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Mugabe mouthpiece labels leaders âagentsâ
Hopes for a rapid solution to the escalating crisis in Zim-Bob-We were fading after a state-owned newspaper denounced the delegation of three African presidents who arrived in Harare yesterday as British "agents".Well, so much for "Plan A". President Robert Mugabe also indicated he would spurn talks with Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, amid a new diplomatic initiative designed to haul the former British colony out of its worst political and economic crisis since independence in 1980. The Sunday Mail questioned whether the three presidents were going to be in Zimbabwe as "African brothers; to help or act as agents in efforts by Britain, the former colonial ruler, and the United States to force Mugabe to step down". In an astonishing gaffe, it declared the three presidents, including Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria — the two most powerful figures in Africa — were not to be trusted as they could be "British agents" coming to "play British games". It's not a gaffe, it's a deliberate slap in the face Mr Mbeki, Mr Obasanjo and President Bakili Muluzi of Malawi were expected to meet Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai last night in an attempt to persuade them to negotiate a path away from Zimbabwe's impending economic and political catastrophe. While he ruled out "regime change", Mr Mbeki said last week that the key issue was to bring Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai to the negotiating table. Diplomats say there is a growing consensus between African and Western countries that the key issue is to find some way for Mr Mugabe, 79, who is in his 24th year of power, to step down and make way for free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections held under international supervision. Regional analysts say the talks hold the same significance as the intervention by neighbouring black states in 1979, which forced Mr Mugabe to go to Lancaster House in London for negotiations with white-ruled Rhodesia that led to elections and independence in 1980. But Mr Mugabe's refusal to participate in an African-sponsored settlement could finally turn Mr Mbeki and Mr Obasanjo, who have hitherto bent over backwards to support the former Zimbabwean liberation leader, against him. For the past three years, Mr Mugabe has portrayed the mounting economic crisis in Zimbabwe as the result of a British "war" against the Government. Last week the Sunday Mail dismissed reports that he might step down before his term of office expired in 2008 as "wishful thinking". Yup Mr Tsvangirai said last week that "the only way" to resolve the crisis was through "serious and sincere dialogue between the MDC and (the ruling) Zanu(-PF)". Oh, I think Rantburg readers can come up with a more practical method of solving the crisis. Try lead poisoning, for example. Posted by: Steve 2003-05-05 |
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