MDC and Zanu-PF sign agreement

A political settlement between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) looks headed for a major breakthrough following an agreement by the two parties to draft a new constitution that would make way for a transitional government. Paul Themba-Nyathi, an opposition party spokesperson said the MDC and ZANU-PF have started putting together a new constitution that will see President Robert Mugabe relinquishing power. It remains unclear how long the process will take. "Given the scenario on the ground we sincerely believe there is progress in the process of negotiations though no formal talks are currently underway," said Themba-Nyathi, adding: "There has been an agreement between the government and the MDC to come up with a new constitution that will automatically pave way for a transitional authority."

Nathan Shamuyarira, the ruling party spokesperson could not be reached for comment as he was said to be attending the funeral of Simon Muzenda, Mugabe's first vice President since independence. But John Nkomo, the ZANU-PF chairperson, was quoted in one independent weekly last week saying his party was more than determined to see a kick start to the stalled talks between the two parties.

Nkomo said: "We in ZANU-PF have always said we are ready to discuss with anybody without exception. I therefore have no doubt in my mind that there will be a breakthrough soon. "What may be left now is a pronouncement of the breakthrough, if only the press can help us in projecting these things, they would have done much more than any individual can do."

Talks to resolve the country's ever deepening political and economic crisis collapsed last year after the two parties failed to agree on key issues. The MDC refused to drop its court challenge against Mugabe's re-election as head of state in an election widely condemned as flawed and unfair last year. It argued the presidential election was marred by violence, intimidation and other "gross irregularities". The MDC has vowed not to withdraw the court challenge. Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC president, said he was also hopeful the talks would succeed this time, urging the people to remain at ease. "No talks have started as yet, but as soon as the ball starts rolling we will inform the people. They should not be so much agitated," said Tsvangirai, in an exclusive interview after holding a closed meeting with other party heavyweights in the second largest city over the weekend.

The MDC leader last month set October 1 as a deadline for Zanu-PF to have committed itself to the talks or face unspecified action. Asked what course of action his party was likely to take, now that the deadline was drawing closer without any progress on the dialogue, Tsvangirai backtracked and denied ever setting a deadline for the talks. As soon as the talks start, the MDC will issue a formal statement to its supporters, stake holders and the international community, Tsvangirai said. - Sapa

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http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,66213,00.html

Mugabe vows that his opponents will never rule Zimbabwe
September 22, 2003, 12:41 PM

Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean President, vowed that political opponents he regards as puppets of Britain, the former colonial power, would never rule the country while he was alive, the official Herald newspaper reported today. "Puppets of the British will never rule Zimbabwe as long as the crop of revolutionaries in the mould of Vice President Muzenda is alive," the Herald reported Mugabe as saying at yesterday's church service for his close ally Simon Muzenda. "We will never agree to be ruled by remote control no matter what. It will never, never happen while we are still alive," he added in the local Shona language, according to the Herald.

Mugabe on Saturday announced the death of Muzenda, a loyal aide and founding member of the ruling ZANU-PF party who had served in government since independence from Britain in 1980. Muzenda backed Mugabe's controversial seizure of white-owned farms for redistribution to landless blacks, which has soured relations with Zimbabwe's former colonial power. Mugabe's critics, led by the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), say controversial government policies including the farm seizures have plunged what was once one of Africa's most thriving economies into turmoil.

Mugabe dismisses the MDC as puppets of Britain and other Western powers who want to see him ousted from power over the land reforms. The MDC has emerged as the biggest challenge to Mugabe's 23-year hold on power as the country grapples with acute shortages of food, fuel, foreign currency and local banknotes. The unemployment rate is above 70% and inflation is nearing 430%.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, is legally challenging Mugabe's victory in 2002 presidential elections, which both the MDC and several western countries say were rigged. Mugabe insists he won fairly and argues that Zimbabwe's economy has been sabotaged by his local and foreign opponents in retaliation for the land seizures. - Reuters
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http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=24944&pubdate=2003-09-22

Puppets will never rule Zimbabwe: President

Chief Reporter

Puppets of the British will never rule Zimbabwe as long as the crop of revolutionaries in the mould of Vice President Muzenda is alive, President Mugabe said yesterday . The President castigated some local businesspeople whom he said had benefited from the country’s empowerment policies but have now turned against the Government. He was speaking at a church mass held in honour of Vice President Muzenda at his Lewisam home in Harare.

Vice President Muzenda died on Saturday at Parirenyatwa Hospital after a long illness.

Cde Mugabe said there would never be any indirect rule by the British in Zimbabwe. "Rule by remote control hatife takabvuma kunyange zvakadii hazvo," said President Mugabe. {( Editor's note - AfricaFiles ): "hatife takabvuma kunyange zvakadii hazvo" -- "We'll never submit to that."} He said people like Cde Muzenda remained resolute and steadfast in fulfilling their wishes in the face of onslaughts by the British and the Americans who did not want the country’s heritage to be returned to its rightful owners. He said British fronts would never rule Zimbabwe during his lifetime. "It will never, never happen tiri vapenyu," he said.  {( Editor's note - AfricaFiles ): "tiri vapenyu" --  "as long as we are alive"} He said Zimbabweans should remain united and desist from colluding with the country's detractors in reversing the gains of independence. He said there were some people in both Government and business who were now prioritising the amassing of individual wealth and had thrown away the need for being morally upright. "Takatadza here kuti muve nemabhengi, kuti muve nemabusiness? Chatakanganisa chii? Chakanganiswa navaMuzenda chii?" asked President Mugabe.{"What was wrong with making you bankers? With enabling you to be businessmen?  What did we do wrong?  How did Mr. Muzenda offend you?" (Editor's note - AfricaFiles ) He urged local businesspeople to assist each other, remain united and work for national development.

Narrating how he came to know Vice President Muzenda and his relationship with him thereafter, President Mugabe said there was no one else outside his family that he knew better than Cde Muzenda. He said he started knowing Cde Muzenda before he got married at the age of 21 back in 1945 when he was a teacher.

Having started teaching at the age of 18, President Mugabe first taught at several schools that included Dadaya and later in Zvishavane at Mapanzure, the home area of the Speaker of Parliament Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa. However, he did not stay long in Zvishavane because of its remoteness. He went to Bulawayo to look for another teaching post and was sent to Mpandeni. It was at Mpandeni that President Mugabe first met Vice President Muzenda who was introduced to him by a Cde George Tazvishaya. He said it was then that he got to know that Vice President Muzenda had been educated at Domboshava and that he was also looking for a job. But their friendship was to be short-lived for after the school holidays President Mugabe was told that Cde Muzenda had gone to South Africa to further his education.

The two were later to meet in 1960 in the National Democratic Party where Cde Muzenda was head in Mvuma. He said he got to know that Cde Muzenda had been involved in trade unionism with the likes of Benjamin Burombo in the Voice Association. "Saka kubva ipapo rwakava rwendo zvino kwete rwekufamba asi rweChimurenga until yesterday, September 19, 2003," Cde Mugabe said. {"From then on it became not a pleasure stroll but a journey towards emancipation." (Editor's note - AfricaFiles ) He said the journey that he travelled together with Vice President Muzenda during the struggle against colonial rule was a journey which could only be undertaken by the brave and those who were prepared to sacrifice their lives for the good of all.

It was a journey that was undertaken when white settler rulers did not want to hear anything called African nationalism, President Mugabe said. He said Cde Muzenda was arrested and jailed by the then colonial regime several times. President Mugabe found Cde Muzenda in jail upon his return from Tanzania in December 1963. While in jail, President Mugabe was deeply touched when Cde Muzenda showed him his chest, which had been pierced by a needle by the then Rhodesian police. But despite all the brutality that was meted out to him by the settler regime, Cde Muzenda never abandoned the mission to liberate the country.

President Mugabe said Cde Muzenda was the first to source for bombs and dynamite which were used in the sporadic bombings of places in the then Salisbury. His unquestionable commitment to the liberation struggle saw him losing two of his daughters during the Chimoio raids in Mozambique. After the loss of his children, President Mugabe said, the then Zanla commander, the late Josiah Tongogara suggested that he be transferred from the camps to Maputo. The President said Cde Muzenda was not only a loss to the Muzenda family but to the whole nation. He said the family should be consoled by the fact that death was inescapable and only God was aware of the time and day.

The secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops, Father Walter Nyatsanza and the Parish Priest of Mufakose Catholic Church conducted the mass. Father Nyatsanza said, as a Catholic, Vice President Muzenda had always advocated the involvement of the ordinary people in all the activities of the church. He said it was the same values of freedom for all and equal opportunities for every citizen that he carried with throughout the days of the liberation struggle and  even after independence. He said the church had also lost a fountain of knowledge as from time to time he used to give advice on various matters concerning the church.

Cde Muzenda is survived by his wife Amai Maud Muzenda and six children, Tsitsi, Tendai, Vitalis, Modesta, Chikwerete and Tongai.
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