South African President Thabo Mbeki was scheduled to visit Zimbabwe this weekend to meet the country’s political rivals, his government said on Friday, amid signs power-sharing talks have moved closer to a deal.
The trip by Mbeki, who mediates in negotiations between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s party and the Zimbabwe opposition, comes after more than two weeks of discussions in South Africa between representatives of the rival sides.
“He’s going Saturday to meet the leaders of the political parties involved in the SADC-mandated talks facilitated by South Africa,” South African Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said, referring to the Southern African Development Community regional bloc.
Mbeki will meet Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, as well as the leader of a smaller MDC faction, Arthur Mutambara, the spokesman said.
It was unclear whether the meetings would be held separately or in one session.
South African newspaper Business Day reported that Mugabe and Tsvangirai would meet today as the two sides draw nearer to a power-sharing agreement.
In a sign the two sides were moving closer to an agreement, the parties issued a joint statement earlier this week calling for an end to political violence.
The main sticking points in the talks are believed to involve what roles Mugabe and Tsvangirai would play in a power-sharing government.
Sources in Tsvangirai’s party have said, however, that Mugabe’s negotiators have so far only offered Tsvangirai one of several vice-presidential posts.
The ruling ZANU-PF party has insisted Mugabe be recognized as president as part of any deal.
But pressure, both internationally and regionally, has built on Mugabe to reach a deal, analysts said, making it likely an accord is within reach.
“For ZANU-PF, it’s a matter of political survival,” said Eldred Masunungure, a political scientist from the University of Zimbabwe. “ZANU-PF has been put into a corner by domestic and international pressure, and that corner is shrinking.”
He said “a settlement will be reached, but what remains to be seen is whether the agreement can be implemented.”
Discussions have reportedly included offers of amnesty from prosecution for Mugabe if he agrees to take on a more ceremonial role as president.
Olmo von Meijenfeldt of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa said it would likely be impossible to reach a deal without Mugabe retaining some political role since his hardline backers include high-ranking military members.
“A deal making Robert Mugabe a ceremonial president and Morgan Tsvangirai a prime minister is probably the one and only way forward now in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“It will not be realistic or feasible for now to leave Mugabe out completely from the political scene,” he said.
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