Church Leaders Meet Tsvangirai Over Zanu-PF, MDC Talks

CHURCH leaders yesterday met MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and other executive members to discuss ways of resuscitating dialogue between the opposition and the ruling Zanu-PF.

Dialogue between the two parties was stalled last year after the MDC filed an election petition at the High Court challenging President Mugabe's re-election.

The church leaders were led by Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) president Bishop Sebastian Bakare whose delegation included Reverend Trevor Manhanga, Bishop Patrick Mutume, Reverend Charles Chiriseri, Mr Denson Mafinyani and Mr Goodwin Shana.

Speaking soon after the meeting held at Mr Tsvangirai's residence in Strathaven, Harare, Bishop Bakare said his delegation debriefed the MDC leadership about their meeting with President Mugabe last week.

"It was a debriefing meeting and we wanted to find out the MDC's response to the resumption of dialogue and to the issues raised at our previous meeting with President Mugabe," said Bishop Bakare.

He said the response from the MDC was positive and expressed hope that dialogue would soon resume as soon as both Zanu-PF and MDC had submitted written responses on issues that should be on the agenda of the talks.

Bishop Bakare said both parties were keen to resume the talks judging by the sincerity and commitment that came out from the discussions.

He said a locally-based solution to the problems facing the country was most desirable after all other previous foreign mediation had failed.

The church leaders said they would only engage the international community after laying ground for internal dialogue to resume.

Although Bishop Bakare did not reveal finer details of the issues they discussed with the MDC leader, it is understood that the election petition, the legitimacy of President Mugabe and perceptions of the opposition party being a Western front featured highly during the meeting.

An MDC official who spoke on condition of anonymity said their written response would be ready in a week's time.

It is understood that the MDC was willing to drop the legitimacy issue as an agenda item for dialogue.

There was also a likelihood that the MDC would withdraw its election petition to allow dialogue to resume.

The church leaders last week met President Mugabe to discuss the political situation in the country and the need for the resumption of dialogue.

It was at that meeting that the church offered to mediate between the Government and the MDC.

Other MDC officials who attended yesterday's meeting included the party's vice president Mr Gibson Sibanda, secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube, national chairman Mr Isaac Matongo, information and publicity secretary Mr Paul Themba Nyathi and deputy secretary-general Mr Gift Chimanikire.

The latest initiative by the clergy follows other attempts by African leaders who include Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Bakili Muluzi of Malawi.

In March Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of the Anglican Church in Cape Town came to Zimbabwe leading a delegation of church members and civic groups to try and mediate between the two parties.

During his visit Archbishop Ndungane met President Mugabe, civic organisations, church leaders and Mr Tsvangirai.

The church played a pivotal role in the talks between Zanu-PF and PF- Zapu which culminated in the 1987 Unity Accord.