News / National
Zuma officially concludes Zimbabwe facilitation role
20 Aug 2013 at 05:33hrs | Views
SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma has officially concluded his facilitation role on Zimbabwe following the endorsement of Zanu-PF and President Mugabe's win in the harmonised elections by the just-ended 33rd Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government in Lilongwe, Malawi. His spokesperson, Mr Mac Maharaj yesterday told Chronicle that it was now official that his boss was no longer a facilitator on Zimbabwe.
"It is now official President Zuma has officially concluded his facilitation task on Zimbabwe. The 33rd Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government in Lilongwe, Malawi has welcomed the peaceful elections and congratulated Zanu-PF and President Mugabe for winning in the harmonised elections so with this the facilitation task has been concluded.
"The summit expressed its appreciation and thanked President Zuma and his team for undertaking this assignment and their sterling job in facilitating the successful completion of the Global Political Agreement," said Mr Maharaj.
President Zuma assumed the role of Sadc appointed facilitator taking over from his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki who helped broker the power sharing deal between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations that subsequently led to the formation of the Inclusive Government in 2009.
Zimbabwe had been subjected to mediation of President Zuma over the past four years following a political crisis that resulted in the coalition Government whose mandate expired on 31 July when the country successfully held its elections.
According to the Sadc communiqué, the summit noted with satisfaction the holding of free and peaceful harmonised elections on 31 July and commended the Government and people of Zimbabwe for the peaceful manner in which elections were conducted.
During the summit, Zimbabwe also scored a major diplomatic victory after President Mugabe was elected Sadc deputy chairperson, deputising Malawian President Mrs Joyce Banda who chairs the regional bloc.
"It is now official President Zuma has officially concluded his facilitation task on Zimbabwe. The 33rd Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government in Lilongwe, Malawi has welcomed the peaceful elections and congratulated Zanu-PF and President Mugabe for winning in the harmonised elections so with this the facilitation task has been concluded.
"The summit expressed its appreciation and thanked President Zuma and his team for undertaking this assignment and their sterling job in facilitating the successful completion of the Global Political Agreement," said Mr Maharaj.
President Zuma assumed the role of Sadc appointed facilitator taking over from his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki who helped broker the power sharing deal between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations that subsequently led to the formation of the Inclusive Government in 2009.
Zimbabwe had been subjected to mediation of President Zuma over the past four years following a political crisis that resulted in the coalition Government whose mandate expired on 31 July when the country successfully held its elections.
According to the Sadc communiqué, the summit noted with satisfaction the holding of free and peaceful harmonised elections on 31 July and commended the Government and people of Zimbabwe for the peaceful manner in which elections were conducted.
During the summit, Zimbabwe also scored a major diplomatic victory after President Mugabe was elected Sadc deputy chairperson, deputising Malawian President Mrs Joyce Banda who chairs the regional bloc.
Source - chronicle
