Insights into the Secret talks and why individuals defeated in the 2008 election find themselves at the table

Journalist and Zimbabwe Times editor Geoffrey Nyarota writes on July 26th for the Zimbabwe Times a very useful observation about the cuurent talks between the ZANU-PF, Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC, and Arthur Mutambara's MDC. Nyarota points out that not all the people negotiating, including ZANU-PF's Patrick Chinamasa, have the mandate of the people to partake. Chinamasa lost his parliamentary seat in the March 29th election but as a key Mugabe insider, still serves as the Minister of Justice.

Nyarota writes:

"From a different prospective the politicians participating in the current talks received the mandate of the people in recent elections. That, of course, is with the notable exception of the delegates representing the breakaway faction of the MDC led by Professor Arthur Mutambara. Professor Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, as well as Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, representing Zanu-PF, who were totally rejected by voters in their constituencies on March 29.

By some coincidence, only 50 percent of the delegates enjoy the mandate of the people to represent them. These are Tendai Biti and Lovemore Mangoma of the mainstream MDC led by Tsvangirai, as well as Nicholas Goche of Zanu-PF. The other 50 percent are not mandated representatives of the people.

Neither are Madhuku and Chibhebhe.

As if not to be outdone, Ncube and Misihairabwi’s leader, Mutambara, quickly crafted and volunteered what became the first, if unofficial, and so far only concept paper for the Pretoria talks. Clearly overwhelmed by the euphoria generated by the surprise appendage of his own signature to the MoU, Mutambara proposed that Mugabe and Tsvangirai should travel hand in hand to every corner of Zimbabwe and address joint rallies to demonstrate their commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future Zimbabwe.

One difference between Lancaster and Pretoria is dramatic. Muzorewa, Chief Chirau and Sithole returned from the Lancaster House Conference to endure humiliating defeat in the 1980 elections. Twenty-eight years later, Chinamasa, Ncube and Misihairambwi endured equally humiliating defeat in the 2008 parliamentary elections and then skillfully maneuvered their way to sitting around the negotiating table in Pretoria."

Read Nyarota's entire editorial here.