MDC calls for talks on transitional govt

Zimbabwe's main opposition party this week responded to media speculation surrounding alleged talks on an "exit strategy" for President Robert Mugabe, by saying it would drop a legal challenge to last year's presidential poll if Mugabe agreed a retirement plan. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secretary-general, Welshmen Ncube, told IRIN on Friday that the need "for [an election re-run] falls away" if Mugabe "lays out a clear retirement package, with time frames that are non-reversible". What would follow, according to the MDC, would be a transitional authority lasting between six to 12 months that would organise fresh elections. Issues of immunity for Mugabe, for alleged violations of human rights, "are open for discussion", Ncube said. He added: "Our negotiating position is: we want a transitional authority with the specific authority to organise fresh elections as quickly as possible, an independent electoral commission, an accurate voters' role, a return to the rule of law, a disbanding of the [pro-government] militia, an end to violence, and the repeal of repressive legislation like POSA [the Public Order and Security Act] - in short, the creation of conditions that are normal in a democracy." Media reports that negotiations were underway on a retirement plan for Mugabe pointed to an interview he gave the state broadcaster on 21 April in which he appeared to suggest that, under certain conditions, he could consider stepping down. When asked if he felt he had achieved what he had set out to do, Mugabe said, "we are getting to a stage where we shall say 'ah fine, we have settled this matter [of land redistribution] and people can retire.'" In a separate comment he noted: "You have to accept the reality that Mugabe is the president. If he [MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai] accepts that, there is no problem, none at all." Zimbabwe's information and publicity department on Tuesday denied Mugabe was considering quitting. "President Robert Mugabe has not indicated a wish to leave office now, nor at any other time before the expiry of his term," a statement said. "All the president did in the recent interview ... was to invite national debate on a range of national questions, including that of succession." In a briefing to MDC party officials on Wednesday, Tsvangirai stated: "We understand that Mugabe is only prepared to relinquish his illegitimate power if he is guaranteed what he calls a safe exit ... We in the MDC have never preached or practiced the politics of vengeance and retribution ... We are more than prepared and ready to consider Mugabe's immediate exit, but that should not be a precondition for engaging in transitional dialogue." "The MDC will not accept any transitional model which simply seeks to incorporate us, as junior partners, into the structures of illegitimate power dominated by Mugabe and his cronies," Tsvangirai said. "We will neither be party to a dubious process that seeks to expand and sanitise ZANU-PF's illegitimate rule, nor will we accept a secondary role in any transitional arrangement." The South African government this week denied media speculation that President Thabo Mbeki would use a scheduled visit to Zimbabwe to urge Mugabe to retire. "We strongly reject the notion that the president can go to another country to effect a regime change there," presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said. "It is up to Mr Mugabe to deal with such issues." Mbeki is to hold talks with Mugabe as well as Zimbabwean opposition parties on Monday. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Malawian counterpart, Bakili Muluzi, will also attend. Tsvangirai, commenting on the visit, noted: "We are watching developments on the diplomatic scene with a sense of suspicion and anxiety. We understand that General Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Mr Thabo Mbeki of South Africa are expressing renewed interest in the Zimbabwe crisis." "As long as this renewed interest is sincere, we have no problems with that. But, so far, the record of these two presidents is worrying. They recognised the Mugabe regime after a clearly fraudulent election even in the midst of post-electoral violence ... In short, they have demonstrated beyond doubt that they are not honest brokers," Tsvangirai said.