Zimbabwe opposition won't meet with visiting mediator Mbeki
May 12, 2008 -- Zimbabwe's opposition declined to meet with visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday and said that he should be replaced as mediator in the country's political crisis.
By ANGUS SHAW
HARARE, Zimbabwe _ Zimbabwe's opposition declined to meet with visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday and said that he should be replaced as mediator in the country's political crisis.
President Robert Mugabe met Mbeki on Friday on the South African leader's third visit as mediator on behalf of the Southern African Development Community.
The two men, wearing flower garlands, laughed as they walked hand-in-hand from the aircraft on Mbeki's arrival. They did not speak with reporters, but later posed for photographs in Mugabe's residence, State House, where met for nearly four hours.
Mbeki departed later Friday
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai did not sit down with Mbeki, whom he sees as biased toward Mugabe, opposition spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.
Tsvangirai "has no confidence in Mbeki," and has called for him to step aside and allow Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa to take over mediation, Sibotshiwe said.
Mwanawasa has been more critical of Mugabe, while Mbeki — believing Mugabe will not respond to confrontation — has stuck to so-called "quiet diplomacy" on Zimbabwe.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai have been in a tense political standoff. The opposition leader insists he won March 29 presidential election outright.
The electoral commission said last week that Tsvangirai had won the most votes but failed to win the simple majority required for a first-round victory, and so would have to face Mugabe again in a runoff.
Mugabe has been accused of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round, raising questions about whether a runoff would be free or fair.
Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change, is expected to make an announcement Saturday in South Africa on whether it will take part in a runoff.
No date has been set for the vote, although Mugabe has already begun campaigning.
Meanwhile, opposition party supporters are increasingly under attack.
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said 22 people had died and 900 were tortured in postelection violence.
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Zimbabwe opposition won't meet with visiting mediator Mbeki
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View All Comments »SAfrikan at 05/12/2008 8:29:00 PM
Comment:
Yehudia, you have been sold a dummy. Just because Mugabe supposedly took land from white people does not mean he has a right to destroy a once beautiful country. It is so dissapointing to hear Africans in the diaspora support Mugabe just because he is some sort of "vessel" for venting frustrations about white folk. Is white hate greater than Black love? Mugabe is 84 years old, has ruled for 28 years and taken the most succesful black country in Africa into a pariah nation. Zimbabwe dollar used to be worth US$2. Now 1US$ = 250 million Zim. Go figure
Alchemist at 05/12/2008 8:14:11 PM
Comment:
ITS TIME FOR MUGABE TO GO.. HE IS NOT DOING ANY GOOD TO THE AFRICAN PEOPLE
yehudiah at 05/12/2008 4:58:31 PM
Comment:
Mugabee took the land owned by the white minorities and gave it to the black majority, stating that the land belongs to the native africans, which made whites all over the world displeased with him, so quite naturally they would rally behind the opposition Tsvangirai. Citing Mugabe as the reasons for the sanctions against Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai is just someone who will do their dirt.