SW Radio Africa (London)
Tichaona Sibanda
5 November 2009
Advocacy group the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), has called on SADC leaders to send a monitoring force into Zimbabwe, until a free and fair election to be held in 2011.
OSISA director Ozias Tungwarara told SW Radio Africa that the call was motivated by the surge of reports of violent crackdowns against ZANU PF opponents.
'Basically, what we are saying is SADC should have a comprehensive, standing presence stationed in Zimbabwe until such time as a new Constitution has been drafted, that the draft has been submitted to referendum and that free and fair presidential and legislative elections have been held,' Tungwarara said.
The advocacy officer said they also wanted SADC, as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement, to ensure effective implementation of the GPA and a definitive resolution of the outstanding issues as per the SADC communiqué of 26-27 January 2009.
'What we have seen recently is this hands-off approach by SADC on issues to do with Zimbabwe. In light of the recent differences it is imperative for SADC to step in and resolve the crisis,' he said.
Tungwarara added; 'You have ZANU PF and the MDC differing on the interpretation of clauses in the GPA, so we think as guarantors SADC should step in to correct the interpretation and mediate where they might still differ. If the GPA can't be rescued, it will be a colossal failure for SADC.'
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