Mediators try to salvage Zimbabwe talks
Mediators from Nigeria and South Africa tried to salvage talks today between Zimbabwe’s ruling party and the opposition over the disputed presidential elections.
Zimbabwe’s ruling party cancelled the talks last week, saying there was nothing to discuss as long as the opposition was challenging the vote in court.
But despite that, the mediators from Africa’s two most powerful countries arrived today in a bid to renew negotiations.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is demanding a new vote be held under international supervision, claiming the March 9-11 elections were rigged to ensure President Robert Mugabe’s victory.
The EU, the US and various human rights groups condemned the polls as far from free and fair.
But the government has refused to consider fresh elections.
Kgalema Motlanthe, secretary-general of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, and veteran Nigerian diplomat Adebayo Adedeji said they were seeking ways to break the deadlock.
Mugabe, 78, led Zimbabwe to independence in 1980 and has vowed to crush any protests against his victory. He ruled virtually unchallenged until the economy collapsed and political violence erupted two years ago.
The talks were convened in a bid by Nigeria and South Africa to resolve Zimbabwe’s political standoff.
