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SADC sets new course for Zimbabwe
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
June 13, 2011

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) extra ordinary summit of heads of state and government held in Sandton, South Africa mandated the Organ Troika to speed up the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to allow for the holding of free and fair elections under a level political field. The final communique of the summit demonstrated the change in the political stance by SADC leaders and growing impatience with President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF. The summit has shown growing regional solidarity on Zimbabwe and the need to achieve free and fair elections as indicated by the decision to uphold the March 2011 Livingstone Troika resolutions. The Coalition reiterates that there is need for urgent security sector reforms before holding of an uncontested credible elections.

It is gratifying to note unequivocal adoption of the idea of clear roadmap to free and fair elections which involves completion of all the steps necessary for the holding of free and fair election including the finalization of the constitution reform process. Therefore if any election is to be held this should be in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. The summit's resolution to add three representatives who will form part of the joint monitoring committee is also another positive step towards bringing political violence to halt and tolerance of more civil liberties and media freedom.

The next SADC summit is expected to be in August in Luanda, Angola. It is also expected that the Zimbabwe political parties would have finalized time line for elections and implemented fully the outstanding issues of the GPA. Our hope is that SADC will enforce what has been agreed upon and that some of the outstanding issues of the GPA which include the conclusion of media reforms particularly the broadcasting sector, security reforms, clean up the voters roll, finalization of the constitution and the holding of the referendum will.

The Coalition acknowledges President Jacob Zuma together with the head of states and governments in SADC for being in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.

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