There was one and a half Ndebele during GPA talks

THERE was one and a half Ndebele representation during the Global Political Agreement negotiations, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Addressing a Bulawayo Agenda organized public debate yesterday under the broad theme: "2011 in Retrospective; Achievements and Challenges in the Implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), Ms Priscilla Musihairabwi Mushonga said the one Ndebele was Professor Welshman Ncube and the half Ndebele was herself.

She said:

"During the GPA there was one and a half Ndebele representation. The rest were Shonas pursuing their interests.

"There was Prof Ncube and a half Ndebele, me.

"Sp who do you think would have raised issues about devolution of power, national healing, and equal distribution of resources and others in Article 6.

"Who was most likely to raise the issue of addressing historical imbalances and violence, Prof Ncube and Tendai Biti," she said.

MDC's negotiators were Ms Mushonga and Prof Ncube. Prof Ncube has since been replaced by Mozes Mzila Ndlovu.

MDC T's negotiators are Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma whereas Zanu PF has Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche.

The Prof Ncube MDC is the only party with a female negotiator.