New draft agreement between govt and opposition in Zim

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s ruling party and the opposition movement have reached a draft political accord which should help smooth the way for presidential and parliamentary elections next March, state media reported yesterday.

The Sunday Mail newspaper, a government mouthpiece, said the South African-mediated outline accord included reforms to the government’s sweeping media and security laws, which the opposition maintains are hindering its election campaigning. It did not give any details on those reforms, nor did it say whether the draft agreement dealt with opposition demands for constitutional reforms to ensure that the elections are free and fair.Nelson Chamisa, chief spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change founder Morgan Tsvangirai, was not immediately available for comment.The Sunday Mail said that the two main government negotiators, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Labour Minister Nicholas Goche, were in South Africa and would sign on behalf of the ruling party.Movement for Democratic Change leaders were also expected to sign, it said.The paper said completion of the talks met a December 15 deadline set by South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is the chief mediator.Opposition officials including Tsvangirai have in recent weeks complained that ruling party negotiators have not gone far enough toward constitutional reforms the opposition says are needed if next year’s polls are to be free and fair.Opposition spokesman Chamisa told the Sunday Mail that this was still up for discussion at the talks in the South African capital, Pretoria.The opposition has also demanded an end to state orchestrated intimidation of their supporters, saying this is continuing despite a denial by President Robert Mugabe after he met with Mbeki in Harare earlier this month.Mugabe’s ruling party convention on Thursday unanimously endorsed him as its sole candidate in the presidential vote in March.Addressing 10 000 party delegates Mugabe said parliamentary and presidential polls will not be delayed beyond March, though the opposition said more time was needed for changes discussed at the inter-party talks to be put in place.Nampa-APIt did not give any details on those reforms, nor did it say whether the draft agreement dealt with opposition demands for constitutional reforms to ensure that the elections are free and fair.Nelson Chamisa, chief spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change founder Morgan Tsvangirai, was not immediately available for comment.The Sunday Mail said that the two main government negotiators, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Labour Minister Nicholas Goche, were in South Africa and would sign on behalf of the ruling party.Movement for Democratic Change leaders were also expected to sign, it said.The paper said completion of the talks met a December 15 deadline set by South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is the chief mediator.Opposition officials including Tsvangirai have in recent weeks complained that ruling party negotiators have not gone far enough toward constitutional reforms the opposition says are needed if next year’s polls are to be free and fair.Opposition spokesman Chamisa told the Sunday Mail that this was still up for discussion at the talks in the South African capital, Pretoria.The opposition has also demanded an end to state orchestrated intimidation of their supporters, saying this is continuing despite a denial by President Robert Mugabe after he met with Mbeki in Harare earlier this month.Mugabe’s ruling party convention on Thursday unanimously endorsed him as its sole candidate in the presidential vote in March.Addressing 10 000 party delegates Mugabe said parliamentary and presidential polls will not be delayed beyond March, though the opposition said more time was needed for changes discussed at the inter-party talks to be put in place.Nampa-AP