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Zimbabwe: AU Calls for Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe
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Luyanda Makapela
Sharm-El-Sheikh
African leaders have voiced their support for the creation of a Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe.
Heads of State, meeting at the AU Summit in Sharm-El-Sheikh, have been seized with discussions over Zimbabwe.
A special meeting was held yesterday, against the backdrop of international pressure on the AU to declare that the election was not a true reflection of the will of the people.
Robert Mugabe, who was the only running candidate, was sworn in as the country's President on Sunday. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off election citing violence against his supporters.
"We encourage President Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promote peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation in Zimbabwe," the AU said in a statement released late Tuesday, on the resolutions leaders had taken.
The AU said there was a willingness from the political leaders of Zimbabwe to enter into negotiations to establish a Government of National Unity.
The AU leaders voiced their support for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitation efforts and called for a continuation of these efforts in order to assist the people and leadership of Zimbabwe to reach a resolution.
South African President Thabo Mbeki was earlier mandated by SADC to facilitate talks between Mr Mugabe and the opposition party.
"SADC should further establish a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution," the AU said.
In the spirit of all SADC initiatives, the AU remains convinced that Zimbabweans will be able to resolve their differences and work together once again as one nation, provided that they receive undivided support from SADC, the AU and the world at large, the statement read.
The AU expressed its appreciation to SADC and its organ on politics defence and security operation as well as South African President Thabo Mbeki and AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping for their ongoing work aimed at reconciling the political parties in Zimbabwe.
Member states and all parties concerned, however, were urged to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue.
The AU said it was also concerned about the negative reports of SADC, the AU and the Pan-African Parliament observers on the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off election held on Friday.
The SADC Observer Mission said on Tuesday that the process leading up to the Zimbabwe presidential run-off elections did not conform to its principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.
In a report presented by Angolan Minister of Youth and Sport, Jose Marcos Barrica, who headed the SADC election observer mission in Zimbabwe, it was reported that the pre-election phase was characterised by politically motivated violence, intimidation and displacements.
Various international leaders particularly Britain and the United States, the United Nations, the The Elders, a group comprising former heads of state and Nobel laureates such as Nelson Mandela have all called for the AU to denounce the elections.
Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa and mediator in the Zimbabwean conflict. 

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Zimbabwean opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), says he will not participate in power sharing negotiations with President Robert Mugabe, who was widely accused of using violence and intimidation to win Sunday's run-off election.

The opposition leader, Mugabe's only rival in the election before dropping out due to fears of violence, cited South African President Thabo Mbeki's role as mediator in the conflict, as appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Tsvangirai has often criticized Mbeki for failing to publicly condemn Robert Mugabe, and has repeatedly called for him to step down.

Tsvangirai says that "no meaningful progress can be made toward resolving the Zimbabwe crisis" if the SADC or the African Union does not appoint at least one other mediator. "If this does not happen," he says, "then the MDC will not be part of the mediation process." 

He added, "If dialogue is to be initiated, it is essential that ZANU-PF stops the violence, halts the persecution of MDC leaders and supporters." The MDC says that 9 of its supporters have been killed by the state since the run-off, bringing the death toll up to at least 95.

Earlier on Tuesday, leaders at an African Union summit voiced their support for dialogue aimed at the creation of a unity government in Zimbabwe. "We encourage President Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promote peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation in Zimbabwe," the AU said in a statement.

While the opposition rejected the idea of discussion, the Zimbabwe government called it a "welcome resolution", as stated by Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu. "Government is ready for dialogue with anyone," he said, "so long as it isn't dialogue concocted by the West." In his inauguration speech, Mugabe had said he was open to negotiations.

Tsvangirai believes that if a unified government were to be created, it should be based on the results of the original March 29 election, in which he received more votes but not enough to avoid a run-off. "We remain committed to negotiations or talks, call them what you will, but they should be based on the fact that we won the last credible election on March 29," Tsvangirai said. "Then we can move towards some transitional arrangement."

The European Union agrees with Tsvangirai on this point. Taking into account the March 29 vote, EU spokesman John Clancy says, "it's clear that Tsvangirai should be a leading member of that government as its potential prime minister or the head of government to ensure that certain reforms can take place." The EU had been placing pressure on the African Union to take strong measures against Mugabe's government.