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To hell with SADC
Daily News
May 12, 2011

http://dailynews.co.zw/news/53-top-story/2486-to-hell-with-sadc.html

Disagreements between Sadc and President Robert Mugabe took a turn for the worse yesterday after Zanu PF thumbed its nose at the region again, and signaled it was prepared to see this diplomatic tiff break into open war.

In a fresh and unilateral declaration that a regional diplomat said last night effectively repudiates, if carried out, both the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and Sadc's endeavours to pull Zimbabwe back from the political abyss, Zanu PF's politburo vowed that the country's much anticipated national elections would be held this year.

"Zanu PF's declaration runs completely counter to the letter and spirit of the GPA, as well as the region's stated wish to defer Zimbabwe's polls at least until the country's much-needed new constitution is in place, and the roadmap to a legitimate ballot and its aftermath has been agreed to by the inclusive government.

"The insistence on going it alone also appears blissfully oblivious to the fact that it is solely through the Sadc-sponsored GPA framework that President Mugabe has the legitimacy to be called Zimbabwe's head of state. If it falls away (the GPA) then there is neither a president nor a Prime Minister that would be recognised by the region.

"But to be honest, this is just hot air coming from the former ruling party. I can't see them wanting to commit such suicide. If they do, it will simply be to their own detriment," the diplomat said.

In a clear signal that Zanu PF wants to break ranks with the regional body, which over the last two months has hardened its stance against Mugabe, the party yesterday described Sadc as mere "helpers" who could only assist but not preside over the affairs of the country."

"There is no change on the election issue. We will have elections this year," said Zanu PF spokesman, Rugare Gumbo in a brief to the Daily News after a long politburo meeting - adding that: "Zimbabwe cannot be ruled by Sadc. We are a country and Sadc can only help us where it can.

Zanu PF's latest stunt has deepened perceptions in the country that Mugabe is no longer in charge of the levers of power.

This view was endorsed by analysts yesterday who said the decision by Zanu PF - which also sets Harare up for a massive confrontation with South Africa and chief GPA guarantor President Jacob Zuma - was clearly being forced on the octogenarian leader by the military and powerful hardliners in the party.

The Zanu PF meeting and discordant position came a few days after the Sadc appointed facilitators expressed the clear view that the country could not hold an election this year as there were a number of GPA benchmarks that still need to be fulfilled.

The politburo meeting also received a report on the ongoing negotiations on the roadmap and GPA review from the party's chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa.

Asked when exactly his party would want elections to be held during the course of the year, Gumbo said, "We don't know exactly when. But what we know is that there will be elections soon after completion of the constitution making process and the referendum".

In addition, the meeting had also discussed the stalling of the constitutional process, with Gumbo adding that Zanu PF would go ahead with the process with or without the MDC.

Turning to the sensitive but crucial security sector reform issue, Gumbo said the party resolved that they would not allow outsiders, including Sadc, to come and assess the country's security sector.

The role of the security sector in the country's politics is one of the points of disagreements among the country's GPA partners, with the two MDCs saying the securocrats must have nothing to do with both the running of elections and government.

Yesterday's developments happened as it was learnt that one of the facilitators was in the country to try and resolve sticking GPA issues - top of which is security sector reforms, ahead of a scheduled special Sadc summit on Zimbabwe next week.

While Mugabe has in the past declared that elections would be held with or without a new constitution, he flip-flopped several times on the issue, creating the impression that that Zanu PF did not have the appetite for a bruising war on the matter.

The main MDC party responded tersely to the Zanu PF call for ear. In a clear signal that Zanu PF wants to break ranks with the regional body, which over the last two months has hardened its stance against Mugabe, the party yesterday described Sadc as mere "helpers" who could only assist but not preside over the affairs of the country.

"There is no change on the election issue. We will have elections this year," said Zanu PF spokesman, Rugare Gumbo in a brief to the Daily News after a long politburo meeting - adding that: "Zimbabwe cannot be ruled by Sadc. We are a country and Sadc can only help us where it can".

Zanu PF's latest stunt has deepened perceptions in the country that Mugabe is no longer in charge of the levers of power.

This view was endorsed by analysts yesterday who said the decision by Zanu PF - which also sets Harare up for a massive confrontation with South Africa and chief GPA guarantor President Jacob Zuma - was clearly being forced on the octogenarian leader by the military and powerful hardliners in the party.

The Zanu PF meeting and discordant position came a few days after the Sadc-appointed facilitators expressed the clear view that the country could not hold an election this year as there were a number of GPA benchmarks that still needed to be fulfilled.

The politburo meeting also received a report on the ongoing negotiations on the roadmap and GPA review from the party's chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa.

Asked when exactly his party would want elections to be held during the course of the year, Gumbo said, "We don't know exactly when. But what we know is that there will be elections soon after completion of the constitution making process and the referendum". In addition, the meeting also discussed the stalling of the constitutional process, with Gumbo adding that Zanu PF would go ahead with the process with or without the MDC.

Turning to the sensitive but crucial security sector reform issue, Gumbo said the party resolved that they would not allow outsiders, including Sadc, to come and assess the country's security sector.

The role of the security sector in the country's politics is one of the points of disagreements among the country's GPA partners, with the two MDCs saying the securocrats must have nothing to do with both the running of elections and government.

Yesterday's developments happened as it was learnt that one of the facilitators was in the country to try and resolve sticking GPA issues - top of which is security sector reforms, ahead of a scheduled special Sadc summit on Zimbabwe next week.

While Mugabe has in the past declared that elections would be held with or without a new constitution, he flip-flopped several times on the issue, creating the impression that Zanu PF did not have the appetite for a bruising war on the matter.

The main MDC party responded tersely to the Zanu PF call for early elections saying this was "totally over ambitious".

"The next election should be free and fair and the outcome must never create any doubt regarding the preference of the people of Zimbabwe. They must follow religiously the roadmap set up in the GPA," said the party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora.

Zanu PF declares war on Sadcly elections saying this was "totally over ambitious".

"The next election should be free and fair and the outcome must never create any doubt regarding the preference of the people of Zimbabwe.

They must follow religiously the roadmap set up in the GPA," said the party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora.

"The constitution alone is not enough. We must give it time to take root and establish the necessary bodies that will allow for the running of a credible election," he said.

For its part the smaller MDC formation said it was impossible to have elections this year.

"Elections cannot be held this year. There must be a roadmap and the GPA has to be implemented in full and its reforms be allowed to take root. We also don't expect Zanu PF to unilaterally call for elections because we are partners in this," said the party's spokesman Kurauwone Chihwayi.

University of Zimbabwe lecturer John Makumbe said Zanu PF was merely testing the waters.

"It (Sadc) is likely to respond by saying there will be no election until all the necessary reforms mentioned in the GPA are implemented. Zanu PF might say we are a sovereign state and call for elections hoping it will get away with it and without reforming the security structures and this way allow the party to do what they did in 2008 and beat everybody into submission and ensure a victory for Zanu PF," he said.

"I however doubt that Mugabe is willing to alienate himself from Sadc. If that happens then we know for sure that he is no longer in charge."

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