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Zimbabwe: Mbeki in High Level Talks
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The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Floyd Nkomo
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki is reported to be in high level talks this week with the leaders of the two main political parties in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to discus the run-off election whose date is yet to be announced.
President Mbeki's office has confirmed that the talks are underway, but could not be carried out in public.
"The mediation process under the Sadc (Southern African Development Community) and President Mbeki continues. All parties understood that mediation cannot be done in the public spotlight," said South African presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga.
According to sources in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, a delegation from South Africa has met with President Robert Mugabe to "discuss post election violence and the run-off election."
It was not clear whether the party had also met with opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leaders, who recently said that President Mbeki had failed in his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe.
The South African delegation is headed by Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi, director-general in the Presidency the Rev Frank Chikane, and presidential legal adviser Mojanku Gumbi.
President Mugabe has been holding closed door meetings with leaders in region to discuss the situation in the country.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's electoral commission said yesterday it would "soon" decide the date for a second round of presidential elections, amid mounting tension as the opposition - first-round victors - mulled over whether it would take part.
The MDC is set to announce today whether it will contest a run-off which it has insisted is unnecessary.
Tsvangirai has previously said he may take part in a second round if international observers are present.
It is unlikely that he will boycott the run-off as this would leave President Mugabe the automatic winner.
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The ANC has encouraged the parties to seek a compromise in the form of a government of national unity, rather than going into a run-off.
And so he should be.
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