Zim talks resume in SA

2008-07-11 11:01

Pretoria - A second day of talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition were set to go ahead in Pretoria on Friday, as the parties lay the ground for substantive negotiations on the country's crisis.

Nqobizitha Mlilo, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change's chief spokesperson in South Africa, said the two sides would continue to discuss conditions needed before fully-fledged negotiations can go ahead.

"We are meeting them (Zanu-PF party) face-to-face. We are not afraid of them," Mlilo told AFP.

Conditions

The MDC insisted substantive negotiations could only take place following a cessation of all violence, the release of over 1 500 political prisoners, an expanded mediation team including an African Union permanent envoy and the swearing in of lawmakers as the opposition now controls parliament.

"Those are the issues, that's the sole agenda. There is no substantive agenda," Mlilo told AFP.

President Thabo Mbeki is the region's long-time mediator between the opposition and Robert Mugabe's ruling party.

South African government officials - though not Mbeki himself - were involved in Thursday's discussions at an undisclosed location in Pretoria, said presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga.

Zanu-PF was represented by Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Labour Minister Nicholas Goche and the MDC by secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer-general, Elton Mangoma.

Zimbabwe has been hit by growing political violence since a disputed first round of presidential elections in March.

Mugabe was re-elected last month in a second round, boycotted by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai after a wave of deadly attacks on his supporters.

- AFP