A confidential SADC position paper to be tabled at the extra-ordinary Zimbabwe summit next
week by SADc chairman Kgalema motlanthe has been leaked to the Zimbabwean. The document sidesteps real issues raised by the MDC and pours cold water on any hope that the regional bloc will be able to come up with a lasting solution to the long-running crisis.
SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salamao declined on Tuesday to reveal details of the SADC position paper, saying he could only do that after its details had been divulged to regional leaders at the January 26 extra-ordinary summit.
This has been scheduled to take place either in Gaborone or Pretoria as a last-ditch bid to resolve the four-month standoff that has bogged down the implementation of the powersharing deal between Zanu (PF) and the MDC.
The confidential document attempts to bulldoze MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai into taking oath of office by January 24, even before the MDC leader's outstanding issues have been resolved.
After consultations held in Harare, on January 19, 2009, says the document, the principals
hereby agree to the following:
1. to proceed immediately with the formation of the Inclusive Government as prescribed in the Agreement.
2. to support the adoption of the constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment 19 at the sitting of Parliament on Tuesday January 20, 2009.
3. to swear-in the Prime minister and Deputy Prime ministers by January 24, 2009 and thereafter proceed to appoint ministers.
Tsvangirai wants the issue of ministries resolved before he can be sworn-in as Prime minister, to give him authority to make meaningful change, to deliver food and jobs, he said. He has classified 10 key ministries he wants equally shared.
The SADC position paper also says the main MDC should submit a draft Bill on the National Security Council for consideration by all the parties by January 24, 2009.
The document makes if apparent that SADC has decided to take sides with Mugabe, maintaining that the issue of governors cannot be reversed.
At the end of the contract of the incumbent Governors, or should vacancies arise, the posts will be shared amongst the Parties, according to agreed formula, said the resolution, which supports Zanu (PF)'s retention of all 10 gubernatorial posts.
The SADC position paper further states: the allocation of ministerial portfolios shall be reviewed six months after the inauguration of the cabinet as per the decision of the SADC Extraordinary Summit held in Sandton, South Africa, on November 9, 2008.
That resolution, which suggests that parties share control of the Home Affairs ministry, was rejected by Tsvangirai as a nullity. But the SADC heads still insist on taking the rejected suggestion to another summit.
Outstanding issues raised by Tsvangirai shall be dealt with:
a.) In terms of Article XXII, Paragraph 22.4 of the Agreement, which states: Joint monitoring and Implementation committee ( JOMIC) shall be the principal body dealing with the issues of compliance and monitoring of this Agreement and to that end, the Parties hereby undertake to channel all complaints, grievances, concerns and issues relating to the compliance with this
Agreement through JOMIC and to refrain from any conduct which might undermine the spirit of co-operation necessary for the fulfilment of this Agreement'; and/or
b.) By the Inclusive Government after its formation Sources close to the talks said Mugabe rejected a position paper tabled by Tsvangirai suggesting that the MDC takes control of the key Home Affairs, Finance, Information, Agriculture and Local Government ministries.
The MDC position paper suggested Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party retains control of Defence, National Security, Justice, Foreign Affairs and Land.
Our source said a furious Mugabe charged that the MDC was shifting goal posts and rejected the suggestion as unacceptable, maintaining he would implement recommendations made at the SADC summit of November 9 that suggested that the parties share control of the Home
Affairs while Mugabe retained control of all the 10 powerful ministries.
Mugabe asserted that Tsvangirai was attempting to re-open issues that had long been concluded. Efforts by Motlanthe and Guebuza to force the two principals into making compromises were futile. With the entrenched positions, the talks were teetering on the verge of collapse.
Efforts by Motlanthe and Guebuza to force the two principals into making compromises were futile. With the entrenched positions, the talks were teetering on the verge of collapse. mugabe suggested previously that all the contested ministries, except Finance, go to his party, Zanu (PF).Â
Mugabe had earlier warned that the meeting was a make or break, and categorically stated
he would not make any more concessions, while Tsvangirai had declared that he would not accept token ministries and responsibility without authority.
A wily Mugabe maintained that he had followed the recommendations of the November 9 SADC summit to the letter, which recommended the sharing of Home Affairs, gazetting the draft Constitution Amendment No. 19 Bill to be tabled during the current Parliamentary session that started on Tuesday, and swearing in the Prime Minister.
He said the only problem was that Tsvangirai was refusing to be sworn in, was being difficult and was refusing to cooperate.
Attempts by Motlanthe and Guebuza to extract concessions and compromises from Mugabe despite the unequivocal SADC position, which clearly favoured Mugabe, fell on deaf ears, our source said.
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