HARARE, Zimbabwe — Nearly four weeks after the unresolved presidential election, a state-run newspaper said Wednesday that a national unity government led by longtime leader Robert Mugabe could end Zimbabwe’s deepening political and economic crisis.
In a prominently displayed editorial in the Herald, considered a government mouthpiece, columnist Dr. Obediah Mazombwe called a unity government ‘‘the most viable and safest way forward.’’
He said regional leaders, along with ‘‘the progressive international community,’’ could bring together key players: Mugabe’s party, the opposition, former colonial ruler Britain and the United States.
‘‘The West, particularly the Anglo-American establishment, should stop insisting that President Mugabe and ZANU-PF cannot be part of a future prosperous Zimbabwe,’’ Mazombwe said.
The leader of neighboring South Africa’s dominant political party, Jacob Zuma, said during a visit to London that ‘‘if that was a scenario, why not?’’
‘‘The fact of the matter is there is a crisis because of the elections, precisely because the results have not been given. They’ve been discredited to a large extent,’’ said Zuma, who met for talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. ‘‘You need, therefore, for the two parties to be part of any solution — and a solution could be that. Why not if it helps Zimbabwe?’’
No presidential results have been released from the March 29 election, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party insists it won outright. The Movement for Democratic Change has called the government’s refusal to release the results part of a ploy to steal the vote.
The unity government editorial aired in the state media Wednesday was expected to be seen as preparing the ground for Mugabe to stay in control and even pave the way for an effective nullification of the March elections ahead of new polls.
Tsvangirai’s party rejected earlier calls by independent civic groups for an alliance with Mugabe to break the monthlong political deadlock.
Mazombwe said under a transitional arrangement, the resumption of critical Western financial assistance could be negotiated.
Tsvangirai and other opposition leaders, now in ‘‘virtual exile,’’ should be guaranteed their safety and ‘‘come home and start playing a constructive national role,’’ Mazombwe said.
A unity government would then be expected to reform the nation’s constitution and organize fresh elections under regional and international supervision, he said.
On March 29, ‘‘the government did not rig the elections and, in spite of a ruthlessly battered economy, the opposition did not make a clean sweep,’’ said Mazombwe.
Also Wednesday, the United States’ top diplomat for Africa headed to southern Africa for talks with regional leaders on Zimbabwe’s postelection crisis. Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer also is to visit Angola and Zambia for talks on Zimbabwe.
For the first time in Mugabe’s 28-year rule, the opposition defeated his ruling ZANU-PF party in the first count of last month’s parliamentary vote. But electoral officials began recounting ballots Saturday for the 23 legislative seats, most won by opposition candidates. The ZANU-PF party needs just nine seats to reclaim a majority.
State media reported Wednesday that the first results from the recount show Mugabe’s party has won an additional parliamentary seat.
The recount in Goromonzi concluded Tuesday with just a one-vote difference from the original count from the poll, giving the seat to Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, the Herald said. Officials found no errors in the vote for the upper house, or Senate.
The opposition had demanded the Goromonzi recount. No further results from the recount were released.
In a prominently displayed editorial in the Herald, considered a government mouthpiece, columnist Dr. Obediah Mazombwe called a unity government ‘‘the most viable and safest way forward.’’
He said regional leaders, along with ‘‘the progressive international community,’’ could bring together key players: Mugabe’s party, the opposition, former colonial ruler Britain and the United States.
‘‘The West, particularly the Anglo-American establishment, should stop insisting that President Mugabe and ZANU-PF cannot be part of a future prosperous Zimbabwe,’’ Mazombwe said.
The leader of neighboring South Africa’s dominant political party, Jacob Zuma, said during a visit to London that ‘‘if that was a scenario, why not?’’
‘‘The fact of the matter is there is a crisis because of the elections, precisely because the results have not been given. They’ve been discredited to a large extent,’’ said Zuma, who met for talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. ‘‘You need, therefore, for the two parties to be part of any solution — and a solution could be that. Why not if it helps Zimbabwe?’’
No presidential results have been released from the March 29 election, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party insists it won outright. The Movement for Democratic Change has called the government’s refusal to release the results part of a ploy to steal the vote.
The unity government editorial aired in the state media Wednesday was expected to be seen as preparing the ground for Mugabe to stay in control and even pave the way for an effective nullification of the March elections ahead of new polls.
Tsvangirai’s party rejected earlier calls by independent civic groups for an alliance with Mugabe to break the monthlong political deadlock.
Mazombwe said under a transitional arrangement, the resumption of critical Western financial assistance could be negotiated.
Tsvangirai and other opposition leaders, now in ‘‘virtual exile,’’ should be guaranteed their safety and ‘‘come home and start playing a constructive national role,’’ Mazombwe said.
A unity government would then be expected to reform the nation’s constitution and organize fresh elections under regional and international supervision, he said.
On March 29, ‘‘the government did not rig the elections and, in spite of a ruthlessly battered economy, the opposition did not make a clean sweep,’’ said Mazombwe.
Also Wednesday, the United States’ top diplomat for Africa headed to southern Africa for talks with regional leaders on Zimbabwe’s postelection crisis. Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer also is to visit Angola and Zambia for talks on Zimbabwe.
For the first time in Mugabe’s 28-year rule, the opposition defeated his ruling ZANU-PF party in the first count of last month’s parliamentary vote. But electoral officials began recounting ballots Saturday for the 23 legislative seats, most won by opposition candidates. The ZANU-PF party needs just nine seats to reclaim a majority.
State media reported Wednesday that the first results from the recount show Mugabe’s party has won an additional parliamentary seat.
The recount in Goromonzi concluded Tuesday with just a one-vote difference from the original count from the poll, giving the seat to Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, the Herald said. Officials found no errors in the vote for the upper house, or Senate.
The opposition had demanded the Goromonzi recount. No further results from the recount were released.