HARARE - A satisfactory conclusion to all outstanding issues in the inclusive government will present Zimbabweans with the best Christmas present ever, Finance Minister and MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti (Pictured) has said. Biti was speaking after a SADC crisis summit in Maputo last Thursday directed representatives of the three parties in the inclusive government to meet, discuss, debate and negotiate the implementation framework of all outstanding issues within 15 days. After the November 20 deadline President Jacob Zuma would enforce compliance.
This directive and resolution allows all the issues to be now resolved once and for all and in addition, if fully implemented, will restore credibility and legitimacy to the shaky and limping transitional government, Biti said. Furthermore, if all parties are serious, the solution offers hope after nine months of procrastination, deceit and dishonesty.
We, as the MDC, believe that this process should be given a chance. We believe and trust that it is a solution that offers Zimbabweans and the GPA a fresh impetus and a new opportunity for a restart. It is for this reason that we have accepted the summit appeal for suspending our disengagement until the process is concluded.
Biti added: We hope and trust that all parties are genuine and that a satisfactory conclusion will be reached, thus presenting all Zimbabweans with the best Christmas present ever. The last three weeks have been tough for Zimbabweans. It would be a sad day indeed if the next four weeks are to be wasted. Indeed we should not be forced to consider the re-imposition of the disengagement. Enough is enough.
Justice Minister and Zanu (PF) Legal Affairs Secretary Patrick Chinamasa said his party wanted the MDC to call off sanctions on Zimbabwe and close down hostile pirate radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe from exile. The MDC has consistently said it has no power to do this, and urged media reforms to enable repatriation of exiled media.
Chinamasa insisted his party had implemented all outstanding issues.
Zanu (PF)s main concerns are the lifting of economic sanctions, pirate radio stations, external interference in the countrys affairs and the dismantling of parallel government structures that were set up by the Prime Ministers Office, he said.
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