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Zuma's latest visit: Will there be a break in trend come 31st March?
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
March 25, 2010

A week ago President Jacob Zuma of South Africa came and went in what now seems to be seamless political cycle. In a not so familiar fashion the media was awash with screaming headlines of successful meetings held with the signatories to the September 2008 Inter-Party Political Agreement (IPA) and the final resolution of 'outstanding issues'. Again, the principles were given a 31 March 2010 deadline to bring finality to all outstanding issues and report progress made to the South African leader. But do Zimbabweans have a reason to be optimistic this time?

After holding meetings with the party leaders, President Zuma expressed satisfaction over what he described as fruitful meetings. As always, president Zuma did not forget to mention how he was encouraged by the spirit of cooperation shown by the principles and that they agreed on a "package of measure" to be implemented concurrently with the concessions of the GPA.

One would recall the 31 October 2009 deadline given at the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Special Summit in Maputo Mozambique where the principles were challenged to fully implement provisions set out in the IPA. Yet, more than four months after setting of the deadline, no tangible progress was recorded; rather, the principles failed to implement the Maputo SADC recommendations. Curiously, SADC so far appear mum on the lack of respect for its deadlines by the parties in Harare. Meanwhile President Mugabe's party ZANU PF in particular continues to act contemptuously. They have vowed over the past months, not to concede to any demands made by the Movement for democratic Change (MDC) until the issue of targeted sanctions was addressed. President Mugabe went ahead to usurp the powers of the Prime Minister and MDC ministers while political party's youths were threatening the Prime Minister with unspecified action if targeted sanctions are not lifted . The brief history of deadlines and SADC's mediation in Zimbabwe's present political crisis does not provide reason for optimism.

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