Zimbabwe election negotiators puts timeline to GPA issues

Zimbabwe negotiators to the power sharing, Global Political Agreement, are reported to have put timelines on issues raised in the elections roadmap and are expected to sign the document tomorrow before presenting it to the principals.

The negotiators met in Harare yesterday and agreed on the timelines, which they said would guide the process to elections as advised by the extraordinary summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government in Sandton, South Africa last month.

Some of the agreed items on the elections roadmap include the lifting of the illegal sanctions, completion of the constitution-making process, media reforms, rule of law and amendments to electoral laws.

Zanu-PF negotiator Patrick Chinamasa confirmed the development last night.

He said areas of disagreement remained timeless, amo-ng them security sector reforms.

Zanu-PF has already said no to security sector reforms, adding Zimbabwe's security sector is highly professional and recognised in the world.

MDC representative Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said there was consensus on the timelines, adding that the principals would look at the timelines set on issues raised in the roadmap before coming up with a posi- tion.

MDC-T negotiator Mr Elton Mangoma, who is also the Minister of Energy and Power Development said: "We have put timelines on the agreed items, though I cannot get into detail.

"On contentious items, there is nothing on those."