African Union appoints mediator in Zimbabwe crisis

JOHANNESBURG - The African Union has appointed former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano to mediate in the Zimbabwe crisis, to try to nudge President Robert Mugabe into negotiating with his political foes.

Mr Chissano, who performed a rarity in Africa by voluntarily retiring from office early this year, is a close friend of Mr Mugabe and was best man at the Zimbabwean leader's 1996 wedding to his second wife, Grace.

He is also an astute negotiator, and his perseverance in dialogue helped end the brutal 16-year civil war in his own country in 1992.

However it is uncertain whether Mr Chissano will be able to persuade Mr Mugabe to drop his intransigence and speak to the opposition.

As Mr Chissano's appointment as mediator was being announced, Mr Mugabe was pouring scorn on all suggestions that he should talk to the opposition.

"No, sir, I do not want to meet you," Mr Mugabe mockingly said in reference to the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, when he addressed party supporters at a ceremony to honour fallen heroes.

"We tell all those calling for such ill-conceived talks to please stop misdirecting their efforts," Mr Mugabe said in reference to mediation efforts by the AU and South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Mr Mbeki's government has prescribed talks with the opposition as a condition Mr Mugabe must meet before it releases part of a US$1 billion loan he has sought from South Africa to meet urgent fuel, electricity and food imports.

Mr Mugabe has ruled out talks with Mr Tsvangirai, accusing the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader of being a puppet of Britain. On Monday, Mr Mugabe said it would be better for him to speak to Mr Blair directly than waste time speaking to his "puppet".

The Foreign Office in London yesterday welcomed the AU initiative on Zimbabwe.

"We welcome the fact that a number of African leaders are now working constructively to pressure Mr Mugabe to end the crisis in Zimbabwe through internal dialogue and changes in policies," said a Foreign Office spokesman.

"We believe it is time that the government of Zimbabwe heeds the growing international pressure to seek internal reconciliation and adopt policies that will help restore democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights."

The spokesman nevertheless hinted that if Mr Mugabe indeed did start internal dialogue with his opponents and adopted positive policies, the UK and the EU would offer support and assistance where possible.

Despite Mr Mugabe's reference to talks with Mr Blair in his trademark abusive fashion, it is understood that he is seriously interested in such talks to end his international isolation.

f he does not get the US$1 billion loan that he has requested from South Africa, analysts say his country faces total collapse. Zimbabwe has run out of fuel and basic foodstuffs and is suffering from three-digit inflation.

South African government spokesman Joel Netshitenze said the cabinet has "agreed in principle" to help Zimbabwe with a major bail-out but details are yet to be concluded.

But opposition parties have accused the government of endorsing an illegitimate regime by approving a loan. One South African opposition party, the Freedom Front, has said any South Africa loan to Zimbabwe should be extended on one condition only: the departure of the 81-year old president from power.

- THE INDEPENDENT