put pressure on them to see this pact implemented, and a unity government put in place,” said correspondent Ryan Truscott.

“The MDC still has, what it calls, outstanding issues, and it wants a fairer share of cabinet posts. For instance, it wants to control the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is in charge of the police force, but they also want the recent appointment of 10 provincial governors cancelled, because President Mugabe appointed all governors from his party,” Truscott told RFI.

It is likely that the deal will enable Mugabe to stay on as President, while Tsvangirai would assume the new post of Prime Minister.

“It is certainly not clear whether President Mugabe will be open to further negotiations, and he has said that he expects to have a government in place by the end of February, with or without the MDC,” Truscott said, speaking from Harare.

The country is still suffering from a severe cholera epidemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 2,200 people, as medical services falter due to lack of supplies and staff strikes.

Schools in the country have also come to a standstill as teachers try to find another way to make a living, as hyperinflation cripples the economy.

“This week, we had the new 100-trillion Zimbabwe dollar note issued, which is more or less useless, because most people, including the state telephone company are now charging in foreign currency, and yet few people have access to foreign currency,” said Truscott.

The power-sharing deal with Mugabe was signed over four months ago.