Information from one of Zimbabwe’s representatives, the SADC summit decided in Maputo, Mozambique Saturday that, as a way of finally putting to rest the question of the leadership of the MDC within the context of SADC, the facilitator and the Troika will no longer have to deal with Mutambara.
“It also means that Mutambara will never again be invited or allowed to attend any SADC meetings on his own unless he attends as part of the ZANU PF, considering President Mugabe's spirited but ultimately failed defence of the position of Mutambara as a Principal. The Summit would have none of it,” said Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
After a debate that took about two hours, the full SADC Summit adopted resolutions on Zimbabwe that reaffirmed all previous decisions of the Troika and the SADC Summit on the country, commending parties in the GPA for the efforts they have put in to develop the Constitution. It however, urged them to spare no effort in ensuring that they put before the people of Zimbabwe at the referendum a constitution whose main focus is the interests of the nation as a whole.
“…… Urges the parties to the GPA to develop a roadmap together with timelines that are guided by requirements of the processes necessary for the adoption of the constitution of conditions for free and fair elections to be held,” read a part of the communique released by the regional body.
“Urges the parties to establish a mechanism in Cabinet that will ensure coordination and the implementation by the Ministies/departments of those parts of the agreements that talk to their line functions to ensure smooth implementation and SADC, through the Facilitator, must be kept informed of the implantation mechanism; establish the implementation mechanism that was proposed by the Luanda Summit.”
Regional leaders also urged the parties to immediately strengthen JOMIC, in terms of the Livingstone decision, so that the SADC team could assist, on a regular basis, in the advancement and consolidation of the work of that committee and help create an atmosphere conducive to the establishment of a level political field, leading to a free and fair election. SADC commits itself to assist the parties in everyday possible as the guarantor of the GPA, to reach a position where a credible election enables Zimbabwe to set out on the road to stability and progress.”
Should there be any difficulties on the constitution and implementation of agreements, the facilitator is called upon to engage with the parties and assist them resolve such issues, bearing in mind the timeframes and the necessity to hold free and fair elections.
“The facilitator and the chair of the Troika must engage on the Zimbabwe issues with the three political parties to the GPA through their Presidents and Principals, namely President Robert Mugabe,(ZANU PF), Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC T) and Professor Welshman Ncube (MDC).”
Post published in: Africa News