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Inter-party talks, sanctions dominate Zim press |
The semi-official Herald newspaper, reflecting government opinion, criticised th e Group of Eight industrialised countries for pushing for a tightening of existi n g sanctions on Zimbabwe over its controversial presidential elections.
It said these were unnecessary, and were merely an avenue that former colonial p ower Britain, and the United States wanted to open to interfere in Zimbabwe's in t ernal affairs.
The newspaper supported the African Union calls for talks between the opposition and the government in the country, under the mediation of South African Preside n t Thabo Mbeki.
It said an African solution to the problem was more ideal, backing the stance Mb eki and other African leaders took at the G8 meeting in the week in Japan.
On the other hand, private newspapers said President Robert Mugabe had found him self cornered after winning a controversial run-off poll in June.
The Independent said he had been weakened, and so vulnerable that he was forced to drop earlier tough pre-conditions for talks that he had set, including recogn i tion by the opposition.
It said condemnation of his re-election by some African leaders at the just-ende d African Union summit had left him with no option other than to negotiate with t he opposition.
Until now, the paper noted, Mugabe had enjoyed strong support in Africa and this strengthened his hand in dealing with the opposition.
With that support crumbling, the Independent said, the Zimbabwean leader became politically vulnerable to African and opposition pressure.
The newspapers also focused on the impact the economic downturn in Zimbabwe was having on sport, soccer in particular.
The Herald reported soccer clubs had hiked gate fees to more than Z$150 billion (Z$3 billion=1US$), yet the average salary for workers was less than Z$30 billio n
The media, while sympathising with struggling football clubs, said the high gate fees were forcing fans to stay away from grounds.
This, they said, threatened to kill sport in Zimbabwe.
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