Zimbabwe - Tsvangirai blow as SADC fails to discuss coalition

September 10th, 2009

 

 

Harare (Zimbabwe) — Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai flew out of Kinshasa before the closing ceremony of the SADC summit after the regional body failed to discuss his troubled coalition with President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai had vigorously campaigned for Zimbabwe to be placed high on the agenda at the Democratic Republic of Congo summit arguing that Mr Mugabe was reneging on almost all the commitments he made before the formation of the inclusive government in February.

Zimbabwe was reportedly on the agenda until the eve of the summit when it was decided that it will overshadow DRC President Joseph Kabila's "moment of glory" as he took up the chairmanship of the block.

The Prime Minister's Movement for the Democratic Change (MDC) was calling for an extra-ordinary SADC summit to review progress in the implementation of the September 15 power sharing agreement.

The MDC had also hoped that the summit will at least acknowledge that the implementation of the agreement had all but stalled.

However, the matter will now be dealt by an organ of SADC on peace, security and politics.

Before hastily leaving Kinshasa on Tuesday, a subdued Mr Tsvangirai said they still hoped SADC will remained "seized" with the problems in Zimbabwe.

"Now that the SADC Troika is specifically vested with the matter of Zimbabwe it is my hope and belief that it will deal with all outstanding issues as a matter of urgency," he said.

The list of Mr Tsvangirai's grievances include Mr Mugabe's refusal to reverse his unilateral appointment of the central bank governor and attorney general.

He also wants the ageing leader to swear in MDC treasurer, Mr Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister.
SADC Summit Defers on Zimbabwe Debate

Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF says Mr Bennett who is facing treason charges "is an unrepentant imperialist" and wants the MDC to replace him with another nominee.

There are also problems associated with the slow pace of political reforms promised in the agreement and the arrest of MDC MPs on what the party says are trumped up charges.

Ahead of the summit, outgoing SADC chairman President Jacob Zuma had promised that Zimbabwe's problems would be addressed fully.

There is now a feeling that Mr Zuma felt he did not have enough time to deal with the long running problems plaguing his northern neighbour.

"He seems regretful that South Africa had three presidents who presided over the Zimbabwe issue but still didn't end the crisis. And it's a fair thing to say," a Zimbabwean online newspaper quoted an unnamed South African diplomat as saying.

 

source.allAfrica.com - NCA