The most striking aspect of this document is that the SADC leaders are trying to short circuit the GNU deal by having Tsvangirai sworn in, before the all inclusive government has been formed. SADC says in the paper that Tsvangirai should be sworn in by January 24.
SADC appears to have made the resolutions below in a haste and it is unlikely that the stipulations in the document will be followed by either ZANU-PF or the MDC. For one, the document had called for the Zimbabwe Parliament to debate constitutional amendment #19 and adopt it today.
A parliamentary schedule shown to the Harare Tribune indicated that the parliamentary session starting today would see legislators spend time debating the country’s collapsing education sector, not the crucial amendment #19.
Alexander Musundire, a member of parliament from the opposition MDC, told the AP on Tuesday that allowing amendment #19 to be introduced in parliament would give Mugabe "legitimacy".
The SADC document, in its entirety, doesn’t appear to offer a clear path toward a resolution of the GNU deadlock.
Full text of Sadc's position paper on breaking the inclusive Government deadlock:
AGREEMENT AMONG THE ZIMBABWE POLITICAL LEADERS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE "AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ZIMBABWE AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION-PATRIOTIC FRONT AND THE TWO MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE FORMATIONS, ON RESOLVING THE CHALLENGES FACING ZIMBABWE" (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "THE AGREEMENT")
After consultations held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 19 January 2009, the Principals hereby agree to the following:
1. Proceed immediately with the formation of the Inclusive Government as prescribed in the Agreement
2. To support the adoption of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment 19 at the sitting of Parliament on Tuesday 20 January 2009
3. To swear-in the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers by 24 January 2009 and thereafter proceed to appoint ministers
4. The MDC-T shall submit a draft Bill on the National Security Council for consideration by the Parties by 24 January 2009
5. At the end of the contract of the incumbent Governors or should vacancies arise, the posts will be shared amongst the Parties, according to agreed formula
6. The allocation of ministerial portfolios shall be reviewed six (6) months after the inauguration of the Cabinet as per the decision of the Sadc Extraordinary Summit held in Sandton, South Africa, on 9 November 2008.
7. Outstanding issues raised by MDC-T shall be dealt with:
a. In terms of Article XXII, Paragraph 22.4 of the Agreement, which states:
"Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) shall be the principal body dealing with the issues of compliance and monitoring of this Agreement and to that end, the Parties hereby undertake to channel all complaints, grievances, concerns and issues relating to the compliance with this Agreement through JOMIC and to refrain from any conduct which might undermine the spirit of co-operation necessary for the fulfilment of this Agreement"; and/or
b. By the Inclusive Government after its formation.
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