"The world and most Zimbabweans pray for a free and fair election not marred by violence and intimidation as in the past.
"We urge the SADC observers to produce a report characterised by integrity and honestly. We have let down the suffering people of Zimbabwe for too long already. They deserve better." -- Nobel peace laureate and Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu
"Since the runoff was announced the violence in Zimbabwe has gotten even worse. Zimbabweans can't vote freely if they fear their vote may get them killed." -- Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch
HARARE – Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders will once again gather in South Africa on November 9 to persuade Zimbabwean negotiators to break the political logjam that has stalled the formation of a power-sharing arrangement.
The summit was called after the 15-member bloc’s security Troika failed to exert its influence on the Zanu (PF) leader, Robert Mugabe and MDC leaders, Morgan Tsvangirai and Athur Mutambara to resolve their differences on the composition of a new unity government outlined under the September 15 power-sharing agreement.
Zanu (PF) has resolved not to cede any powerful ministries to the MDC. Meanwhile, the MDC is under pressure not to give in on its demand for control of the ministry of Home Affairs, which controls the police and voter registration. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is seen by most people as corrupt and an extension of the Zanu (PF) militia. Many top Zanu (PF) officials are afraid they would be investigated for corruption, murder and theft if the ZRP was free to do its mandated job properly.
In the past few weeks, the political temperature has risen with Zanu (PF) and MDC trading insults and accusations. At the weekend Tsvangirai called for a truth commission to probe the Gukurahundi atrocities.
Before any progress can be made the SADC leaders will have to resolve the controversy over the documents that were signed by the three Zimbabwean leaders. In an earlier report The Zimbabwean stated that they had been doctored behind Tsvangirai’s back by Zanu (PF)’s Patrick Chinamasa, MDC-M’s secretary-general, Welshman Ncube and one of Thabo Mbeki’s representatives.
We now understand Ncube had nothing to do with the doctoring and we apologise to him unreservedly. Patrick Chinamasa has admitted to tampering with the documents and to “accidentally” deleting two paragraphs which alter the document substantially.
In the original documents it had been agreed that an additional six senate seats would be appointed in addition to the five reserved for Zanu (PF). Of the six, four would be from Tsvangirai’s MDC while two would be reserved for the Mutambara faction. The Chinamasa document talks of nine new senate seats, to be shared equally between the three contesting parties.
The missing paragraph says anyone appointed to the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Vice President would automatically be a Member of Parliament. If that person was already an MP his/her party would be allowed to appoint a non-constituency MP.
Another missing paragraph in the final document deals with the appointment of senior government employees, such as permanent secretaries and ambassadors. In the original documents it had been agreed that the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister would sit together to make the appointments.
Around 50,000 suspected of supporting the opposition have already been displaced from their homes. 65 have been killed so far. The opposition is forced to act like a banned organisation – its rallies are banned, access to TV and radio is severely curtailed.
