Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Negotiations, democratic space, and polls
Idasa
March 12, 2008

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/16476

Download this document
- Acrobat PDF version (337KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking here.

The publicly proclaimed objective of the SADC-mandated mediation was to create the political conditions for the holding of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

The negotiations have led to a series of changes to the constitution, the electoral laws, the laws regulating freedom of assembly and the operation of the print and electronic media. The ruling party and the main opposition party agreed to these changes to the law.

There was considerable skepticism about this Mbeki-led mediation process. After President Mugabe made a few insignificant amendments to the electoral laws ahead of the 2005 elections, President Mbeki disingenuously proclaimed that conditions had been put in place to allow for free and fair elections.

Many believed that the SADC mediation process would follow the same route and that Mugabe would only agree to a few insignificant changes to the electoral and political terrain shortly before any elections. These changes would be made at the last moment and would not result in any real opening up of the political space.

Even if more significant changes were agreed to, they would be implemented so close to the election that they would not make any difference. They would, however, be exploited to allow Mbeki and SADC to characterize the elections as free and fair.

Download full document

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP