Apparently 8 years of inaction has now been noticed, and South Africa's defense of Mugabe over the last two weeks at the G8 Summit, the African Union Summit, and at the UN Security Council--none of which resulted in tough sanctions--has allowed Mbeki to come out the sole negotiator. The MDC has reportedly demanded an end to the political violence and the release of political prisoners--MDC supporters arrested during the run-off election campaign--as part of their conditions for talks. Perhaps the most important demand is the MDC's request that the AU add another mediator in addition to Mbeki, as the MDC's mistrust of Mbeki has been clearly stated.
The VOA report indicates that the ZANU-PF government has been releasing some MDC supporters from jails, but there still remain many held behind bars on trumped up charges, including elected MDC members of parliament. The article reports:
"Political analyst Farai Maguwu told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's
Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that by releasing MDC activists, the government has
responded to pressure from the international community and regional leaders to
show good faith in the talks."
"But MDC officials point out that parliamentarian-elect Pearson
Mbalekwa of Zvishavane-Ngezi constituency in Midlands province, and 15 other MDC
activists, are still held in Hwange prison. A former ZANU-PF parliamentarian and
Central Intelligence Organization operative, Mbalekwa broke with the government
in 2005 over the forced eviction and demolition campaign that it named Operation
Murambatsvina, Shona for "Drive Out the Trash." Sources said Mbalekwa spent 16
days without bathing before being transferred to the Hwange prison."
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