PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI . . . has met regional leaders

HARARE – A senior official of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party said on Sunday that they were indications the Premier could meet President Robert Mugabe today to try to resolve a power-sharing dispute that has plunged Zimbabwe’s coalition government into its worst crisis.

MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said it was likely that Mugabe and Tsvangirai will meet today, ahead of a visit to Harare by a regional ministerial taskforce team seconded by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) security organ, also known as the Troika, to mediate in the dispute that forced the MDC to boycott the unity government.

"There are indications that they might meet tomorrow but there is nothing concrete yet," said Chamisa, who is also information technology minister in the coalition government.  

Tsvangirai announced his party’s decision to boycott Cabinet and cut all cooperation with Mugabe and his ZANU PF party, blaming the veteran leader’s obstinacy for failing to fulfil the Global Political Agreement (GPA) – that gave birth to the unity government – and the slow pace of democratic reforms.

The MDC’s action, which threatens to collapse the country’s coalition administration, was also to protest the indictment of the former opposition party’s treasurer general and deputy agriculture minister-designate Roy Bennett, as well as what it says is the continued harassment and politically motivated prosecution of its activists and legislators.

Mugabe has refused to swear in Bennett saying he must first be cleared of terrorism charges. But Tsvangirai says the terrorism charges are false and politically motivated to prevent Bennett – a white farmer – from taking up his job in the new government.

As a result of the disengagement, MDC ministers boycotted last week’s Cabinet meeting and Tsvangirai embarked on a tour of key regional capitals to persuade regional leaders to intervene in the crisis threatening his eight-month-old power-sharing government with Mugabe.

Tsvangirai met the SADC Troika chairperson and Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, South African President Jacob Zuma, SADC chairman and Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila and Angolan leader, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

But despite the protestations by the MDC Mugabe still maintains that he has done everything that he is required to do under the GPA. Instead he blames the MDC of reneging on an undertaking in the GPA to call for the lifting of sanctions imposed on him and his ministers.

He also accuses the MDC of failing to cause the closure of foreign-based radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe. The radio stations that are run by exiled Zimbabwean journalists denied broadcasting licences by Mugabe are not controlled or owned by the MDC.

Analysts say the MDC and Mugabe’s ZANU PF do not want to see the coalition government collapse because both stand to benefit from its continued existence but they warn that unilateralism by the veteran President – long used to ruling alone – could in the long run cripple the administration and damage its long term effectiveness. – ZimOnline