SADC summit to discuss Zimbabwe

  1. Posted on Tuesday 17 August 2010 - 11:30
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    Ryekola Raphie, AfricaNews reporter in Kampala, Uganda
    The Southern African Development Community is expected to discuss the political progress in Zimbabwe during its annual two-day summit. Regional heads of states are taking part in the meeting in Windhoek, Namibia. While some progress since the last summit is being reported, analysts say Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party leaders still dominate the 18-month-old unity government.
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    South African President Jacob Zuma is leading the Southern African Development Community's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe. During the regional summit, he is expected to report on the progress of the outstanding issues in the power-sharing government.

    Political analysts say the Movement for Democratic Change’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has little control over the inclusive government he formed with President Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. They say the Global Political Agreement - which is the foundation of the unity government - has made painfully slow progress.

    The Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe says that since the unity government was formed, there has been greater media freedom in Zimbabwe, with many journalists now accredited and a new daily newspaper circulating on Harare's streets. But, it adds, the so-called public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporations' four radio channels and one television network, blatantly promote Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.

    "We want to move on, and it is upon the SADC to make sure - especially Jacob Zuma as the main negotiator - to make sure that these trivial issues amongst politicians are dealt with once and for all, and we move on as a country," said Qabuto. "We cannot tolerate this; we are now sick and tired."

    According to the political agreement mediated by South Africa, Zimbabwe should now be going to a referendum to decide on a new constitution ahead of fresh elections. The process of drawing the constitution is only now beginning.

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