Zimbabwe: 2008 Peace negotiations

Updated September 2008

On the 22 June 2008 Tsvangirai (2008) announced that the MDC-T had decided withdraw from the presidential run-off, citing as reason the violence unleashed on the people of Zimbabwe as a result of the MDC-T's victory in the 29 March election and claiming that: "This violent retributive agenda has seen over 200 000 people internally displaced and over 86 MDC supporters killed. Over 20 000 homes have been destroyed and over 10 000 people have been injured and maimed in this orgy of violence" (see Post-harmonised election violence). The run-off proceeded under conditions of intense violence and Mugabe was declared the winner (see 2008 Presidential run-off for more details).

On 1 July the African Union (2008) summit in Egypt passed a resolution that called for negotiations between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangerai and for a government of national unity. On 21 July 2008 a "Memorandum of understanding" (MOU 2008) was signed by the leaders of ZANU-PF and the two MDC factions in Harare under the auspices of South African President Thabo Mbeki as SADC Facilitator. The MOU committed the parties "to a dialogue with each other with a view to creating a genuine, viable, permanent and sustainable solution to the Zimbabwean situation" (MOU 2008, 2). The agenda of the talks included the objectives and priorities of a new government such as the restoration of the economy, the creation of a new political order, the ending of violence and the media; a framework for a new government; mechanisms for implementing the MOU; and a global political agreement (MOU 2008, 4).

On 11 September President Mbeki announced that the three parties had reached an agreement that would be signed on the 15 September, after which the contents of the agreement would be made public (Mail & Guardian 2008). The contents may be found at Power sharing agreement between ZANU PF and the MDC, 15 September 2008 [PDF document].

References

AFRICAN UNION 2008 "Summit resolution on Zimbabwe", 1 July, http://www.iss.co.za/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/AUSUMZIM0708.PDF?link_id=&slink_id=6223&link_type=&slink_type=13&tmpl_id=3 [PDF document, opens new window], 7 Jul 2008.

MAIL & GUARDIAN 2008 "SA govt congratulates Zimbabweans on deal", Sep 12, [www] http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-09-12-sa-govt-congratulates-zimbabweans-on-deal [opens new window] (accessed 12 Sep 2008).

MOU 2008 "Memorandum of understanding between Zanu PF and MDC", 21 July, http://newzimbabwe.com/pages/mbeki106.18509.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 July 2008).