Harare — There is renewed optimism that Zimbabwe's on and off coalition government will be rescued after a regional body asked South African President Jacob Zuma to step in as the new facilitator.
Mr Zuma effectively replaces his predecessor Mr Thabo Mbeki who helped broker the historic power sharing agreement on September 15 last year, leading to the formation of an inclusive government in February.
But Mr Mbeki was criticised for being soft on President Robert Mugabe with some of the Zimbabwean parties publicly declaring that they no longer had confidence in his mediation.
Strict time line
Last week, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai suspended his three-week "disengagement" from the power sharing agreement with Mr Mugabe following a mini regional summit in neighbouring Mozambique.
The decision was largely influenced by Mr Zuma's entry, which was immediately hailed by Mr Tsvangirai's camp.
Negotiators from the three parties in the coalition -- Zanu PF and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) -- will begin talks anytime this week so as to meet the strict time line set by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mini summit.
The time line in the communiqué issued after the SADC summit says the parties should engage in dialogue with immediate effect within 15 days and not beyond 30 days and that the dialogue should include all outstanding issues.
"After 15 days President Zuma will come here to access progress and if there is no agreement within a month then there will be another summit," MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa said. "We suspended our disengagement after a persuasive effort by our guarantor, which is SADC.
"We felt obliged, out of respect, to comply with the position of SADC."
Mr Tsvangirai gave Mr Mugabe 30 days to resolve the outstanding issues of their power sharing agreement.
The former opposition leader wants Mr Mugabe to reverse the unilateral appointments of his cronies to head the central bank, the attorney general's office and provincial governors.
The party is also demanding an end to politically motivated arrests of its MPs and the ongoing prosecution of its treasurer general Mr Roy Bennett who returns to court on Monday facing banditry charges.
Before the SADC mini summit, Mr Mugabe, who faces severe pressure from Zanu PF hardliners determined to maintain their hold on power argued that he had met his part of the bargain.
He maintained that the only outstanding issues were the targeted sanctions imposed on his family and his inner circle for their involvement in human rights violations before the formation of the unity government in February.
But the SADC communiqué issued after Thursday's summit attended by leaders from Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland, DRC and South Africa said "the parties should fully comply with the spirit and latter of the GPA and Sadc summit decisions of 27 January 2009."
Mr Chamisa said their decision to suspend the three week boycott of cabinet and council of ministers meetings showed that they now had faith in the SADC mediation led by Mr Zuma.
Mr Brian Badza, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) said the 30-day time frame was "unrealistically ambitious" considering that the parties were currently "poles apart".
"I don't see much being achieved during the given time frame because the two parties are poles apart," he said.
Would be resolved
"No key issues would be resolved. Only issues of little significance ... issues that do not tamper with Zanu PF's strategic interests would be solved," Mr Badza said.
"Zanu PF hardliners would not agree to anything that would compromise their socio-economic and political interests."
Professor Eldred Masunungure, another UZ lecturer concurred, saying even if Mr Mugabe failed to meet the deadline, the inclusive government will not collapse because the parties have realised that they cannot do without each other.
The Prime Minister's spokesperson Mr James Maridadi said he was hopeful that Mr Mugabe would have addressed the outstanding issues within the 30 days.
"We are very hopeful," Mr Maridadi said.
"In the event that Mugabe does not comply with the agreement and Zuma's mediation fails, it would mean the collapse of the government."
An exiled Zimbabwean journalist Ms Gerry Jackson felt that SADC leaders were still not tough enough on the veteran ruler. "It is unclear how it's possible to read this document (SADC communiqué) as a deadline on Mugabe to implement the GPA within 30 days," she said.
"It would appear to be a document that says nothing more than remove sanctions on Mr Mugabe and his ruling elite and start talking again within 30 days."
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I do not see how the so-called communiqué is setting a deadline on President Mugabe. It is clear that the deadline is coming from the sellout party called MDC-T. But then the puppet party knows too well that Zanu-pf does not operate on the basis of deadlines or timelines.
Zanu-pf, as a revolutionary party operates on the basis of the protection of those people it liberated - the innocent men, women and children of Zimbabwe - who are suffering under sanctions, campaigned for by Tsvangirai.
As long as this deadline or timeline is to the advantage of the country then it will be met. However, if it is the opposite or it runs contrary to the interests and aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe, you can rest be assured that the stooge party will set more and more deadlines that will never be met.
In any case, if we were to go by the sellout party's argument that the deadline is for Zanu-pf to fire Governor Gono, AG Tomana and all Provincial Governors, then we risk being blind-folded into a endless pit. Zanu-pf cannot fire the above because they never appointed them in the first place.
The above were, in accordance with the constitution of Zimbabwe, appointed by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces. They are therefore there to stay until their terms of office expire.
If the communiqué refers to ALL outstanding issues as needing address within thirty days then it is talking about sanctions imposed by imperialists on Zimbabwe and its people at the instigation of Tsvangirai and his puppet party, it is talking about MDC pirate radio stations churning out hate speeches that are causing divisions within our communities and polarizing our people, it is talking about the parallel government structure run by the sellout party and lastly but not least, it is talking about the making of a truly Zimbabwean constitution without the interference of external forces that want to re-colonize us.
These are the ONLY outstanding GPA issues and if they can be met within 30 days then fair enough. The imperialist demand for the removal of Governor Gono, AG Tomana and Provincial Governors is just what it is - an imperialist demand to serve imperialist interest - but will NEVER be met.
It is not in dispute that these three issues are not in the GPA but that MDC is only trying to smuggle them in so as to buy time thereby avoiding fulfilling their part of the bargain. Any right thinking person will not listen to the rubbish coming from the puppet party, all they need to do is to take the GPA and read and re-read carefully so as to understand what the document says.
Takkies comments must be taken in context.
He also believes the CIA invented homosexuality and that the MDC murdered 130 of their own supporters to make the ZANU PF look bad during the last elections. In other words, he is deluded.
The communique was agreed between parties in the formation of the GNU.
Now... where do you have proof that these sanctions Zimbabwe is under were campaigned for by the MDC? Lies.
If Mugabe hired these people, then he is very capable of firing them. For the sake of the Country, this is what he should do.
Now where in the communique does it refer to sanctions? or pirate radio stations?
You talk about churning out hate speeches that are causing divisions within our communities and polarizing our people,
Ever read the Herald!?
And who wants to recolonise you? Nonsense. Cant believe you fell for that ZANU BS!
What nonsense you poor brainwashed little boy. The USA, Britain, Australia and Canada are secretly funding and supporting old Rhodies so they can claim what is rightfully theirs in Zimbabwe. There are plans to invade through Botswana under the guise of human rights abuse, capture Mugabe and his henchman, imprison them and then re-allocate the best farm land back to the Rhodies who are part of the attack force. If you believe that Zanu-PF and Mugabe propaganda you are either deliberately being obtuse or so brainwashed you accept the propaganda hook, line and sinker.
takunya the only puppet here is you so go back to your Zanu-pf cronies so they can tell you what nonsense to write next.
Hopefully, Jacob will finally kick Bob's backside to eternity and beyond. Jacob has the world coming to South Africa next year and he does not really nead this embarrising little twerp , Bob, north of the border messing up his show case. The African solution, Total Empowerment.
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