HARARE – Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai left Thursday for North Africa, where analysts said he would meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to maintain political pressure on President Robert Mugabe to honor their power-sharing accord.
Tsvangirai and his arch-rival Mugabe joined forces nine months ago in a coalition to try to end a decade-long political and economic crisis, but their government has proved shaky because of their failure to agree on the implementation of parts of the unity agreement.
Last month, Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) announced it was “disengaging” from the government but rejoined three weeks later after mediation by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The MDC leader said he was going to Morocco for diplomatic engagements and would also meet Gaddafi, chairman of the African Union (AU), during his five-day trip to North Africa.
“The AU is one of the guarantors of the GPA (Global Political Agreement) so I am taking advantage of being in that region to brief the chairman of the AU on the developments in the country, what progress we are making and SADC’s progress in dealing with the outstanding issues,” he told journalists.
Political analysts say Tsvangirai’s talks with the AU chairman will help him to maintain diplomatic pressure on Mugabe to honor the power-sharing agreement. Mugabe and Gaddafi have strong political ties.
Tsvangirai said Thursday talks between the MDC and Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party would continue to try to solve differences and to meet a December 5 deadline set by the 15-nation
He said he had been invited by Gaddafi and was expecting “significant progress” from the MDC-ZANU-PF talks.
Asked whether the rival Zimbabwean politicians would be able to reach an agreement by the deadline set by SADC, Tsvangirai said: “The deadlines are not set in stone … the whole urgency of the matter is to rescue the credibility of the inclusive government.”
He added: “I am hoping that by the time I come back there is significant progress.”
Besides refusing to allow some of its members to be sworn into government, the MDC accuses ZANU-PF — which it calls an “arrogant and unreliable partner” — of persecuting its officials and delaying media and constitutional reforms needed for free and fair elections to be held in about two years’ time.
(Reporting by Cris Chinaka; Editing by Andrew Dobbie) Reuters
No disrespect, but I am not sure Tsvangirai will know how to conduct Prime ministerial responsibilities, he is turning into a Bob Jr. with all this jet setting trips. Yeah right Gaddaffi..?? Looks to me like the M.D.C might be pondering some regime change of their own..!!!
Gadaffi is still those African dictators who believe that Mugabe is a hero and Tsvangirai is a puppet. There is no harm in clearing the ground for a case where SADC may fail and AU is invited. If AU fails then UN Security Council picks up. Sp its a good game by MDC-T
I think both leaders Mugabe and Tsvangirai have to be on the plane everytime ,to look for support for the country, becoz there are the ones accusing each other of destroying the economy .As Zimbabweans lets be judges , judging them with results they will bring to the country come election time .If Mugabe shouts the west becoz he thinks we are on sanctions leave him it’s his strategy for us to get support from the east .Likewise If Tsvangirai thinks he should get closer to other African heads of state to justify his clash with Mugabe ,his wishes must be granted ,BUT WE AS ZIMBABWEANS WE WANT FOOD ON OUR TABLES for our families .
Morgan has visited the puff adder to complain about the viper.chuckle!!!
Abel who do yu prefer??
Zanu or MDC?? you obviously have one you think is better than the other.
Baba TEE there is no way in hell I will be associated with a trojan horse like MDC-T.Hope that answers your question.If I could have it my way I would re-arrange Zanu pf leadership because I have no problem with their policies but the problem is they dont follow their own policies (Land issue for example)
Would you care to expand that statement Abel…..i.e. land issues and Zanu-Pf Policy?..(Ed)
They talk of one man one farm for example but some have multiple farms. They talk that land distribution should not discriminate against colour, but they seem to imply that whites cannot apply for land.They talk of land sizes but they have vast lands to themselves. So you see Mr Editor, on paper it all seems good but its just not followed.Hope that answers your question.