The Nation (Nairobi)
Kitsepile Nyathi
9 September 2009
Harare — Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai flew out of Kinshasa before the closing ceremony of the SADC summit after the regional body failed to discuss his troubled coalition with President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Tsvangirai had vigorously campaigned for Zimbabwe to be placed high on the agenda at the Democratic Republic of Congo summit arguing that Mr Mugabe was reneging on almost all the commitments he made before the formation of the inclusive government in February.
Zimbabwe was reportedly on the agenda until the eve of the summit when it was decided that it will overshadow DRC President Joseph Kabila's "moment of glory" as he took up the chairmanship of the block.
The Prime Minister's Movement for the Democratic Change (MDC) was calling for an extra-ordinary SADC summit to review progress in the implementation of the September 15 power sharing agreement.
The MDC had also hoped that the summit will at least acknowledge that the implementation of the agreement had all but stalled.
However, the matter will now be dealt by an organ of SADC on peace, security and politics.
Before hastily leaving Kinshasa on Tuesday, a subdued Mr Tsvangirai said they still hoped SADC will remained "seized" with the problems in Zimbabwe.
"Now that the SADC Troika is specifically vested with the matter of Zimbabwe it is my hope and belief that it will deal with all outstanding issues as a matter of urgency," he said.
The list of Mr Tsvangirai's grievances include Mr Mugabe's refusal to reverse his unilateral appointment of the central bank governor and attorney general.
He also wants the ageing leader to swear in MDC treasurer, Mr Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF says Mr Bennett who is facing treason charges "is an unrepentant imperialist" and wants the MDC to replace him with another nominee.
There are also problems associated with the slow pace of political reforms promised in the agreement and the arrest of MDC MPs on what the party says are trumped up charges.
Ahead of the summit, outgoing SADC chairman President Jacob Zuma had promised that Zimbabwe's problems would be addressed fully.
There is now a feeling that Mr Zuma felt he did not have enough time to deal with the long running problems plaguing his northern neighbour.
"He seems regretful that South Africa had three presidents who presided over the Zimbabwe issue but still didn't end the crisis. And it's a fair thing to say," a Zimbabwean online newspaper quoted an unnamed South African diplomat as saying.
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Shame on Zuma, the sell out!!!
How much $ did Quadaffi pour into his secret bank account ? It will be recalled that he was accused of enbezzlement following the purchase of arms.
The politics of underdevelopment being persued by Sadc will further frighten away capital inflows to the countries of the region. Thus sa companies will have a field day buying cheap our finance-stricken firms.
The neo-colonialist politics of Zuma is indeed a blow to pro-democratic activists in the region.
Morgan, be resolute & continue to undress the notorious pariah Mugabe. The future lies with the MDC.
It has become obvious that the majority of leaders in SADC are just paying lip service to democratic principles and human rights. They should change their name to the Soviet Africa Dictatorship Committee.
The SADC no longer matters. The people are beginning to mobilize to oust Mugabe and his criminal thugs. I've already got my champagne on ice. It's going to be the coup de gras of coup de etats! Hahahaha!
If anyone had hope in the SADC well this shows their true colors and how little they truly care about problems within Southern Africa. I could care less about their useless word but this issue has been going on way to long in Zimbabwe andnd so now this problem will never be solved by the SADC.
All they care about is their own power and position so they care less about what is going on around them unless someone is willing to bribe them and they are very willing to take money.
Thank you SADC leaders for the unequivocal support for the legendary African Liberation hero- President R.G Mugabe, the Head of State and Government of Zimbabwe.The supreme grandmaster Cde Mugabe.VIVA SADC!! VIVA Zimbabwe! Aluta continua.Also another kudos & thanks to SADC leaders for snubbing and rejecting that discredited Western puppet-Morgan Tsvangirai . The shameless sellout who has been used by the West to destabilize Zimbabwe. SADC recognised that the illegal economic sanctions that tsvangirai invited to Zimbabwe have caused socio economic problems to the country hence the resolution calling for their immediate lifting.SADC echoed our sentiments that the illegal economic sanctions that tsvangirai invited are the only outstanding matter in the GPA.We urge SADC to continue snubbing that ruinous sellout so that it becomes a lesson to other western puppets on the continent that Africa will not tolerate agents of imperialism. SADC has boldly told Europe & States that Zimbabwe is not for sell.
Those propagandists who say that Sadc made a U-turn over convening a "Special Summit" on Zimbabwe are either ignorant of the workings of the regional organisation or are just engaging in wishful thinking. They failed to read the context within which the Sadc Summit was held. Zimbabwe was NEVER on the agenda in the first place. President Zuma had given a satisfactory report only a few days before.VIVA Cde Zuma!! Sadc would rather allocate its limited resources to dealing with more pressing issues; for instance the situation in Madagascar which threatens regional stability, issues of food security and the Free Trade Area. The humiliation that tsvangirai got in Kinshasa serves him well. Instead of making nonsensical noise , that western stooge should call for the lifting of economic sanctions he invited to his own country.
Takunya/Mabhiza, why are you such a loser?!
Why don’t you stick to one name like ordinary people?
You still talk of this nonsense that Tsvangirai called for sanctions. What nonsense. Its lies and you know it, like everyone else does!
As for "hence the resolution calling for their immediate lifting"
What resolution! Why do you make up these lies?!
As for ZDERA.. I see it is still in place, but wait! The IMF is now lending Zimbabwe money… how can this be! ZDERA is clearly not responsible for the the worlds monetary funds refusing to lend money to Zimbabwe in the past!
How can "illegal economic sanctions" be an outstanding matter in the GPA, when they arent even mentioned in the agreement!? Don’t be ridiculous.
As I have stated many times, it doesn’t take me for people to figure out what a loser you are, people just have to read what you write.
Idiot.
I feel pity for you mabhiza, you seem to be in your own world. Wake up you punk. You make me sick by uttering that rubbish. You are the very people who are being used by mugabe to be his hit man not war vets. You are the very people who are letting Zim down. Wake up ma-horses
Chex
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