SADC says it is not happy with pace of talks in Zimbabwe

By Tichaona Sibanda
7 January 2010

SADC member states on Thursday concurred with South Africa’s position that they were not happy with the pace of talks in Zimbabwe to resolve all outstanding issues.

Mozambican Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloyi told journalists at the end of a two-day SADC ministers’ meeting in Maputo that they shared South Africa’s concern that the Global Political Agreement talks in Harare were taking too long to be concluded.

Fred Katerere, a Maputo based journalist, told SW Radio Africa that Baloyo made it clear the region was not happy with pace of the talks in Zimbabwe.

‘Baloyi said indications are that there may be problems in Harare because the talks have gone on for too long without a conclusive deal. The ministers resolved to press the Zimbabwe negotiators to speedily work out the remaining issues,’ Katerere said.

South Africa’s International Relations Minister, Mait Nkoana-Mashabane, briefed the regional foreign ministers on the progress of talks to resolve the power-sharing dispute threatening the inclusive government.

The ministers were meeting in Maputo to coordinate the region’s support for Malawi’s bid for the chair of the African Union. Katerere said there were indications that regional leaders will discuss the Zimbabwe crisis informally when they gather in Maputo next week for the inauguration of President Armando Guebuza. The Mozambican president was re-elected last month to serve his second term.

‘There was talk in Maputo that the issue of Zimbabwe might be thrashed out during the gathering next week,’ Katerere said.

Negotiators to the GPA will resume talks next week Saturday, following a month long break. Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube told us on Monday that the talks, which broke off three days before Christmas last year, would resume on the 16th January.

The negotiations have become bogged down over arguments that include the appointments of central bank Governor Gideon Gono, Attorney-General Johannes Tomana, provincial governors and the swearing-in of Roy Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

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