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Harare taps Mkapa to mediate with London, UN
2006-06-05 10:50:25
By WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON
Zimbabwean Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya said on Friday that Harare has enlisted former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa as an intermediary in talks that the government wishes to open with Britain about lifting UK targeted sanctions and discussions with the United Nations about an economic assistance package.
A British Foreign Office spokesman said London was not appraised of any such role by Mkapa, adding that there was no bilateral dispute to be mediated at present.
The top UN political officer, Ibrahim Gambari, has confirmed Annan’s interest in opening discussions with Zimbabwe involving Britain, among other interlocutors.
Foreign Minister Jokonya told VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that Mkapa was drafted as mediator because he is best suited for the job.
Mkapa could not be reached to directly confirm his acceptance of the mediation role.
Jokonya said the former Tanzanian president will help engage Britain in talks aimed at convincing London to end sanctions aimed at top officials of the Harare administration and the ruling ZANU-PF party, and obtaining UN support in convincing other nations such as the United States, and the European Union, to lift such sanctions.
Analysts said Zimbabwe’s effort to engage Britain was somewhat problematic because of the tangled history of their relations from the colonial era to the present, especially because Harare has accused Britain of reneging on a promise made at independence to indemnify white farmers who might lose their property to land reform.
Britain halted such financial support over alleged mismanagement and cronyism in the program.
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