In their final communiqué they said the rival political parties should immediately form a government of national unity and that the contentious Home Affairs ministry should be shared.
There has always been a clear division of powers in cases where rival political parties are expected to share power. Not even in Kenya (held up as the role model for Zimbabwe) do President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga share a ministry.
But National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku says the decision by SADC is not surprising as the regional body has a history of taking positions that are in favour of ZANU PF. He said SADC merely endorsed this ministry share’ to appease Robert Mugabe.
The outspoken civic leader also said it is unrealistic and naïve for anyone to think SADC would have taken a different position from its Troika and mediator Thabo Mbeki. Both the former South African President and the SADC Troika on Security and Defence had in recent weeks supported the co-sharing of the Home Affairs ministry.
Madhuku urged the MDC and Zimbabweans in general to focus more on finding their own solutions locally, saying the solution doesn’t lie by just waiting for SADC, the African Union or the UN, as their results are very predictable.
Madhuku said as a political party with the greatest support in the country the MDC will always have permanent options and should be urging supporters to make a noise in Zimbabwe, rather than wasting time on lengthy and useless discussions with ZANU PF.
 You must ask why the MDC is in an arrangement with such a dishonest party like ZANU PF. If they found reason to sign a deal on the 15th of September I think it is too much to simply blame ZANU PF. The blame must be put on the shoulders of both parties as that agreement on the 15th was unworkable from the start, Madhuku added.
Starting Tuesday the NCA will embark on countrywide demonstrations as part of their civic initiative to focus the nation on pushing for a transitional government that would address hunger and other forms of suffering. The NCA chairperson said they also want fresh elections, under a new constitution.
The Zimbabwe National Student Union (ZINASU) is expected to support the pressure group, while other organisations are expected to join in a week from Tuesday’s demonstrations,
SWRadio Africa
Post published in: News