ZEF Press Statement on The SADC-Initiated Talks: A Let Down For Most Zimbabweans

This comes amid reports of a deadlock and the subsequent collapse of the talks between the opposition and the ruling parties in Zimbabwe. Although the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum has haboured reservations about the non-participation by other stakeholders in these talks, and was worried about the secretiveness of the negotiations, ZEF had hoped that the talks will ensure amongst other things that the elections in March will be free, fair and legitimate; and also that a new Constitution will be in place by then. “More importantly, we had hoped that these negotiations would provide an opportunity for a diaspora vote since about 5 million of the voting populace is now in the diaspora”, said Mr Gabriel Shumba, the ZEF Executive Director. In view of the above, ZEF calls upon President Thabo Mbeki when he goes back to report to SADC (TROIKA) (a) not to mince his words and to give a frank indication as to who is responsible for the failure of the talks, (b) to urge SADC to urgently do all in its power to salvage the negotiations and to deal with the stumbling block and (c) to call upon the said organ to make sure that those in exile will be given the opportunity to vote in the coming elections. G. Shumba:Executive Director & Human Rights Lawyer