Zimbabwe’s rival parties are expected to meet in South Africa on
Tuesday to discuss a draft constitutional Bill that would allow Mugabe
to form a unity government outlined under a September 15 power-sharing
agreement.
The deal has stalled as the Morgan Tsvangirai-led opposition MDC party
and ZANU PF fight over control of key ministries, distribution of
gubernatorial posts, ambassadorships and other top government posts.
There had been fears the MDC – which has refused to join the unity
government until all its demands are met – could boycott this week’s
meeting called by mediator former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told ZimOnline: "To the extent that all
outstanding issues are going to be addressed the participation of the
MDC becomes inevitable and obvious."
Mbeki’s spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga was not immediately available on
Sunday to shed light on whether the meeting will be limited to
reviewing Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill or it would discuss
all issues pertaining to the power-sharing agreement.
But the regional SADC grouping ruled two weeks ago that MDC and ZANU PF
jointly control the ministry of home affairs that had been in dispute
and ordered the rivals to immediately form a unity government – a
ruling that appeared to close debate on the other issues that the MDC
still wants discussed.
The MDC rejected the ruling and accused SADC – which is the guarantor to the power-sharing accord – of siding with Mugabe.
Meanwhile SADC chairman, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has
appealed to Zimbabwe’s political parties to begin constitutional
processes that will create a unity government, South African media
reported on Sunday.
Motlanthe made the appeal after holding a meeting with Botswana President Ian Khama.
He said: "We agreed that with regards to Zimbabwe the next step really
is to ensure that we unblock the impasse for them to take amendment 19
through the senate and the assembly, so that Mr Morgan Tsvangirai could
be sworn in as prime minister and Arthur Mutambara as the vice prime
minister and Robert Mugabe as the president."
Khama has openly criticised Mugabe, 84, for continuing to cling to
power and called for new elections in Zimbabwe should the power-sharing
agreement collapse – a call rejected by Harare as unwarranted
interference in Zimbabwe’s affairs.
Zimbabweans hope a power-sharing government would help ease the
political situation and allow the country to focus on tackling an
economic crisis marked by the world’s highest inflation rate of 231
million percent, severe shortages of food and basic commodities. –
ZimOnline