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South African Government Facilitation
of Talks between ZANU-PF and the MDC
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO 114
QUESTION TIME: 3 NOVEMBER 2004
MR WJ SEREMANE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
1) Whether the Government recently facilitated talks
in South Africa between ZANU-PF and the MDC; if so,
(a) when did these talks take place, (b) what was the
nature and content of the talks and (c) who led the
respective delegations?
N1329E
REPLY:
1) (a), (b), (c). The South African Government over
the last few years has constantly engaged the Zimbabwean
government and the MDC to contribute to finding an acceptable
and sustainable solution to their challenges. This has
been done bilaterally and through the AU and SADC. Recently
there have been separate meetings with the government
and the MDC. On 27 June 2004 President Mbeki met with
a MDC delegation led by the party's Vice-President,
Gibson Sibanda. During September 2004, President Mbeki
met with a MDC delegation led by Mr Sibanda. Also in
September President Mbeki met with President Mugabe
in New York. In October 2004 President Mbeki met with
a MDC delegation led by Mr. Tsvangirai. In all the meetings
the discussions centred on developments in Zimbabwe,
with specific reference to the elections scheduled for
March 2005.
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