MDC, ZANU-PF in secret talks

Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party and the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were engaged in secret talks to find a common plan to steer the country away from the current crisis over land, the economy and political violence, the ‘Financial Gazette’ reported on Thursday.

The report quoted sources as saying that the talks were still at a “low level” and had not involved direct contact between the two leaders of the respective parties. The sources said dialogue between ZANU-PF and the MDC would focus on how to end Zimbabwe’s isolation by the international community and on how to rebuild confidence in the country by resolving contentious national issues such as land redistribution, unemployment and the economic decline.

They said the talks would ultimately lead to discussions over the possibility of the formation of a government of national unity, but that the issue was not the focus of talks so far. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was quoted as saying that he would not deny or confirm that his party was involved in low-level talks with ZANU PF. “I cannot deny or confirm that, but low-level contact is not talks,” he said.