Clergy defy sceptics - urge talks between govt and MDC

Human rights groups in Zimbabwe are sceptical that renewed efforts by the clergy will break the current political impasse between the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Albert Musarurwa, chairman of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, said on Tuesday that despite their "good intentions", it was unlikely that the clergy would be able to broker a deal between the two main political parties. Last week Anglican Bishop Sebastian Bakare, head of the Protestant Zimbabwe Council of Churches, confirmed plans to ask both parties to return to the negotiating table. As a first step, Bakare told the Financial Gazette, an independent local weekly newspaper, efforts were being made to secure an appointment with Nathan Shamuyarira, ZANU-PF's secretary for information. In July 2003 Bakare and two other prominent religious leaders met with President Robert Mugabe and opposition leaders in attempt to thaw relations between the two parties, but the effort was reportedly aborted when both sides took intransigent positions. Unofficial talks between the two parties have been on and off since the 2002 presidential election, which many poll observers rejected as flawed and marred by political violence. Human rights activists said religious leaders might find it difficult to convince ZANU-PF to re-engage with the MDC, after the ruling party scored a two-thirds majority in parliament in legislative elections on 31 March. "Despite their good intentions, attempts by the church to get both parties to engage in meaningful discussions have so far failed. Now, with ZANU-PF having won an overwhelming majority in the elections, it is going to be even more trying to get them [ZANU-PF] to the negotiating table. We would all like to see some kind of breakthrough, but past experiences have proved otherwise," Musarurwa told IRIN. However, just days after the legislative, Mugabe said he would be willing to work with the opposition inside and outside parliament, so long as the MDC did not resort to mass political action. MDC spokesman Paul Themba Nyati last week also seemed to encourage efforts towards negotiations. "As MDC we remain devoted and determined to engage in dialogue with anyone who approaches us for engagement - that has always been our position," he was quoted as saying. Neighbouring South Africa said it was still optimistic that the parties would find ways of working together and would assist if asked. Addressing journalists last week in Pretoria, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said South Africa would wait for emotions in Zimbabwe to settle before attempting to find solutions to the political and economic crisis. However, the MDC broke ties with South Africa soon after the March poll, accusing President Thabo Mbeki's government of not having done enough to ensure free and fair elections. Zimbabwean analysts have suggested that Mugabe's government would do well to at least appear to be engaging with the opposition and civil society, if only to arrest economic decline. Harare-based economist Denis Nikisi said: "Despite its loss at the polls, the MDC still enjoys the sympathy of the international community, especially major western countries, such as Britain and the United States. "It would be a wise move if the government opens itself up to some kind of cordial discussion with the MDC. This could possibly lead to the international community softening its stance on the country, and we could see some foreign business interest in the economy." Amid the calls for renewed dialogue between the opposition and the government, concerns remained over allegations of human rights abuses. Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday called on the Zimbabwean authorities to stop harassing human rights campaigners, which AI claimed had been under "sustained attack" in recent years. In a new report, 'Zimbabwe: Human rights defenders under siege', the London-based rights group said those campaigning against rights abuses were particular targets, and catalogued actions against them, such as the arbitrary arrest of hundreds of activists. AI also noted that rights campaigners had been discredited in the state-controlled media, while the independence of judges and lawyers was being undermined by repeated harassment and assault. For the Amnesty International report: http://news.amnesty.org/