SADC Angers Mugabe As It Intensify GPA Monitoring

Speaking to Radio VOP, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) negotiator, Elton Mangoma said Harare has been given up to August, 2011 when the next SADC meeting is held, to implement the GPA in full.

The GPA signed in September 2008 is yet to be implemented in full as both MDC formations and Zanu (PF) continue to fight on outstanding issues among them sanctions imposed by the West and state sanctioned violence on selected party members.

MDC formations blame President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) for stalling progress.

“Summit urged the Organ Troika to appoint their representatives as soon as possible to participate in the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC)”, read part of the communiqué.
Organ Troika comprise of Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa.

 Lindiwe Zulu, the South African President, a member of Jacob Zuma’s facilitator on Zimbabwe told Radio VOP in an interview:“the meeting had mixed feelings with some expressing displeasure and discomfort”, a comment believed to be referring to Mugabe.

A Zimbabwean official who attended the meeting confirmed that Mugabe was shot down by the mediator, president Zuma when he tried to call for the nullification of the Livingstone resolutions. Mugabe is believed to have castigated the Livingstone resolutions, arguing that proper procedures had not been followed. He is said to have given a 45 minutes speech on that, resulting in other delegates dozing off but insiders said he was still told point blank that the meeting would not deviate from the Livingstone resolutions.

The March summit, chaired by Rupiah Bwezani Banda, Chairperson of Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation and President of Zambia resolved that there must be an immediate end of violence, intimidation, hate speech, harassment, and any other form of action that contradicts the letter and spirit of GPA (Global Political Agreement); all stakeholders to the GPA should implement all the provisions of the GPA and create a conducive environment for peace, security, and free political activity.

It also resolved that the inclusive Government in Zimbabwe should complete all the steps necessary for the holding of the election including the finalisation of the constitutional amendment and the
referendum and that SADC should assist Zimbabwe to formulate guidelines that will assist in holding an election that will be peaceful, free and fair, in accordance with the SADC Principles and
Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

The Troika of the Organ shall appoint a team of officials to join the Facilitation Team and work with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) to ensure monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the GPA. The Troika shall develop the Terms of Reference, time frames and provide regular progress report, the first, to be presented during the next SADC Extraordinary Summit. Summit will review progress on the implementation of GPA and take appropriate
action.

The tough stance taken by Zuma was seen by insiders as an indication of growing impatience with Mugabe by South Africa and other regional countries.
Zuma is viewed as sympathetic to the MDC-T leader a stark contrast to his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki who was attacked for his ‘quite diplomacy’ approach that favoured Zimbabwe’s frail leader.

The appointment of representatives to beef up the mediation is viewed as a sign meant to intensify the implementation of the GPA, a move likely to upset Mugabe and his party.

SADC Executive Secretary, Tomaz Salamao speaking on elections said, “elements that made the 2008 elections to be criticised as not being free and fair needed to be addressed and among them, the issue of politically motivated violence”.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jameson Timba said his party was satisfied with progress made.
“SADC has endorsed the Livingstone report and that is progress as well as success on our part as the MDC, though the process of coming up with a roadmap with timelines for elections is still in progress”, said Timba ,a confidante of Tsvangirai.

Mugabe looked tired and defeated while leaving the summit venue late Sunday. This summit has been labelled ‘a historic victory’ for the MDC which in the past has been facing strategic defeats by Zanu (PF) on previous SADC meetings.

This summit since the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) was the first to be held in the absence of another GPA principal and alleged Mugabe loyalist, Arthur Mutambara.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai left the venue of the meeting without talking to the members of the media.