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Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
SADC leaders meet to discuss Zimbabwe ahead of polls
Takudzwa Munyaka, Mail and Guardian (SA)
July 19, 2013
http://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-19-00-regional-leaders-meet-to-discuss-zim-ahead-of-polls/
The Southern
African Development Community (SADC) troika on politics, defence
and security will meet in South Africa this weekend to discuss the
political developments in Zimbabwe ahead
of the July 31 elections.
South African President
Jacob Zuma’s international relations adviser, Lindiwe Zulu,
who is also the spokesperson for Zuma’s facilitation team,
said: “The troika is meeting in South Africa and the agenda
is Zimbabwe. The SADC secretariat, which called the meeting, has
all the details.”
The SADC secretariat
could not be reached for comment.
The troika is responsible
for promoting peace and security in the region and is chaired by
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
Mozambican President
Armando Guebuza and Namibian leader Hifikepunye Pohamba are the
other members.
Zuma will attend the
meeting in his capacity as the SADC-appointed facilitator in Zimbabwe.
A diplomat in Harare
said the meeting has been called to assess Zimbabwe’s level
of preparedness for the polls and funding.
“There is concern
that the elections will be shambolic and these concerns are justified,
considering how the country handled the special vote,” said
the diplomat.
“As you know, SADC
helped Zimbabwe come up with an election road map, but sadly that
road map has not been followed. There have also been questions around
the legality of holding the elections so, as it stands, the ground
is fertile for a disputed outcome, which is worrying SADC,”
the diplomat added.
“SADC has been
stuck on Zimbabwe for more than a decade and regional leaders were
hoping the next election would not be contested. Regional leaders
will be discussing how to salvage the situation.”
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