MEDIA REACTION: ELECTION AFTERMATH: ZANU PF - MDC

UNCLAS HARARE 000932 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ELECTION AFTERMATH: ZANU PF - MDC TALKS; HARARE ¶1. Under headline "ZANU PF is not sincere in pursuing party talks," the independent "Daily News" dedicated its April 15 editorial to urging the negotiating teams in the recently opened talks between the opposition MDC and the ruling ZANU PF to come up with "a time frame" to determine the range of the talks. Excerpts: ¶2. ". . .If the talks between ZANU PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),are expected to make any meaningful and significant progress, there must be a time frame within which some agreement must be reached. Without this stipulation, ZANU PF will continue to string the MDC along, because it is in its interests to be seen to be talking. The idea, as far as ZANU PF is concerned, is to seek to prolong its grip on power, while staving off implementation of international measures, such as smart sanctions, against this country's ruling elite. As long as the talks appear to be in progress, the international community will be duty- bound to stay any action until an outcome. It is imperative, therefore, that President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria demand a conclusion to the talks between ZANU PF and the MDC within a certain period, in order to inject some sense of purpose. As far as ZANU PF is concerned, it would be happy to continue engaging the MDC in talks for the next six years. . . ." WHITEHEAD