News / National
Mugabe, Tsvangirai, Mutambara delaying Zuma visit
14 Apr 2012 at 09:46hrs | Views
Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Mutambara, Zimbabwe's principals to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) are delaying South Africa president Jacob Zuma's visit to Harare intended to break the political impasse.
Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma's international affairs advisor who doubles-up as the spokesperson for the South Africa mediation process in Zimbabwe, said on Thursday from Pretoria that there was still no word from the principals over when the South African leader should visit Harare.
Zuma, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed facilitator in the Zimbabwe crisis had been due in Harare six months ago but was still waiting for an "invitation" from the three principals, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
Zuma and his facilitation team are said to be under pressure from SADC to ensure that the goals set by the GPA were all met before Zimbabwe held its next elections President Mugabe wants held this year without fail.
"They (principals) have not indicated (when Zuma should visit). We expect an invitation but we are always in constant touch with the respective negotiators of the three political parties as the mediators," said Zulu.
"When the invitation to come (to Harare), we will let the Zimbabwe people know," she added.
Zulu was also quoted in the South Africa media this week saying her mediation team had not lost hope on Zimbabwe.
"We made it clear that there won't be elections in Zimbabwe unless the set goals are met," she was quoted as having said.
Zanu (PF) and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are still squabbling over the contents of the draft constitution, among other issues bedevilling the coalition government, nearly four years after its formation.
There are also reportedly failing to agree on electoral reforms that would lead to fresh polls whose outcome would not be disputed.
Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma's international affairs advisor who doubles-up as the spokesperson for the South Africa mediation process in Zimbabwe, said on Thursday from Pretoria that there was still no word from the principals over when the South African leader should visit Harare.
Zuma, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed facilitator in the Zimbabwe crisis had been due in Harare six months ago but was still waiting for an "invitation" from the three principals, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
Zuma and his facilitation team are said to be under pressure from SADC to ensure that the goals set by the GPA were all met before Zimbabwe held its next elections President Mugabe wants held this year without fail.
"They (principals) have not indicated (when Zuma should visit). We expect an invitation but we are always in constant touch with the respective negotiators of the three political parties as the mediators," said Zulu.
Zulu was also quoted in the South Africa media this week saying her mediation team had not lost hope on Zimbabwe.
"We made it clear that there won't be elections in Zimbabwe unless the set goals are met," she was quoted as having said.
Zanu (PF) and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are still squabbling over the contents of the draft constitution, among other issues bedevilling the coalition government, nearly four years after its formation.
There are also reportedly failing to agree on electoral reforms that would lead to fresh polls whose outcome would not be disputed.
Source - Radio VOP
