afrol News, 7 September - The talks aimed at diffusing tensions between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC are paying dividends, with the former's official expressing satisfaction with the progress.

A representative of ZANU-PF at the talks, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, informed party colleagues at a meeting in the capital Harare that the talks have gone well.

ZANU-PF later issued a statement based on the Chinamasa's report. The party "noted with satisfaction the progress that has been made in the dialogue with the opposition."

While another round of talks were held by the two parties in South Africa on Saturday, series of negotiations have been taking place in Zimbabwe. It was reported that some of the meetings were held in the absence of South African negotiators.

South African President, Thabo Mbeki, was assigned by the southern Africa regional grouping, SADC, to bring Zimbabwean rivals to the negotiating table. Mbeki informed a recent meeting of SADC that the talks were progressing well. South African, who was accused of maintaining “quiet diplomacy” on the country’s political and economic woes, believed that it was the responsibility of Zimbabweans to resolve their own problems and not foreigners.

However, political observers fear that Mbeki's efforts might have been derailed by the ongoing bad publicity campaign by the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and the alleged latest attacks on the party's members in Marondera. A would-be opposition candidate for next year's rural district polls, Jabulani Chiwoka, was stabbed to death by ZANU-PF thugs. ZANU-PF thugs have vowed to uproot opposition in the area.

The ruling party members also approved an amendment to Zimbabwean constitution. A bill to that effect will be table before the lawmakers on 18 September. The amendment seeks to harmonise the next presidential and parliamentary elections, reduce presidential term.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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