The SADC summit of heads of state and government took place in Windhoek, Namibia. (Photo Courtesy Buanews)

The SADC Troika meeting on Zimbabwe - held in Windhoek, Namibia on Sunday - has been described by MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti as a 'milestone.'

He told journalists in Harare that the meeting 'went as well as they had hoped.' At the SADC meeting South African President Jacob Zuma's report and recommendations were adopted by the Troika Organ on Defence, Security and Politics.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai will give a detailed response to the outcome of the summit when he briefs diplomats and members of Civil Society Organisations in Harare on Thursday.

But Biti said the 30th general summit of SADC was important, in that it defined key milestones and signposts leading to the end-game of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

'In broad terms, parties to the GPA accepted that an exit strategy should be based on the completion of the Constitution-making exercise, having a referendum and finally holding an election. Parties to the GPA, assisted by the Troika, will discuss the outstanding matters within one month as part of a confidence-building measure,' Biti said.

Biti, who is also the Finance Minister in the inclusive government, confirmed that out of the 27 issues in dispute in the GPA the principals, Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, had agreed on 24.

The remaining issues still to be dealt with are the swearing-in of Roy Bennett and the appointments of the Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank Governor, Gideon Gono, which the MDC-T want reversed.

SW Radio Africa has been told that the principals have agreed on an 'implementation matrix' on the 24 agreed issues.

These include; the process of the land audit, the appointment of the board of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and the Mass Media Trust and issues of 'external interference.'

A source in Harare told us this was the first time in many years that the MDC-T has left a SADC summit, happy with its recommendations.

'SADC decided to take a hands-on approach on the crisis and the fact that they will be having a team on the ground monitoring the implementation of the remaining issues is what the MDC-T has been calling for. I think this is the reason why the MDC are saying they are happy but we stand to see what will happen because we know Mugabe is good at stalling things,' our source said added.