President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe moved from positive to negative on the vexed issue of dialogue with the opposition as a condition for a ‘closer understanding’ by the international community on the economic melt-down facing the country.
In the run-in to the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Zambia principally called to look into the crisis in Zimbabwe, Mugabe showed signs of mellowing down and seeing reason to talk with the opposition. By 17 August 17, the deeply troubled leader was on his old turf, saying a vehement no to any dialogue with his arch-opponents.
Documents available to Reuters indicated that President Mugabe was “nearing a deal with the opposition to end a political crisis in his country after South Africa tried to broker an agreement”. A confidential report due to be presented by South African President Thabo Mbeki to leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) reported that "progress" was made in talks between Mugabe's ruling party and the opposition and a deal could be close.
"It seems there are no real substantive issues between the government and the (opposition) MDC. There are strong indications that the two sides are sliding towards an agreement," the report says. The request for Mbeki to mediate followed a crackdown on MDC activists which triggered international outrage and renewed calls on African nations to pressure Mugabe to agree to political reforms. SADC stopped short of condemning the crackdown.
The situation is said to be so tough that most Zimbabweans now queue up at the border with South Africa, cutting wires and risking arrest to escape. Beer, which used to be affordable in the heat of the crisis, has joined in. “I am sure things will get worse,” says a pharmacy clerk, sipping a soda at his drinking spot. “But I guess this is now beyond our control.”
At the summit, Mugabe rejected the appeal for political reforms in his crisis-ridden country. SADC leaders wanted ways to ease the tension but prospects for peace have become slimmer following the outcome of the SADC meeting.
Mugabe told his colleagues in Lusaka: “Political reform is not necessary in my country because we are a democracy like any other democracy in the world”. This has sent jitters to those hoping for a let-off. SADC executive secretary, Tomaz Salomao, said the regional group would consider hardline actions this time around. (SADC has been accused of being too soft with Mugabe, but Salomao has talked about ‘quiet diplomacy’ and ‘different’ method).
More citizens have continued to flee Zimbabwe. No one knows for certain how many so-called "border jumpers" make it through every day to South Africa, but the latest estimate put it at 3,000. Even in broad daylight men and women could be seen squeezing under the razor-wire border fences, or clambering over the top, sometimes with infants in their arms.
More than 100,000 people were deported to Zimbabwe in the first six months of the year, but for many the frontier with South Africa has become a revolving door, they try again as soon as they were deported. Zimbabwean refugees are now part of the landscape in the border region.
“You always know them the minute you see them”, one local farmer who has joined the band of those hunting down Zimbabweans at the border for eventual deportation man said. “Their faces are full of fear, and they are ready to run”.