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Zim talks 'may not end crisis'
22/07/2008 12:19 - (SA)
Harare - An agreement to hold talks with Zimbabwe's ruling party will not necessarily guarantee an end to the country's political crisis, says opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
In a letter to party supporters, Tsvangirai said a deal he signed on Monday with President Robert Mugabe offered "the most tangible opportunity in the past 10 years to improve the lives of our fellow citizens".
"But our signatures alone do not guarantee that we will be able to make the most of this opportunity," the Movement for Democratic Change leader added.
Tsvangirai said the negotiations, due to begin in South Africa later in the day, would fail if they were held against a backdrop of violence.
The MDC leader withdrew from a run-off presidential election against Mugabe on June 27 after dozens of his followers were killed in attacks he blamed on supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party, and claims the violence has continued.
Part of Monday's agreement was for all sides to commit themselves to non-violence. "Our shared goal is best achieved in a climate of tolerance and stability, not divisiveness and anger," said Tsvangirai.
"These negotiations can only proceed and succeed if the rule of law is restored, if people are able to go about their business in safety, if the public media refrain from using hate speech to polarise the community (and) if the persecution of MDC MPs, members and supporters ceases," he added.
Monday's signing ceremony marked the first meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai since the formation of the MDC nearly a decade ago.
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
