SADC throws Zim opposition the hanging rope

The MDC has said its national council is yet to meet on Friday to chart the way forward, though it did not specifically say where Morgan Tsvangirai would be sworn-in as new Zimbabwe’s prime minister. 

"Quite clearly the conclusions reached as reflected in the communiqué fall far short of our expectations. Most importantly they do not accord with our National Council resolutions of the 14th of November 2008 and 12th of December 2008. It is important that finality be brought to this issue and therefore our National Council will meet on Friday 30th of January 2008 to define the party position," said the MDC in a statement following the communication of the SADC resolution. 

MDC charged that the SADC summit came to a resolution with the outstanding issues still not addressed, further saying it was unfair that president Robert Mugabe was allowed into a closed session of the summit, when the Zimbabwe cases was being addressed, which made him a judge in a case against him. 

"It was our expectation that the SADC processes would be above board and be beyond reproach. As far as the merits are concerned, our expectations were again that SADC would come up with a just resolution to the outstanding issues in the interest of Zimbabwe and all the parties concerned," said the MDC. 

After 14 hours of talks, the SADC communiqué pointed the way forward that a constitutional amendment should be adopted by 5 February, while Mr Tsvangirai, should be sworn as prime minister in by 11 February.

SADC further resolved that once the prime minister has taken office, cabinet ministers would also be sworn into office two days later to complete the unity government formation process.

MDC is further expected to present its candidates for government, a decision that has been viewed as opening a lead for Mr Mugabe to form government on his own if the opposition does not meet the set deadlines. However, the key contested ministry of Home Affairs, that also controls police is yet to be negotiated further between the two parties, as well as other outstanding issues.