VOA Interviews MDC leaders and others about the Talks between ZANU-PF and MDC

Blessing Zulu reports for Voice of America of the SADC and AU sanctioned talks that were scheduled to begin today in South Africa.

Zulu reports that Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai reportedly had a 90-minute talk after the formal signing of the MOU in Harare on Monday.

Zulu provides the following context for the talks:

"Power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition were expected to begin in earnest on Wednesday following the signing early this week of a memorandum of understanding setting out the daunting task ahead of the crisis negotiators.

Some observers expressed skepticism that the ruling ZANU-PF and opposition Movement for Democratic Change negotiating teams could address all of the issues on the table within the two weeks that have been allocated for coming up with a power-sharing agreement.

The agreement would provide for a government of national unity or a transitional authority to run the country or revise the constitution and prepare the ground for new elections."

Zulu also reports that Tsvangirai has said he will not agree to anything without the support of Zimbabwean civil society and trade union. This is an interesting development, as Welshman Ncube, who supports Arthur Mutambara's wing of the MDC, had said earlier in the week that civil society would like to see someone other than Tsvangirai or Mugabe as the leader of any government of national unity.

There are interviews with Welshman Ncube, Nelson Chamisa of the Tsvangirai MDC, ZANU-PF's Chris Mutsvangwa, and lawyer Theresa Mugadza