Some of the proposals being put forward by ZANU PF include amendments contained in the draft constitution rejected by the majority of Zimbabweans in a referendum in February 2 000.
"As our bargaining gesture, we will accommodate proposals aimed at amending the constitution because the sticking problems which are arising were contained in the draft constitution which the MDC campaigned against," a member of ZANU PF’s supreme Politburo told the Financial Gazette.
As part of its strategy to bring the MDC on board, ZANU PF would in time drop treason charges levelled against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his secretary-general Welshman Ncube if the talks made headway, the sources said.
Mugabe allies such as South Africa’s ruling African National Congress have urged him to drop the treason charges against the MDC leaders as the first step towards reconciling Zimbabweans and ending the current economic and political crisis.
Analysts though say the talks, due to open in Harare last night and possibly move out of the capital later, could bog down on the modalities of Mugabe’s departure. This is because the MDC insists that it is only willing to participate in a transitional government that works towards the staging of a new ballot before the end of the year, but ZANU PF is opposed to this suggestion. However, should the MDC accept ZANU PF’s proposals, it is hoped in government circles that Zimbabwe would be able to shed its image of a pariah state and once again attract badly needed aid and investment.
The southern African country, reeling from a devastating drought and mounting poverty, needs about US$450 million to avert mass starvation before the next harvest in March next year.
By Sydney Masamvu Political Editor of The Financial Gazette
Article reprinted, courtesy of The Financial Gazette, Southern Africa’s Leading Business and Financial Newspaper. http://www.fingaz.co.zw
"As our bargaining gesture, we will accommodate proposals aimed at amending the constitution because the sticking problems which are arising were contained in the draft constitution which the MDC campaigned against," a member of ZANU PF’s supreme Politburo told the Financial Gazette.
As part of its strategy to bring the MDC on board, ZANU PF would in time drop treason charges levelled against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his secretary-general Welshman Ncube if the talks made headway, the sources said.
Mugabe allies such as South Africa’s ruling African National Congress have urged him to drop the treason charges against the MDC leaders as the first step towards reconciling Zimbabweans and ending the current economic and political crisis.
Analysts though say the talks, due to open in Harare last night and possibly move out of the capital later, could bog down on the modalities of Mugabe’s departure. This is because the MDC insists that it is only willing to participate in a transitional government that works towards the staging of a new ballot before the end of the year, but ZANU PF is opposed to this suggestion. However, should the MDC accept ZANU PF’s proposals, it is hoped in government circles that Zimbabwe would be able to shed its image of a pariah state and once again attract badly needed aid and investment.
The southern African country, reeling from a devastating drought and mounting poverty, needs about US$450 million to avert mass starvation before the next harvest in March next year.
By Sydney Masamvu Political Editor of The Financial Gazette
Article reprinted, courtesy of The Financial Gazette, Southern Africa’s Leading Business and Financial Newspaper. http://www.fingaz.co.zw