Regional Leaders To Resolve Zimbabwe’s Political Crisis
Regional
leaders are to meet to tackle the political crisis threatening Zimbabwe's unity
government.
A Zimbabwean official, James Maridadi, said Swaziland's King Mswati III,
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza and Zambian President Rupiah Banda will
hold talks in Mozambique on Thursday, towards narrowing the differences between
Zimbabwe's President and the opposition.
Zimbabwe's unity government, which was formed in February, plunged into a new
crisis last month, after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party boycotted
parliament over implementation of their power-sharing agreement.
"The troika will meet in Mozambique this Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to
break the deadlock; the three will represent the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) bloc,’’ Maridadi, PM Tsvangirai's spokesman said.
The stand-off is the biggest crisis to hit Zimbabwe's new government, which has
managed to stabilise an economy ravaged by hyperinflation but is still severely
strained by political disputes.
Western donors vital for Zimbabwe's economic recovery want concrete signs that
the new government can end political struggles, create a democracy and carry out
economic reforms before providing funds to rebuild the country.
Bone of contention
Tsvangirai has accused President Mugabe of being a "dishonest and unreliable
partner" for refusing to implement the power-sharing pact fully, particularly
regarding senior appointments such as central bank governor and
attorney-general.
The MDC also accuses ZANU-PF of persecuting its officials and holding back media
and constitutional reforms which are vital for holding free and fair elections
in about two years.
Mugabe says he has met his side of the power-sharing deal and insists the MDC
must campaign for the lifting of Western sanctions against his ZANU-PF,
including travel restrictions and a freeze on general financial aid to Zimbabwe.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, who is the SADC's current
chairman, was in Zimbabwe on Sunday to meet the country's feuding leaders.
Kabila said that the unity government remained Zimbabwe's only option at the
moment.
REUTERS/Yinka
