HARARE - A beleagured President MugabeThe SADC Organ, also called the Troika said in a communique there must be an immediate end of violence, intimidation, hate speech,harassment, and any other form of action that contradicts the letter and spirit of the GPA; all issues raised by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai during his whirlwind diplomatic offensive.
An impatient Troika said all stakeholders to the GPA should implement all the provisions of the GPA and create a conducive environment for peace, security, and free political activity and the the GNU should complete all the steps necessary for the holding of the election including the finalization of the constitutional amendment and the referendum.
An embattled Mugabe, licking his wounds after his party’s crushing defeat in the Speaker vote, told his 84th Ordinary Session of the Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare on Friday that the SADC organ can go hang.
“Any organisation, body or group of persons that is established by the Troika or Sadc should not prescribe to us what to do,” Mugabe said to a muted reaction from his allies. “There is a line of thinking in Sadc that a body should be created to point certain things to us, but Zimbabwe will not tolerate any group to prescribe to us what to do.”
“A facilitator is a facilitator and should facilitate dialogue between Zimbabweans by way of persuasion. “That is the best he can do. He cannot prescribe that we do A, B, C, D. We prescribe to ourselves to do A, B, C, D in accordance with our
own laws.
“MDC-T think that Sadc or AU can tell us how we can do our business or how to implement what we have agreed.
“We are a sovereign State and as a sovereign State we don’t accept any interference and even our neighbours should not tell us what to do.”
The SADC Troika communique issued after the summit in Livingstone says SADC should assist Zimbabwe to formulate guidelines that will assist in holding an election that will be peaceful, free and fair, in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
Significantly, the Troika of the Organ is appointing a team of officials to join the Facilitation Team and work with the toothless Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC), a GNU watchdog, to ensure monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the GPA.
“The Troika shall develop the terms of reference, time frames and provide regular progress report, the first, to be presented during the next SADC Extraordinary Summit,” the communique said. “Summit will review progress on the implementation of GPA and take appropriate action.”
It was the strongest statement ever issued by SADC since the consummation of the GNU.
Mugabe, who counted SADC among his few remaining friends, is now standing alone after the regional body strenously rejected his abuse of the political opposition. Sources said the SADC Troika chair Rupia Banda, who made a stunning warning to SADC dictators to learn from the protests in North Africa that have toppled two dictators, was reported to be strident in his criticism of Mugabe, and warned that the country risks sliding back to 2008.
A furious Mugabe lashed out at the Troika yesterday.
We will not brook interference from any source. We will resist interference from any source, even from our neighbours, President Mugabe said.
The diplomatic community received the SADC Troika’s action with glee. In a statement, the the German minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Cornelia Pieper, said SADC as the guarantor of the GPA was playing a pivotal role with regard to Zimbabwe’s further development.
“I therefore welcome the clear statement addressed to the Zimbabwean political parties by the SADC Troika for Peace and Security yesterday at its Livingstone meeting,” Pieper said.
“Zimbabwe’s neighbours are right in requesting the Harare Government to fully implement the GPA in all its parts without further delay, and to refrain from the use of violence, hate speech and political intimidation.
“I am sure that a precise roadmap indicating the way towards a new constitution and the subsequent holding of elections, as well as the intended institutional support to JOMIC will constitute important and promising steps on the country’s road towards a better future. SADC will have to play a central role in the preparation and holding of free and fair elections, thus helping to prevent another severe crisis for Zimbabwe and the region.”
Meanwhile, an unusually subdued Mugabe admitted he was stunned that there were Zanu PF MPs who had voted for the MDC-T candidate for Speaker. The MDC’s Lovemore Moyo defeated the Zanu PF candidate Simon Khaya-Moyo last Tuesday and voting figures revealed that Zanu PF MPs had voted for an MDC candidate.
“You are the people whom we trust. Most MPs are leaders of the party in one way or the other, and we don’t expect that from you,” Mugabe said.
“If you do not listen to the party leadership, who will you listen to in the future anyway? Let’s be true to ourselves and be principled. “We must cherish our principles because they make you what you are and
we should stand by what we consider to be right. Ko wakambonzi nani pinda muZanu-PF? Ko chiendaka kwaTsvangirai kwacho (By the way who made you join Zanu PF. You are free to go and join Tsvangirai) “Tinenge tichitarisira kuti ukawana musikana weMDC, achapinduka kwete kuti wotorwa woendwa newe. (We will be under the impression that when you courted the MDC girl you take control not let her call the shots.)”