VOA标准英语2008年-Zimbabwe's Interparty Negotiations Resume in Se

Although the deadline for completion of negotiations¹ between Zimbabwe's two main political parties has been reached, the talks are continuing in South Africa's capital, Pretoria. Peta Thornycroft reports that the Movement for Democratic Change, which won March parliamentary elections, says the talks deadline with the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe is flexible.
　

South African President Thabo Mbeki (l) is welcomed by his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe in Harare, 30 Jul 2008

Insiders close to the Zimbabwe talks believe there could be a power-sharing agreement on the table by Friday.

The negotiations paused last week as negotiators reported back to party principals. The talks mediator², South African President Thabo Mbeki, has insisted negotiations be conducted in secret and many people in rural Zimbabwe do not even know talks about their future are under way.

There appears to be some consensus³ emerging in public statements from both ZANU-PF negotiators and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai that President Robert Mugabe will have a role to play in whatever emerges from the negotiations.

The MDC, which won the March parliamentary elections, says it wants a short-lived transitional authority, which it would control, to emerge from negotiations. The authority would produce a new constitution leading to fresh elections within about two years.

Mr. Tsvangirai, who received the most votes in the March presidential election, says Mr. Mugabe should have an honorable exit from power, which he has held since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.

But Mr. Mugabe, the sole candidate in a discredited⁴ run-off election, has been sworn in for a further five years in power. His ZANU-PF is calling for lifting of western sanctions, which are mostly visa bans against individual ZANU-PF leaders and a few that restrict western citizens from doing business with some ZANU-PF businesses.

ZANU-PF set lifting of sanctions as a prime reason for going into negotiations with the MDC.

But western diplomatic sources in Harare say Washington and the European Union remain resolute⁵ that targeted sanctions against ZANU-PF will only be lifted if the talks lead to a power-sharing agreement that reflects the will of the people as expressed in elections on March 29.

Zimbabwe has been without a government since parliament was dissolved the evening before the elections. Meanwhile, Zimbabweans suffer with little food available, collapsed⁶ social services, and a chaotic⁷ financial system that has produced annual inflation of at least 2.2 million percent.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

3 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

4 discredited   

不足信的，不名誉的

参考例句：

• The reactionary authorities are between two fires and have been discredited. 反动当局弄得进退维谷，不得人心。
• Her honour was discredited in the newspapers. 她的名声被报纸败坏了。

5 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

6 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

7 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。