Commentators have responded positively to South African President Jacob Zumas references to Zimbabwe in his state of the Nation address on June 3. As the Chairperson of SADC and Facilitator, we will participate in promoting inclusive government until free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe, the President said. The plight of the Zimbabwean people has had a negative impact on the SADC region, especially South Africa, he confirmed. Richard Smith of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) said it was because of SADCs involvement in the crisis and the setting up of the transitional government that the stalemate in Zimbabwe was finally broken.While there are still problems and the process has been marred by transgressions, the majority of them committed by Zanu PF, the process is moving forward, he said.
However, civil society organisations such as the ZSF have pledged to ensure that SADC upholds its responsibility as guarantors of the unity deal by holding Zimbabwes political players accountable for violations of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Ongoing violence and abductions.Faced with ongoing violence, unlawful arrests and other human rights abuses which continue with impunity, the regional body is under growing pressure to bring President Mugabe and his henchmen in line.
On April 22, a case filed by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum on behalf of victims of violence and torture at the hands of State agents, was heard by the SADC Tribunal in Windhoek, Namibia.
On 12 June, a hard-hitting new report: The Changing Patterns of Torture and Violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2008 was launched in Johannesburg by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Attorney-General Tomana
One of the main issues of contention within the transitional government is President Mugabes unilateral appointment of Johannes Tomana as Attorney-General.
Without any form of consultation which is required by the GPA – and despite the Prime Ministers clearly articulated concerns, President Mugabe announced Tomanas appointment on December 18, 2008.
An avowed member of Zanu PF, Tomana is a controversial figure who has said that the State can use extra-judicial measures such as abductions and torture if national security is at risk.
Governor of the Reserve Bank Gideon Gono
President Mugabes reappointment of Gideon Gono as Governor of the Reserve Bank for a further five-year term on December 1, 2008, has been even more controversial.
Under Gonos tenure, the Zimbabwean economy has been ruined by hyper-inflation, with sectors such as health and agriculture in a state of virtual collapse.
Chronic cash shortages have led to chaos, businessmen have been arrested by the police and army, and numerous scandals, notably with respect to the procurement of fertilizer, have implicated Gono.
The National Security Council
The creation of a National Security Council (NSC) – on which Prime Minister Tsvangirai has been guaranteed a seat was a crucial ingredient of the GPA.
However, Joint Operations Command (JOC), accused by commentators of running a parallel government answering only to President Mugabe, has tactically blocked all potential meetings of the proposed NSC. Comprising a ruthless clique of eight: Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Minister of Defence (who oversaw the Gukurhundi massacres), the heads of the defence force, army, air force, police, prisons and the CIO, as well as Gideon Gono, JOC represents President Mugabes power base.
Clearly this is a dangerous and highly volatile situation which SADC has to address urgently, especially if a general election is held in March 2010, the year that South Africa hosts the World Cup.
SADC a guarantor of the GPA
SADCs Communiqu on Zimbabwe of 26-27 January 2009 confirmed that: SADC shall remain seized with the Zimbabwe situation in keeping with its obligations as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement. During May, Prime Minister Tsvangirai called on SADC and the African Union as guarantors of the GPA to adjudicate over the deadlocked issues as a matter or urgency.
Last week the SADC Tribunal in Windhoek ruled that the Zimbabwe government was in contempt of the Tribunals November 2008 ruling that the land seizure programme was in breach of the SADC Treaty’s human rights provisions.
The Tribunal confirmed that the contempt would be referred to the SADC Summit for consideration of measures to be taken under the Treaty against Zimbabwe.
These measures could include sanctions or expulsion from SADC.
We need to work tirelessly to occupy and extend the democratic space that has been created by the agreement and to increase the accountability of the State, said ZSF co-ordinator Sipho Theys.
The GPA will need the protection of SADC and their full involvement in managing spoilers and preventing violence if it is to have any hope of working, he concluded.
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