Harare — Zanu-PF, MDC-T and the MDC should immediately engage in dialogue to find a lasting solution to outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement, the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation has said.

In a communiqué released after last Thursday's Troika Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, the organ urged the West to scrap "all forms" of sanctions imposed on Zimba- bwe.

The Troika -- comprising Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland and chaired by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza -- said the discussions should be held within 15 days and should not exceed 30 days.

It was also resolved that the dialogue should include all the outstanding issues stemming from the implementation of the GPA and the Sadc communiqué of January 27.

President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara attended the summit together with their negotiating teams.

President Guebuza, King Mswati III of Swaziland, South African President Jacob Zuma, Zambian Defence Minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ambassador to South Africa, Mr Bene M'Poko, were also present.

Part of the communiqué reads: "Summit decided as follows: the political parties signatory to the GPA should engage in dialogue with immediate effect within 15 days not beyond 30 days."

In terms of the arrangement, the parties will Sadc Troika calls for dialogue table their respective issues with a view to addressing them simultaneously.

This position was communicated to the principals to the inclusive Government. Zanu-PF's main concerns are the lifting of economic sanctions, pirate radio stations, external interference in the country's affairs and the dismantling of parallel government structures that were set up by the Prime Minister's Office.

MDC-T, on the other hand, maintains its treasurer-general Mr Roy Bennett, must be sworn in as deputy minister. It also wants the appointment of provincial governors, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Attorney-General and ambassadors to be addressed.

The parties, however, agree on the launch of a national economic council, which, according to the communiqué, South Africa will facilitate the talks on behalf of the Troika and evaluate progress before updating President Guebuza.

The Organ's ministerial Troika has been mandated to continue monitoring progress and to also report to the Mozambican leader.

Sources revealed yesterday that MDC-T agreed to return to Government after submissions by President Zuma and his Mozambican counterpart.

The sources said the South African leader told the MDC-T representatives that one party could not address their concerns.

He said "disengagement" would promote tension among the parties, a view shared by President Guebuza.

"President Zuma said you cannot resolve matters by being absent (from Government)," the sources said. They added that Zanu-PF unequivocally expressed the need for the MDC-T to play a role in the implementation of the GPA by calling for the scrapping of the sanctions imposed on the country by the West.

It emerged that the MDC-T was campaigning for the sanctions in order to gain political leverage over Zanu-PF. A case in point is representations the party leadership made to the European Union Troika, which visited the country in September this year.

It is also understood that the Prime Minister's Office had enlisted several officials in foreign employment to carry out Government work.

In its communiqué, the Sadc Troika said the inclusive Government had made notable achievements, among them peace and stability as well as "positive progress on economic recovery".

The statement reads: "In view of the above, summit urged the following: i) the parties should fully comply with the spirit and letter of the GPA and Sadc Summit decisions of January 27, 2009.

"ii) The parties should not allow the situation to deteriorate any further. iii) the parties to engage in a dialogue in order to find a lasting solution to the outstanding issues towards the full implementation of the GPA.

"The facilitator (the Republic of South Africa) on behalf of the Troika should remain seized with the developments on the implementation of the GPA.

"v) The MCO Troika (the Organ's ministerial representatives) should continue monitoring the progress closely and report to the Chairperson of the Sadc Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation and vi) the international community to lift all forms of sanctions on Zimbabwe."

Speaking to journalists soon after returning home from the summit, Zanu-PF negotiator in the country's inter-party talks Cde Patrick Chinamasa described the meeting as a "resounding success".

He said the three parties had since seen the need for them to engage in dialogue.

"I think the important development to emerge from the summit is the recognition that Zimbabweans can resolve their problems and that this can be done through dialogue," said Cde Chinamasa, who is also the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.

"We have agreed to put all the parties' concerns on the table and seek to find resolutions concurrently in the next 15 days. How we will do it is subject to negotiation.

"Maputo was a resounding success in the sense that we were asked to return home and talk. It is a resolution we, as negotiators, had jointly proffered to the Sadc ministerial Troika."

MDC negotiator and Minister of Industry and Commerce Professor Welshman Ncube said the resolutions translated into the MDC-T attending Government business.

"I think it went on very well. At the end of the day, we had an agreement. It was agreed that there be re-engagement. It was also agreed that all the issues by the parties be resolved by the parties," he said.

"The communiqué will reflect the consensus of the political parties and of the principals. There was unanimity that there would be re-engagement. We are confident that those who had disengaged will attend Cabinet."

Soon after the summit, MDC-T leader Mr Tsvangirai told journalists that his party had suspended the "disengagement" with immediate effect.

He said that his party had given President Mugabe 30 days to meet its demands. But Presidential spokesman Cde George Charamba yesterday said: "No set day deadlines were given by anyone in the summit and no set deadlines would be entertained by anyone."