Harare — THE Sadc facilitation team appointed by South African President Jacob Zuma to assist in negotiations between parties to the Global Political Agreement is expected to meet the negotiators today ahead of the resumption of talks this evening.

It is understood the team, which is expected to jet in this morning, will hold a meeting with the GPA negotiators this afternoon.

The negotiating team comprises Cde Patrick Chinamasa and Cde Nicholas Goche of Zanu-PF, Mr Tendai Biti and Mr Elton Mangoma of MDC-T, and Professor Welshman Ncube and Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga of MDC.

The visit by the facilitation team comprising former South African ministers Charles Nqakula and Mac Maharaj, and President Zuma's international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu follows the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security's call for the three parties to reach full implementation of the GPA as soon as possible.

The call was made after the Double Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique, last month.

In separate interviews yesterday, Professor Ncube, Cde Chinamasa and Mr Mangoma confirmed the meeting with the facilitation team.

"The South African embassy phoned Minister Chinamasa on Friday informing him that the facilitation team will be coming to have a meeting with the negotiators.

"The facilitation team proposed a meeting on Monday afternoon on condition that negotiators from the three parties are available. The meeting will go ahead because all the negotiators have confirmed their availability," Prof Ncube said.

Prof Ncube, however, would not say what would be on the agenda.

"I wouldn't know because we are not the ones who called for the meeting. We will only know the agenda when we attend the meeting."

Cde Chinamasa confirmed that they would be meeting the South African team today.

"The South African facilitation team requested for a meeting with us before we resume our negotiations. We will be meeting them at 3pm, then our negotiations will resume around 5pm," he said.

Cde Chinamasa also said he did not know the agenda of the meeting.

Mr Mangoma added: "We will be meeting with the facilitation team on Monday. That is all I can say.

"I am not allowed to disclose to the media what we will be

talking about. That is for the negotiators. We will tell you after the meeting," he said.

The facilitation team, which met the negotiators in December last year, was given a progress report that was later presented to President Zuma.

President Zuma last month briefed the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security on the progress made since November last year.

The Troika directed another round of talks to address all the outstanding issues at its summit in November last year, when it met to review the political situation in Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

Negotiations have been underway since then and the facilitation team and President Zuma have acknowledged that significant strides had been made in the implementation of the GPA.

Among the outstanding issues, which are yet to be addressed, Zanu-PF has cited economic sanctions and pirate radio stations.

MDC-T, among other issues, lists the appointment of provincial governors and the swearing in of Roy Bennett as the Deputy Agriculture Minister as the outstanding issues.

MDC-T also wants the reversal of the appointment of Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono respectively. The two were appointed in the interval between the signing of the GPA and the formation of the inclusive Government.