In a communique adopted at the end of the two-day summit, the SADC said parliament must be convened – saying that while negotiations are continuing, it may be necessary to convene Parliament to give effect to the will of the people as expressed on March 29″.
The SADC grouping also encouraged and appealed to both the MDC and ZANU PF to finalise and sign any outstanding agreements and conclude the negotiations as a matter of urgency to restore political stability in Zimbabwe.
The convening of parliament will however require consesus as the Memorandum of Understading signed said no parliament should be convened during negotiations.
After the summit had officially ended, Mbeki summoned Mugabe and Tsvangirai back for a last-ditch attempt to get a deal,it failed.
Diplomatic sources said SADC leaders had tabled their own proposals in an attempt to break the stalemate. It would have amounted to Tsvangirai and Mugabe sharing power equally. Mugabe completely rejected it.
Tsvangirai then proposed that if Mugabe thinks the deal is fair, then let them switch roles. His logic is that since Mugabe is saying the deal currently on the table gives the prime minister a lot of powers, then he must assume that position and Tsvangirai becomes president, said a diplomatic source. That suggestion made Mugabe furious and he rejected it.Â
There are a few outstanding issues which are:
-Mugabe s right to appoint and dismiss ministers -Duration of the transitional government -A clause in the agreement that states that if one of the parties pulls out of the government of national unity, elections would be held within 90 days.
Tendai Biti,the MDC secretary General told a news conference in Johannesburg after the summit the MDC was committed to the negotiations and that failure was not an option.
We trust that there will be a conclusion … very soon. There are issues that are outstanding, but quite clearly one has no business in negotiating if you are not prepared to compromise, Biti said.
It is critical that we conclude this dialogue as a matter of urgency.
Zimbabwemetro.com
Post published in: News