Zimbabwe GNU Talks To Resume Sunday
Posted on March 14, 2010 | Category: Politics; Business, Sport
Harare – SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation
team is scheduled to jet into Harare on Sunday to prepare for their
principal’s visit two days later, on March 16 in an attempt to break the
political logjam, which might see the confirmation of a date for fresh
elections.
Impeccable sources confirmed to Radio VOP on Saturday that Zuma’s three
member facilitation team of Lindiwe Zulu, Charles Nqakula and Mac Maharaj
will arrive in Harare on Sunday and immediately hold meetings with the three
negotiating teams from Zanu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) formations.
On Monday, the three principals in the inclusive government – President
Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur
Mutambara will also meet to come up with a common position to be presented
to Zuma the following day. Coming up with a common position, said sources,
is however likely to be a mammoth task in the light of current disputes
around the stripping of powers of some MDC ministers, and the unilateral
implementation of indigenisation regulations.
The South African leader is however still expected to hold separate meetings
with each of the party leaders.
“Since it is obvious there is no movement towards resolution of the issues
that have caused a deadlock, President Zuma wants to impress upon the
parties that they should shelve some of the issues and prepare for the
holding of elections next year,” said a source close to the proceedings.
According to the source, Zuma will also encourage the parties to speed up
the writing of a new constitution and hold elections next year.
“The facilitators will kick start the process with a meeting with the
negotiators, and come up with a briefing paper to be presented to Zuma. This
position will then guide his engagement with the three principals. But the
general feeling is that these talks should be concluded and elections held,
as stipulated in the global political agreement (GPA),” added the source.
Also to feature prominently on the agenda, said the source, is Mugabe’s
recent stripping of MDC ministers of their powers, leaving some of them with
no Acts of Parliament to administer. Among those affected is the party’s
spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa who saw all his powers as Information
Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa being allocated to ZANU PF’s
Nicholas Goche, while another Act under his administration, the Interception
of Communications Act, was allocated to the President’s Office.
Other MDC ministers left with no Acts administer are Science and Technology
Development Minister, Heneri Dzinotyiwei, Regional Integration and
International Co-operation Minister, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, State
Enterprises and Parastatals Minister, Gabuza Joel Gabbuza.
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