Opposition leaders Arthur Mutambara (L-behind), Morgan Tsvangirai (L-front) and Tendai Biti (R) attend the SADC meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday 17 August, 2008
THE Southern African Development Community (Sadc) meeting ended Sunday with heads of states urging President Robert Mugabe to reconvene Zimbabwe's parliament despite continuing negotiations between him and opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the Sadc organ on politics, defence and security on Zimbabwe held in Johannesburg earlier Sunday.
“While negotiations (on a government of national unity) are continuing it may be necessary to convene parliament to give effect to the will of the people as expressed in the parliamentary elections held on March 29, 2008,” the communiqué said.
President Mugabe's Zanu PF party has been pushing for parliament to be reconvened since opposition Tsvangirai walked away from a meeting with the Zanu PF party and the other formation of the MDC led by Professor Arthur Mutambara. .
The main summit of the 15-nation Sadc grouping had failed to resolve a disagreement between President Mugabe and Tsvangirai on how they would share power in an all-inclusive government. It was chaired by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. This will be Mbeki’s last role in the regional group as he is due to step down in May next year.
Reconvening parliament will mean that President Mugabe will be recognized by the opposition as President.
In urging President Mugabe to reconvene parliament, the Sadc organ in its communiqué “expressed strong opinion that documents as contained in the facilitators’ report are a good basis for a global agreement”.
The documents which are basically an agreement between the parties in the unity talks are viewed by the MDC-T as inadequate and unacceptable. Tsvangirai argued that the documents did not sufficiently guarantee his authority, and were therefore unacceptable.
In defending his decision to boycott the talks last week Tsvangirai told Sadc leaders during the summit; “A prime minister cannot be given responsibility without authority and be expected to deliver.”
The three parties to the talks agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Sadc should play a key role as mediator. Sadc, together with the mediator, Preisdnet Mbeki and the African Union will underwrite the final agreement. Section 11 of the MoU says “The implementation of the Global Political Agreement that the Parties will conclude shall be underwritten and guaranteed by the Facilitator, SADC and the AU.”
MDC-T reaction Sadc’s call
The Secretary General of the MDC-T party, Tendai Biti said if President Mugabe reconvenes parliament he will be breaching the MoU signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations which set down rules for the tripartite talks.
The MoU orders that the parties to the unity talks should not convene parliament or form a new government “save by consensus.” Section 9 of the MoU stipulates that “The Parties shall not, during the subsistence of the Dialogue, take any decisions or measures that have a bearing on the agenda of the Dialogue, save by consensus. Such decisions or measures include, but are not limited to the convening of Parliament or the formation of a new government.”
Said Biti: “We hope that no one would do anything to breach the Memorandum of Understanding on the talks.” He also reiterated that the sticking point in the talks was a point “of principle”. Sources privy to the negotiators say the sticking point pertained to the distribution of executive power between President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai in his new role as Prime Minister. MDC is said to have “stuck by its guns”.
President Mbeki, who had hoped for a deal over the weekend, expressed his hopes for a “speedy conclusion to the negotiations so that it becomes possible to address the enormous challenges that face the people of Zimbabwe.”
He reiterated that any lasting solution to the Zimbabwe crisis will have to involve all the parties involved.
Omuhle • n/a Subject: n/a Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:09:14 • Do you remember when this leadership crisis began? It began in Goromonzi at that ZANU PF function where Mugabe was supposed to announce new leadership and changed his mind, forced the party to choose him as first secretary or whatever they call each other. Remember the delegates refused and Mujuru camp was waiting for Joyce's ascendancy? Remember that Mugabe saw the people were rejecting him and if he forced himself onto them they wouldn't campaign for him in the presidential elections? What did he do? He forced them to change the elections from only presidential in 2008 to a general election. Remember the parly and senatorial elections were not due for another 2 years. Remember analysts said the MP's are stupid to accept this because it then became not only Mugabe's neck on the block but the MP's as well. His fate was linked to theirs and they had to go out and campaign (if you can call it campaigning, more like murder to me) for him and themsleves. Imagine if the election was only for president in March? Imagine if it was just Mugabe on the ballot against Makoni, Tsvangirayi and that other guy from Vic Falls? Would we have seen a round 2? If so would that have galvanised even ZANU PF supporters against him? In Gutu results from the elections show that ZANU PF MP's, councillors and senators were elected but Mugabe didn't get any votes. The MP's in ZANUPF are the biggest bunch of intellectual midgets I've ever seen. They had a chance to wash their hands of the one man responsible for the troubles in the country at the same time leave themselves with 2 years to work on thier image before parly elections in 2010. With Mugabe gone they would have had Tsvangirayi in concilliatory mood because he would have had to work with a parly dominated by ZANU PF, with a ZANU PF speaker and even senate was ZANU PF. Why didn't they go for this? because Mugabe was a coward and wanted to go down with them and they didn't realise this. Because they are midgets of forethought and have always been at his mercy, letting him do their thinking for them. Because like Margret Dongo said, they are vakadzi vaMugabe! Now Mugabe is going and so are they.
As for parly convening, Mugabe had the clause in the MoU put in precisely to counter this. Parly has the powers to sort out any constitutional crisis. ZANU PF MP's who survived the election are now counting themselves lucky and hoping to remain in place even after MDC govt is formed. They can claim parliamentary immunity and escpae prosecution for a couple of years. They will vote to have a president elected from parliament and be done with Mugabe. All this talk about ZANU PF trying to woo MDC MP's is a lie, it is actually the other way round.
Chimoko • n/a Subject: No deal Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:34:37 • I am 100% with Tsvangirayi on refusing to conclude the deal. What I see is that Thabo Mbeki is trying to use Zimbabwe to become a hero. But the question is if Mugabe holds on to executive powers what does he have to offer. We all know Zanu PF is a puppet of Chinese . Mugabe has failed. He did a good job swallowing PF Zapu . If Tsvangirayi signs Zanu will be pregnant with twins PF Zapu and MDC -T. The unfortunate thing is that Mutambara is looking for a job and he is counting on a minister position withing GNU. Tsvangirayi is doing the right thing by not signing. The draft is made up of basics what we need as Zimbabweans we need Mugabe to take a back seat for now. TIME is UP. Thumps UP Tsvangirai.
Patrick Fletcher • hajray@gmail.com Subject: Sadc urges convening of parliament Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:19:06 • It is good to know that I am not the only one who see that Morgan Tsvangirai is a dictator in the waiting being prompt up by the West. And like all dictators, he has a big ego, and in Morgan case, a low intellect.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:23:41 • What happened in SA over the weekend is that puppets who think that white people are superior to them were given a few rands that lasted them the weekend to go and demonstrate where the SADC meeting was being held. No effect there! Its like their cousin Sarah Mariah Khama who boycotted that meeting thinking that it wont go ahead and no resolutions can be made without her! (MDC-T if you didnt know, the half-black half white friend of your president in the neighbouring country to the west of us is a poof, poovery genes inherited from mum). Only imbeciles believe that if an agreed constitution amendment stipulates that if more than 3 presidential contenders participate in an election and none achieves the requisite 51% then the Presidency should be given to the one with the highest votes! No wonder why we think MT is a puppet dictator in the making (far worse than Idi Dada Amin whom your white cousins encouraged to stage a coup in Uganda whilst Obote was ''having tea with the queen during a commonwealth meeting - no wonder why the Frogs/French call them perfidious albion) as he is quite willing to breach constitutional requirements to suit his big ego which is fuelled by a very low intellect. The man does and cannot reason at all. Anyway he wont be President in this lifetime so we are safe though the sanctions will continue to bite but it is better that way than to be led back into Rhodesia by a white in a black skin). We will not be taken back to the days of Pickinini Baas. Shame on all you all puppets!
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:10:27 • Just end these talks. The people of Zim are now able to tell who is causing their suffering and why. Let the sanctions from our detractors continue and our independence and sovereignty be upheld. The world is fast changing with signs of a looming new Cold War which will stand countries in the developing world like Zim a better chance of survival. Sell-out political parties can then be dealt with effectively without any nonsense coming from the wild rabid looting west. Look at Cuba who benefitted from the tensions of the cold war and were never threatened militarily by these cowards who only bully small weak nations when they think they have Russia and China onside. Look at how the american Commander-in-Chief'' can only make useless ineffectual pronouncements whilst Georgia burns.
Stan Manyika • ruvamanyika@hotmail.com Subject: Power sharing a bad idea Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:55:47 • I strongly support MDC's stance not to agree to Mugabe' bully behaviour. MDC ! please do not associate yourself with the evil blooded Zanu PF cronies. We all fought for the liberation and that was it, they are now a spent fource. History is good, but bad for beautiful future. MDC lead us into restoration of the future. MDC you are not a purpet, but you are the will of the people. Mugabe is just good as being in the old people's home in Malasia or China.
No zhing zhong with Zanu PF, Do no betray us, we believe in you. We are not stiff nacked fools. Tsvangirai keep your diomond card number 8.
Mashudu • rashaid@webmail.co.za Subject: Mugabe to convene parliament Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:23:57 • Ana Ranganai
What do you mean “reconvening parliament will mean that President Mugabe will be recognized by the opposition as President “.
MP do not take oath for the President but do so for the constitution. Mugabe can go ahead and reconvene parliament and even set up a government against the MoU. He has got enough military & militant support to do that although he lost a “close to credible” election on March 29 2008.Let me remind you that an election is a contest between two or more parties contesting to be the best among each other. Although President Tsvangirai was short of an outright majority Mugabe could have stepped down for him if Mugabe was a true democratic like he would like to be seen as. Presidents Mandela & Festus Mogae stepped down in their countries before their terms or even Bush jnr come to power were there was not outright winner. For the good of Zimbabwe no one forced Mugabe into a rerun.
Like I said before Mugabe can rule as a loser and that is called ruling by decree in political language . All leaders who do so are called DICTATORS in the same political language. There are dozens of DICTATORS around the world and especially in Africa. What amuses me is how these DICTATORS want to be treated as democratically elected leaders of their countries. They kill and maim anyone who openly opposes their authority and they are very brutal. They are blinded by the obsession to be respect like democratically elected leaders and end up killing entire communities or populations and such killings are called “crimes against humanity”. The UN has established an international court in the Hague were such crimes are tried and handful of these DICTATORS have been arrested and tried there.
I for one does not accept Mugabe as the president of my country, however I can not fight him if I vote him out and he refuses to go. That’s an embarrassment to me and my country and to embarrass such person back I will help mobiles democratic force so that such person is also embarrassed like what happened in Shameel-Sheik ,Egypt and recently here in South Africa at the weekend.
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