ZIMBABWE:Zimbabwe's leader will talk to the opposition MDC in an attempt to defuse international criticism of his regime, writes Chris McGrealin Harare.
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI still says that he is the legitimate president of Zimbabwe as the winner of the only election with credibility in recent times - the one before last Friday's widely derided vote.
All he could do yesterday was watch helplessly from his refuge in the Dutch embassy as Robert Mugabe extended his 28-year rule with what amounted to a coronation at state house.
Mr Tsvangirai turned down an invitation to the inauguration, a particularly pointed taunt by Zimbabwe's rulers because they know the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader is otherwise desperate to talk to Mr Mugabe.
After weeks of refusing negotiations, Zimbabwe's newly inaugurated president now says he is ready to talk to Mr Tsvangirai. But the two men have very different outcomes in mind and very different intents.
The MDC leader sees talks as a step toward dismantling Zanu-PF rule through powersharing and assurances to members of the violent mafia that now runs the country that they will not be held to account for their crimes.
Mr Mugabe is seeking to co-opt and neuter his opponents as a means to defuse international criticism and get the aid he wants to rescue Zimbabwe's imploding economy.
The weakness of Mr Tsvangirai's position is reflected in his inconsistency on the question of talks.
Last week, he told the Times that Mr Mugabe had 48 hours to negotiate or there would be no talks, a position that caught even his advisers off-guard.
"I was puzzled . . . He was going to have to talk to Mugabe after the election," said Brian Raftopoulos, a political scientist and adviser to the MDC.
This weekend, Mr Tsvangirai shifted position again and said he would push for negotiations with Mr Mugabe on a new constitution and fresh elections.
Mr Tsvangirai told the Sunday Telegraph that he would consider an arrangement where Mr Mugabe remains as a titular head of state. All of this is revealing of how desperate the MDC leader is for a negotiated solution because of his limited options.
"Mugabe's on top now and he is going to try to take control of any talks," said Mr Raftopoulos.
"The MDC are not in a strong position. If there are going to be talks, there are going to be very serious compromises by the MDC.
"Alternatively, they've got a lot of international support and growing support in the region, so they could hold out and fight for an increasing isolation."
Mr Raftopoulos said Mr Mugabe's attitude towards talks was likely to be influenced by what happens at today's African Union summit in Egypt.
The MDC can expect a rash of promises from Zimbabwe's president that he wants compromise. But in the background will remain the forces that bludgeoned Mr Mugabe back to power.- (Guardian service)