News / National
MDC-T must be patient - Zuma
18 Apr 2012 at 07:33hrs | Views
HARARE - South African President Jacob Zuma has called for more patience in the ongoing delicate mediation of the Zimbabwean crisis, as concerns mount the slow pace of reforms could lead to sham elections.
Responding to concerns by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party that negotiations for democratic reforms were stalling, Lindiwe Zulu, spokesperson for Zuma's facilitation team, said the MDC-T was being impatient, the Daily News reported.
Zulu has urged MDC-T to communicate its concerns to the mediator, but was quick to add that Zuma was well aware of most of the problems blighting the Harare government.
"There is a continuous and constant negotiation," Zulu said. "We know their concerns. We have already told you what we are doing. When MDC-T has come up with something, we can only comment when we speak to them. They haven't indicated it to us," said Zulu.
President Robert Mugabe insists he will push through with elections regardless of regional grouping Sadc insisting polls will only be held after the full implementation of the power sharing Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the election roadmap.
Two MDC formations say Mugabe's push for elections is hollow because he lacks the legitimacy to unilaterally call them.
Zulu said a key moment will come when Zuma is expected to head to Harare "soon". Zanu PF has already warned it reserves the right to reject Zuma's mediation.
Asked if Zuma is still heading to Harare, Zulu said: "He still is, as soon as he is free. It is in the pipeline, as soon as he is able, he will come."
Responding to concerns by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party that negotiations for democratic reforms were stalling, Lindiwe Zulu, spokesperson for Zuma's facilitation team, said the MDC-T was being impatient, the Daily News reported.
Zulu has urged MDC-T to communicate its concerns to the mediator, but was quick to add that Zuma was well aware of most of the problems blighting the Harare government.
"There is a continuous and constant negotiation," Zulu said. "We know their concerns. We have already told you what we are doing. When MDC-T has come up with something, we can only comment when we speak to them. They haven't indicated it to us," said Zulu.
Two MDC formations say Mugabe's push for elections is hollow because he lacks the legitimacy to unilaterally call them.
Zulu said a key moment will come when Zuma is expected to head to Harare "soon". Zanu PF has already warned it reserves the right to reject Zuma's mediation.
Asked if Zuma is still heading to Harare, Zulu said: "He still is, as soon as he is free. It is in the pipeline, as soon as he is able, he will come."
Source - Byo24News
