African Leaders to Break Political Stalemate in Zimbabwe

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 06, 2003

African Leaders to Break Political Stalemate in Zimbabwe

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The presidents of South Africa, Nigeria and Malawi in Harare said on Monday that they would work hard to find a solution to the contentious issue of legitimacy which has resulted in the political crisis currently gripping Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists at the State House after holding separate talks with President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said there was agreement on both sides that dialogue should resume and that the current stalemate was the cause of the economic problems that were affecting the country.

"We have taken it upon ourselves that we have to work hard and quickly to iron out the issue of legitimacy," said Obasanjo

He said his delegation had been delighted that the two parties were anxious to resume negotiations.

President Obasanjo said during their meeting with the MDC, the party leader Tsvangirai had conceded that he lost the 2002 presidential election but said his loss was occasioned by flawed electoral system.

"They accept that there was an election in this country and they accept that President Mugabe won that election," he said.

"What they have in question is that some aspect of the electionprocess was not proper," said Obasanjo.

Addressing the same press conference, President Mugabe said he stood by his position that the MDC had to recognize that he was president before he could begin any negotiations with them.

He said if the MDC were now accepting his legitimacy, they would have to withdraw the court case in which they are challenging the result of the 2002 presidential election.

Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Bakili Muluzi and Olusegun Obasanjo held separate talks with President Mugabe and Tsvangirai in an attempt to strike a deal for the two parties challenge the result of the 2002 election which the MDC leader lost by 400,000 votes.

Mbeki, Muluzi and Obasanjo arrived here for one-day visit, which is aimed to find a solution to the contentious issue of legitimacy between the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the MDC.

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