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ANC-MDC meeting 'encouraging'
24/04/2008 17:43 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A meeting between the ANC and the Zimbabwean opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was "positive and encouraging", the MDC said on Thursday.
MDC secretary general Tendai Biti met his ANC counterpart, Gwede Mantashe, at the South African ruling party headquarters, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg on Thursday.
"The MDC expressed gratitude to the ANC, its leadership, and membership for the principled position that they have taken over the electoral crisis in general, and specifically, the call by the ANC for the will of the people of Zimbabwe to be respected," said MDC spokesperson Nqobizitha Mlilo.
A solution to the impasse in Zimbabwe could only come from Africa, Milo said.
ANC no small player
"In this matrix the ANC is no small player.
"We continue to appreciate the role the ANC is playing and we will continue to call on this gallant movement to provide guidance, which will ensure that the people of Zimbabwe regain their dignity," he said.
During the meeting Biti briefed the ANC on the electoral crisis which continued to unfold in the southern African country and the constitutional crisis resulting from it.
A de facto coup
"There is both a de facto and de jure coup. The Zanu-PF regime has militarised the country."
The ANC was also told about escalating violence the MDC charged was being unleashed on civilians by the ruling party.
ANC spokesperson Steyn Speed confirmed the meeting on Thursday but was unable to provide information on its content.
The newly elected leadership of the ANC has condemned the unfolding political situation in Zimbabwe, describing it as a crisis. This was in contrast to the comments by President Thabo Mbeki who said there was no crisis.
The ANC has repeatedly called for the release of Zimbabwe's April 29 election results and had said it would contact the MDC and Zanu-PF to hold party-to-party dialogue on the crisis.
According to Speed, no meeting had yet been scheduled with Robert Mugabe's party.
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