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Mugabe urged By Mbeki to Cancel Run-off Vote


L'Express (Port Louis)


NEWS
20 June 2008
Posted to the web 23 June 2008

By Cris Chinaka
Port Louis

The South African President , who has been leading regional mediation efforts
in Zimbabwe, has asked Robert Mugabe to annul next week's presidential run-off
and try to negotiate with Morgan Tsvangirai.

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki (L), has been trying, without success,
to set up a meeting between Robert Mugabe (R), and the opposition leader.



South African President Thabo Mbeki has urged Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe
to cancel next week's presidential run-off vote and negotiate a deal with the
opposition, South Africa's Business Day newspaper said yesterday.

Mbeki met Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai separately in Zimbabwe
on the day before to try to mediate an end to an increasingly violent crisis.

Mugabe stands accused by opponents, Western countries and human rights groups
of orchestrating a campaign of killings and intimidation to keep his 28-year
hold on power in the once prosperous country whose economy is now in ruins.

Business Day, a respected financial daily, quoted unnamed sources as saying
that Mbeki tried to set up a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai - their
first ever - but did not receive a firm commitment from Zimbabwe's president.
It said Mbeki attempted to convince Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form a government
of national unity.

Mugabe lost the first round vote to Tsvangirai on March 29, but the opposition
leader did not get the outright majority needed to avoid a second round,
according to official results.

Mbeki met with Mugabe for 3-1/2 hours in Zimbabwe's second biggest city,
Bulawayo, on Wednesday night but made no comment to reporters after the talks.

Business Day reported that Movement for Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai
agreed to meet Mugabe and told Mbeki that any run-off would be a farce.
"Tsvangirai said the runoff would be a sham because he has not been allowed to
campaign, his party officials and supporters are being arrested, harassed and
killed," Business Day quoted a source as saying.

Mbeki criticised

Tsvangirai's MDC said yesterday it had launched an urgent court application to
appeal against a state ban on its advertisements and media cover of the party's
run-off campaign. Spokesman George Sibotshiwe said the party had been told by
the Zimbabwe Broadcast Corporation and Zimpapers that the state media
organisations had been instructed not to accept opposition campaign
advertisements or report on the party's campaign. There was no immediate
comment from ZBC or the Zimbabwe Newspapers group.

Mbeki, who has led regional mediation efforts in Zimbabwe, has been criticised
for his quiet diplomatic approach that has failed to end a political and
economic crisis that has driven millions of people into neighbouring states.

Mugabe blames his foes for the violence and has threatened to arrest opposition
leaders over the troubles. Tsvangirai's party says at least 66 people have been
killed by ZANU-PF supporters.

The United States and former colonial power Britain also accuse Mugabe of
trying to intimidate opponents.


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