Harare — SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma says ZANU-PF and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) should resolve, within a month, outstanding issues threatening the government of national unity (GNU).

ZANU-PF, the MDC-T and the MDC-M have been deadlocked over contentious issues relating to the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) since its consummation in September 2008.

Several efforts by President Zuma, the SADC-appointed mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, have failed to break the deadlock despite his facilitation team shuttling between Pretoria and Harare especially in the run-up to this week's SADC summit held in the Namibian capital, Windhoek.

In his report to the Troika summit of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Zuma said if the agreement on the 24 items was implemented on schedule, it would lay the basis "for the conviction to grow that Zimbabwe can reach her goal" (sic) of holding free and fair elections, whose results would be acceptable to all.

"The parties, assisted by the Troika, should discuss the outstanding matters in keeping with the decisions of the Troika summit held in Maputo and resolve them within one month as part of a confidence-building measure, based on appropriate consultation in keeping with Zimbabwe's law and any other relevant instrument," said Zuma.

The SADC leaders have accepted and endorsed Zuma's recommendation.

ZANU-PF and the two formations of the MDC have been deadlocked over targeted sanctions slapped on President Robert Mugabe and senior ZANU-PF officials by the United States and its allies in the West, the appointment of senior government officials, the swearing in of Roy Bennett as the MDC-T's pick for deputy minister of agriculture, security sector reforms, hate speech in the public media and the disbandment of foreign radio stations that beam into Zimbabwe.The MDC-T has also raised what it says are unilateral appointments by President Mugabe, the alleged continuous arrest of its party officials on trumped up charges, intimidation and political violence against its supporters.

Zuma, in the same report, suggested that the only permanent solution to the nagging crisis in Zimbabwe was the staging of fresh elections to bring finality to the political squabbling created by the inconclusive 2008 Presidential elections.

"The inclusive government and the Zimbabwe political parties should find an uninterrupted path towards free and fair elections and the removal of impediments as and when they arise," he said.

He added that the Troika should persuade SADC to help Zimbabwe to draw up guidelines for a free and fair election, where intimidation and violence would not play any part and where the result of such elections would be credible.

In its submission to the SADC summit, the MDC-T demanded that the regional grouping draw up a roadmap for elections to be preceded by the adoption of a new constitution after a referendum.

But critics note that several deadlines set by SADC have come to pass without any action being taken against the feuding parties in the GNU since the consummation of the coalition government nearly two years ago.

Zuma said the critical issue was to ensure a sustained focus on developments in Zimbabwe towards elections; the monitoring of the situation and timely interventions to deal with problems as and when they arise.

Leading to elections, the inclusive government should be united in its efforts to ensure everything was in place for the polls, adding that the constitution-making exercise, as well as the referendum on the constitution should be a joint task of all the parties in the inclusive government, he said.

"This united action will ensure a peaceful election. Should a situation arise where one of the State organs seeks to misuse its power in ways that could impact negatively on the effort to bring lasting peace to Zimbabwe, the leaders of Zimbabwe would be expected to use their collective wisdom to resolve such matters to the satisfaction of all," said Zuma.

Tendai Biti, the secretary-general of the MDC-T, said yesterday his party welcomed the SADC recommendation and was anxious to see them expeditiously implemented within 30 days.

"We would like to express our gratitude to the leadership of SADC, the vision of the facilitator and the SADC secretariat. The people of Zimbabwe have long suffered in their quest for real change.

"The SADC roadmap is an excellent foundational stone towards the fulfilment of this vision," said Biti.