SADC urges Zimbabwe to do more

A source privy to the summit, which held to review the situation in both Zimbabwe and Madagascar, told The Zimbabwean that although the leaders were happy with the direction the countrys political and economic climate has taken since their special summit in November, which broke the deadlock that threatened to torpedo the deal.

However, they agreed that more work still needed to be done on the remaining issues, especially the appointment of the Attorney-general and the governor of the Zimbabwean central bank, which have so far remained unresolved, said the source in Johannesburg.

The leaders were also satisfied with the November move by South African President and mediator in the Zimbabwean crisis Jacob Zuma, to appoint a three-member special team that will oversee the progress of the unity government, brokered by the SADC after the countrys ill-fated Presidential elections of 2008.

Zumas team, which also includes the South African leaders special envoy to Zimbabwe – Mac Maharaj and Lindiwe Zulu, the Presidents international advisor, is led by his political adviser Charles Nqakula

The team put its foot down in its first week of appointment, when it demanded of the Zimbabwean leaders to put the peoples interests ahead of their own and resolve all outstanding issues. The Zimbabwean leaders have since agreed on the appointment of members of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

However, the issues pertaining to AG, Johannes Tomana and RBZ governor, Gideon Gono, whom the other two parties want rescinded, as it was done by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party, are still outstanding.

“What the summit has concluded is that the situation has moved forward in a very positive way in Zimbabwe,” said SADC chairman and DRC President, Joseph Kabila. SADC Secretary-general, Tomaz Salomao, however, called on both Mugabe and mainstream MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who is also Zimbabwean Prime Minister, to resolve their outstanding issues so that the country can move forward after a decade-long multi-facetted crisis that is blamed on Mugabes failed rule. He however, said that the parties should implement those issues they have so far resolved, instead of delaying.

“They do not need to wait until they conclude all of them. They need to implement what they have agreed so far. That was the decision that was taken by SADC.” Neither Mugabe nor Tsvangirai was present at the summit — though Mugabe had earlier in the day attended Mozambican President, Armando Guebuza’s inauguration for a second five-year term. The closed-door meeting was attended by the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.