SADC deadline in doubt

Negotiators of Zimbabwe’s three political parties were scheduled to meet at 10 am Monday, but Professor Welshman Ncube and his delegation from the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC failed to show up for the talks. Negotiators from the mainstream MDC and Zanu (PF) presented themselves at the meeting but aborted the talks after learning that Ncube was out of the country on government business. MDC secretary general Tendai Biti, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s lead negotiator at the talks, said the negotiators did not meet because “certain officials were absent.”

He said no date had been set when the talks will resume ahead of the November 21 deadline set by the SADC Troika leaders that met in Maputo on November 5. Efforts to obtain comment from Ncube or his deputy Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga were futile. But Edwin Mushoriwa, the spokesman for the Mutambara MDC referred questions to Ncube. Sources say Ncube, who is also Industry and Trade minister, had travelled to Geneva, Switzerland for the Seventh Session of the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference. The Zimbabwean could not independently verify this.

Lack of urgency

The lack of urgency by the negotiators flies in the face of recommendations by the SADC Troika that Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations immediately engage in dialogue to find a lasting solution to outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement. The Troika – comprising Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland and chaired by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza – said the discussions should be held within 15 days and should not exceed 30 days. But by Monday, 10 days had elapsed without any meaningful progress.

Last week Friday, the three principals met to set the rules of engagement. Mugabe left Harare immediately thereafter to attend the Food and Agriculture organisation meeting in Rome, amid festering political crisis back home. Analysts say there was open contempt for SADC and the deadlines it set. South Africa President Jacob Zuma is due in Harare to review progress on November 21, but there is nothing to review so far. Ncube said the deadlines were “flexible” and were not cast in stone. Tsvangirai said sticking-points remained over the issues of the appointments of MDC treasurer Roy Bennett as deputy minister of agriculture, provincial governors, the Reserve Bank governor and the Attorney-General. The SADC troika has said these three issues must be addressed as Zanu (PF) has now accepted them as issues outstanding in the GPA, which are contained in a January 27 communique that amended the power-sharing agreement. Zanu (PF) has previously said the issues are not contained in the GPA.

Issues outstanding

In addition, the review of ministerial positions remains outstanding. There was also still lack of movement on the democratisation of the media, the constitutional process, the land audit and rule of law issues. The MDC has also added George Charamba, Mugabe’s spokesman as another outstanding issue for fanning hatred through hate speech.

Mugabe insists he has met his end of the bargain under the power-sharing deal and wants the MDC, which has called him an “arrogant and unreliable partner,” to call for the lifting of targeted measures against him and his Zanu (PF) party, including travel bans and an arms embargo outlawing Western countries from gun-running with Harare.

Besides harping on about non-existent “sanctions”, Mugabe’s party has also raised concerns with exiled radio stations, alleged external interference in the countrys affairs and the dismantling of so-called parallel government structures that were allegedly set up by the Prime Ministers Office.

The parties, however, agree on the launch of a national economic council, which, according to the communiqu, South Africa will facilitate the talks on behalf of the Troika and evaluate progress before updating President Guebuza.