Zuma expected in Harare for dialogue‏

Published: March 15, 2010

Harare (ZimEye) South African President Jacob Zuma is expected in Harare Tuesday for the first time since taking over from Thabo Mbeki to broker talks on the lockjam in outstanding matters of the Global Political Agreement.

President Zuma is expected to hold individual meetings with the three principals to the GPA. His facilitation team travels ahead Sunday to hold meetings with negotiators from three political parties as well as the principals.

Zuma’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed to the local media on Saturday that Zuma’s falicitation team of former ministers Charles Nqakula, Mac Maharaj and Zuma’s international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu would travel to Harare Sunday to prepare for President Zuma’s arrival on Tuesday.

South Africa is keen to see Zimbabwe’s parties implementing the GPA ahead of the 2010 World Cup less than three months away.

Zimbabwe’s political parties have for more than a year failed to implement the GPA with growing mistrust in the inclusive government.

Last week, MDC party leader Prime Minister Tsvangirai called for a conclusion to the inter-party talks saying his party is fed up with unending dialogue.

“We are sick and tired of endless talks,” he said. “We shall soon take measures and not have dialogue for dialogue’s sake. We are a country in a transition, so get ready for elections,” said Tsvangirai.

The MDC-T has already declared a deadlock on all the outstanding GPA issues and wants them referred back to Zuma and has hinted early elections if the impasse continues.

Zuma was tasked to mediate in the Zimbabwean crisis by SADC after MDC-T temporarily pulled out of the unity government last year as frustration intensified over Mugabe’s refusal to fully implement the GPA.

Apart from outstanding issues such as the appointment of the Attorney General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono, the MDC formations have expressed concern over the unilateral stripping of ministerial powers by President Robert Mugabe on its ministers.

Less than a fortnight ago, President Mugabe stripped responsibilities of four ministers and left them with no Acts to administer.

Information Communication Technology Minister, Nelson Chamisa; Regional Integration and Interna-tional Co-operation Minister, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga; State Enterprises and Parastatals Minister, Gabuza Joel Gabbuzza and Science and Technology Development Minister, Heneri Dzinotyiwei were affected.(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)

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Zuma expected in Harare for dialogue‏

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