Sadc a problem for Zimbabwe — Moyo
CONTINUED meddling by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) in Zimbabwe’s unity government is causing governance problems that can only be solved by fresh elections that should ideally take place this year, Zanu (PF) politburo member Jonathan Moyo said yesterday
Speaking at a seminar organised by democracy institute Idasa in Pretoria, Mr Moyo — a staunch ally of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe — said Sadc’s continued involvement as a “broker” was creating a “government about negotiation”, undermining the unity government’s ability to set and implement policies.
Zanu (PF) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time when the Movement for Democratic Change won legislative elections in 2008. But delays in the release of the results, along with subsequent violence, led to the opposition agreeing to abandon a planned presidential run-off vote. Sadc then led negotiations for a settlement, known as the Global Political Agreement.
Mr Moyo said Sadc’s continued role was leading to talks over substantive government issues “taking place outside of its internal structures”, undermining institutions and leading to a “government system that defaults into auto-pilot”.
But he conceded that the agreement had been successful in creating conditions for political stability, and “an environment of political maturity in this country”, although it was also muting nascent political forces that were not party to the agreement. The problems caused by the agreement could now be solved with elections as soon as possible, said Mr Moyo.
Solidarity Peace Trust research director Brian Raftopoulos said Prof Moyo was echoing the sentiments of Zanu (PF) hardliners who are frustrated with the accountability being put on them in Zimbabwe and regionally.
Sadc was playing a positive role in the country, especially in the wake of the Livingstone summit last year, which resolved that security forces be kept out of the election process and prevented from being in a position to inflict violence in order to prevent the proper transfer of power, Mr Raftopoulos said.
But Mr Moyo criticised the draft constitution, saying it “has a problem in each of its 18 chapters”. Zanu (PF) was discussing the draft constitution, and could reach a resolution today or tomorrow, he said.