The team is in the process of finalisng a draft roadmap towards free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe, ahead of a summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders. Its widely hoped that the summit, expected to get underway in Namibia next week, will be a turning point for Zimbabwe and that SADC will prove its commitment to democratic change with a solid action plan.
But ZANU PF is going out of its way to show its unhappiness with the regional bloc, which has appeared to break from its tradition of quietly supporting Robert Mugabes party. In a move that is set to put Mugabe and South African President Jacob Zuma on a collision course, the ZANU PF politburo this week rejected SADCs proposed election time table, and dismissed South Africas proposal to meet the countrys securocrats. Zuma has insisted that this meeting is critical to get an assurance from the generals that they would not disrupt preparations for a credible election.
Where on earth have you seen people coming to see security forces of another country? It is nonsensical, said ZANU PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, after the politburo meeting on Wednesday. Zumas chief facilitator in the process, Lindiwe Zulu, has since dismissed these attempts to block progress in crafting a way forward, saying: We will not concern ourselves with what is said outside the negotiating process.
Human rights groups, the MDC and Zimbabweans have all said that reforming the security sector is critical before a fresh poll, with the Mugabe-loyal securocrats being at the centre of ZANU PFs violence machinery. Already, reports are growing about the deployment of army and militia across the country, sparking fears of a return to the violence seen during the 2008 election period.
Speaking to SW Radio Africa after the release of Amnesty Internationals annual report on the state of human rights across the world, Zimbabwe researcher Simeon Mawanza agreed that security sector reform was vital. Looking at the situation in the country, it is clear it is not ready for an election. For an election to be peaceful and for the country to avoid a repeat of the 2008 violence, theres a need to seriously look at the security forces.
Mawanza continued by saying that Amnesty International remained cautious about SADCs apparent turn-around over the Zimbabwe situation, given the regional blocs past support of ZANU PF. He said SADC must still prove its commitment to democracy, explaining that the best outcome of the upcoming summit would be a plan that will force ZANU PF to abide by the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
The best outcome would be to set up a strong oversight mechanism that ensure that the GPA is implemented, and ensuring that the security forces are reformed, ensuring that the airwaves are opened up, to also ensure that the security forces do not operate in a partisan manner, Mawanza said.
Meanwhile, South Africas Zuma still has serious questions to answer about a hidden report on election violence in Zimbabwe in 2008 at the hands of the security forces. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, as the then SADC mediator in Zimbabwe, sent six retired South African army generals on two fact-finding missions to investigate the cause of the political crisis in 2008, especially the role of the army in the violence. More than two years later, that report has still not been made public, despite Zuma taking over Mbekis position.
Leading rights groups, like Lawyers for Human Rights, the Southern African Litigation Centre and others, have said that Zuma must release the report, if he is committed to his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe.
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