Mbeki wanted Mugabe ceremonial President

By Staff Reporter

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has sensationally claimed he wanted Robert Mugabe to be made a ceremonial president under the unity deal but Zimbabwean party negotiators refused.

In an interview with South African pay per view channel E News Channel’s Africa 360 programme on Monday, Mbeki denied he is the one who crafted the Global Political Agreement that brought the two MDC’s and Zanu PF into the same government.

“I didn’t draft the GPA, the Zimbabweans drafted it themselves. I was of the opinion that President Mugabe should become ceremonial but it is the political parties which said no,” said Mbeki.

“They said they can’t marginalise him because he carries a particular constituency and is a significant part of the solution,” he added.

During protracted negotiations last year, Mbeki was accused of siding with Mugabe under what famously became his ‘quiet diplomacy’. His latest statements will not be believed by many who feel he helped Mugabe remain in power.