TSVANGIRAI TRAPPED BY MBEKI AND MUGABE!

04 June 2007

By Never Kadungure

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There is no hope in hell of upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Zimbabwe being free and fair.

That is the verdict of several political commentators interviewed.

Mediation talks being led by South African president Thabo Mbeki have already been dismissed as a sham with Mugabe maintaining a crackdown on the opposition and student movements in the country. Over 32 activists are still locked up in remand prison for over two months over spurious charges of engaging in terrorist activities in the country.

Analysts point to precedent as showing Mugabe has never been an honest statesman when it comes to talks and the MDC is being led up the garden path to legitimising another fraudulent election in 2008.

The Tsvangirai MDC has already been warned by advisors that overtures from the Mutambara camp about backing Tsvangirai’s single candidacy is part of a ploy to set him up for the ‘great fall’ if he were to lose the election again.

The majority of Zimbabweans polled by this publication are convinced the MDC should withdraw from the Mbeki led talks and demand evidence of changes on the ground especially the release of 32 MDC officials from custody before any more steps are taken towards dialogue.

Tsvangirai has already said it is important to give the Mbeki led initiative a chance and not dismiss it completely. Mugabe however remains as stubborn as ever and comments from his Justice Minister in Ghana recently have shown that leopards never change their spots. Patrick Chinamasa threatened NGO’s at the Africa Commission summit and called on African countries to help in the closure of radio stations like Studio 7, Voice of the People and SW Radio Africa, which broadcast from outside the country. This analysts point out is a clear sign Mugabe has no plans to step aside, come rain or sunshine.