Mbeki to remain Zimbabwe mediator
Kurt Bassuener October 4th, 2008
Two weeks ago, I wondered at the implications of South African President Thabo Mbeki’s resignation on the continuing difficulties with the Zimbabwe power sharing deal announced last month.
Today, the BBC reports that Mbeki will retain his role as the SADC mediator:
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has confirmed he will continue his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe.
“He will resume his work as soon as it is practically possible,” his spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said.
…
South Africa’s newly elected President Kgalema Motlanthe has given his backing to Mr Mbeki’s continuing mediation role in Zimbabwe’s power-sharing talks.
That deal remains unimplemented over disputes between Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and the Tsvangirai’s MDC over the distribution of powerful ministerial portfolios, which MDC accused the ZANU-PF of aiming to dominate.
two senior Western diplomats in South Africa told the French news agency, AFP, that at least one Mbeki aide would travel to the Zimbabwean capital this weekend to try to push forward the talks.
“Former President Thabo Mbeki’s legal adviser Mojanku Gumbi will be in Harare this weekend… to talk to the political actors,” one diplomat said, on condition of anonymity.
It remains to be seen whether Mugabe will be moved, or will effectively welch on the deal. African pressure will be crucial to getting the deal on track.
