By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – After speaking to President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe’s leading opposition group, South African President Thabo Mbeki claims that significant progress has been made concerning the political crisis within the country. Mbeki has been actively mediating a solution between Mugabe and the MDC after several claims of political oppression and abuse by security forces and supporters of Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party.

Last month, several members of the MDC were allegedly assaulted. Three MDC officials were abducted from their homes in Chipinge South. George Makuyaya, the MDC’s parliamentary candidate for next year’s elections was one of the three men allegedly kidnapped in the middle of the day. In another incident, Tobias Gundavakura, the MDC ward chairman for Mutare was attacked by a machete. Furthermore, the MDC claims most of its meetings have been banned without reason.

Along with concerns of political violence and sanctions, the MDC has accuse Mugabe and his government of rigging past elections. As part of the negotiations, the MDC is demanding the passage of democratic reforms for the upcoming 2008 election.

Although the negotiation talks have stalled due to missed deadlines in several months, the parties have agreed to four of the five points on the agenda. The first four agenda items were constitution, electoral laws, security legislation, and media laws. The last point which deals with the political climate, along with demilitarization of state institutions, the role of traditional chiefs, use of food aid for political benefit and foreign broadcasts into Zimbabwe, may prove to be a more “sticky” subject. However, both sides are confident the agenda will be addressed before the upcoming election.

The rise in political oppression coincides with the economic depression which has ranked the country’s inflation rate at over 8,000 percent, the highest in the world. Many critics have blamed the crisis on government mismanagement but Mugabe continues to accuse the West of conspiring against him.

For more information please see:

Reuters: Africa- Mbeki Confident of Solution to Zimbabwe crisis – 23 November 2007

BBC- Mbeki Upbeat after Zimbabwe Talk – 23 November 2007

AllAfrica.com- Zimbabwe: Mbeki Pressure Mugabe – 23 November 2007

Impunity Watch- Political Oppression and Violence – 25 October 2007