Tsvangirai welcomes Mbeki’s appointment to tackle crisis in Zimbabwe
By Tichaona Sibanda
31 march 2007

MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday welcomed the appointment of South African President Thabo Mbeki to spearhead the promotion of dialogue among political parties and interest groups in Zimbabwe. Heads of state and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed Mbeki to the role on Thursday, at the close of their two-day summit in Dar-Es-Salaam.

Tsvangirai told a press conference in Harare that Mbeki should begin the process by asking Mugabe to halt all hostilities against opposition activists before outlining a time framework for the talks.

MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti told Newsreel that since the elections are scheduled to be held next year, there was need to move fast because a new constitution must be in place before the polls.Biti said "The president (Tsvangirai) reiterated that elections can only be held once there is a new constitution. He also condemned the orgy of violence against opposition activists most whom are still being held in prison cells."

A SADC communique, which was adopted by all ten heads-of-state, the leaders expressed concern at the hostilities in Zimbabwe and wished that the situation would return to normal soon. Host President Jakaya Kikwete said President Mbeki would work closely with the sub Troika of the SADC in charge of defence, security and peace. President Kikwete said all the leaders were unhappy with the crisis in Zimbabwe, which was described as unhealthy for democratic dispensation.
The SADC leaders, he added, also strongly appealed to the political parties in Zimbabwe to co-operate and give the peace initiative a chance to work.

Meanwhile, the ruling Zanu (PF) party on Friday formally endorsed Robert Mugabe as its candidate for next year’s presidential election which the opposition MDC may boycott if there is no new constitution in place. The party’s central committee also adopted a motion that will see the harmonisation of parliamentary and presidential elections in 2008. The endorsement of Mugabe may also see him extend his rule over the country into a third decade.

Briefing journalists soon after the meeting Zanu (PF) spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira said; ‘The resolution was accepted by the central committee ... and so both the presidential and parliamentary elections will now be held in 2008.’ He added; ‘The candidate of the party will be the President (Mugabe) himself. He was endorsed by the central committee at the meeting today (Friday).’

The presidential term will be cut to five years from the current six.

Reuters reports that Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told journalists at the same briefing the central committee had also decided that if a presidential vacancy occurred in between elections an acting president would be chosen by parliament to complete the term.

Chinamasa said local government polls would also be held in 2008 and the parliamentary lower house of assembly would be expanded from the current 150 members to 210. Parties would fill the upper house, Senate with representatives on the basis of their proportional vote in parliament.

The Senate would be expanded from 66 to 84 members.