Zimbabwean negotiators to meet Thurs to iron out outstanding differences

By Violet Gonda
28 January 2008

It’s been widely reported that Morgan Tsvangirai is likely to agree to the unity deal, as presented by SADC after their summit. But Zimbabweans still wait a final decision as the MDC maintains it is awaiting a mandate from its National Council which meets on Friday.

After a day of confusion and conflicting statements the MDC President was quoted on Wednesday saying he had agreed in principle, and was optimistic that his party would agree to join.

Southern African leaders issued a communiqué on Tuesday stating a unity government will be formed next month, and even the MDC’s closest ally in the region, Botswana, welcomed the outcome of the SADC Summit.

Despite being the Mugabe regime’s harshest critic in the region, Botswana issued a statement on Wednesday saying it hoped the developments would “move forward the process of resolving the crisis of legitimacy in Zimbabwe and put an end to the suffering and difficult challenges facing people of that country.”

Frank Chikane, the Director General in the office of the South African Presidency told journalists in South Africa, also on Wednesday: "It has been tough, but we are there."

Despite the fact that the MDC is only going to decide on joining a unity government on Friday, the SADC communiqué said the implementation of the agreement is starting this week on Friday with the establishment of a Joint Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC). This will be followed by other processes to lead to the formation of a government by mid February.

Furthermore the negotiators from all three main political parties are expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the remaining differences. These include consideration of the National Security Bill and a formula for the distribution of provincial governors.

Political analyst Professor Brian Raftopoulos said it’s clear SADC will not change its position and the real question is now on what the MDC will do.

While it’s been reported that Robert Mugabe did make some concessions a statement from the MDC said Tsvangirai did not entirely agree with the position of SADC and “outstanding issues were not treated with the justice and fairness that we expected.”

The MDC said: “Notable among the outstanding issues is Zanu PF's yawning sincerity deficit, fairness and equity in the allocation of ministerial portfolios and the extra-legal abductions and detentions of innocent civic and party activists.”

And while it’s widely reported there will be a deal soon, Zimbabweans are still clueless as to what the deal actually entails. Raftopoulos believes if the MDC National Council does not vote in favour of the deal, Tsvangirai risks isolating his party from this regional group. He said: “This will also mean that if there is any pressure, it will be coming from the West. In that situation it will be pressure from the West versus that decision of the Africans. And that is a decision that, I think, the MDC wants to avoid.”

The analyst believes Tsvangirai has no choice but to join, as Mugabe is likely to form a government on his own since he has already been endorsed by SADC. Raftopoulos said the alternative is that the regime will continue to inflict violence on the MDC structures and the deterioration in the country will continue.

The MDC President stated on numerous occasions that he would join if and when the scores of political detainees are freed. But SADC remained mum on this issue while the Mugabe regime continues to hold the detainees illegally. On Wednesday six of the activists appeared in court and were further remanded in custody.