News / National
Polls in Zimbabwe should be held within the next 12 months - Sadc Troika
02 Jun 2012 at 04:43hrs | Views
THE Sadc Troika on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation yesterday said elections in Zimbabwe should be held within the next 12 months.
The organ urged the parties to the Global Political Agreement to go back home and agree on the timeline for the harmonised polls.
The troika also asked the facilitator and South African leader, Mr Jacob Zuma, to fly to Harare to assist the GPA parties find common ground on the remaining contentious issues.
The position by the troika sought to accommodate the stance of both parties as Zanu-PF maintains that elections should be held this year while the MDC formations want the polls in March next year.
Sources who were monitoring the proceedings closely, yesterday said the "notion to go for elections has been upheld".
President Mugabe came out of the troika meeting maintaining that elections will be held this year.
Speaking soon after the troika meeting here yesterday, President Mugabe told journalists that all the parties to the GPA had made their contributions during the meeting, which all negotiators described as having been cordial.
"We discussed the situation in our country and we all made contributions. We should go and finish the business to see when we can have elections within the period left for us. We have to finish what is to be done. We want elections to be held this year," he said.
The negotiators from the two MDC formations Mr Tendai Biti and Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the Troika meeting went well but maintained that elections should be held after the reforms.
It is understood that PM Tsvangirai who quickly rushed to his hotel without addressing journalists, told the troika that he also wanted elections but as usual spoke about the need for the reforms.
The troika clearly showed respect for Zimbabwe's sovereignty by asking Zimbabweans to solve their issues and went on to call for the speeding up of the constitution-making process to pave way for the elections.
It is understood that the troika expressed to all the parties that time was of essence in terms of the lifespan of the GPA as it now only has about 12 months left. Reports say President Mugabe highlighted the constitutional constraint that the terms of Members of Parliament end in March while the inclusive Government can continue beyond March.
Sources said Zambian leader Michael Sata took the MDC formations head on saying they should go for elections this year.
He said if the MDC formations have a message to take to the people, they would not be afraid of the elections.
The troika acknowledged the economic improvements in Zimbabwe despite the sanctions and went on to call for the removal of the embargo.
Recently, United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Ms Navanethem Pillay called for the suspension of the illegal sanctions.
During the troika meeting, Professor Welshman Ncube spoke about the sanctions saying when the inclusive Government started, some parties were not sincere in calling for the lifting of the embargo but now everyone seemed to be pulling in one direction.
He spoke about the recent meeting between representatives from the three political parties and the EU adding that "let's wait and see what happens in July" when the EU is expected to review its position on sanctions. The troika meeting dragged on for over three hours and reports say President Sata did not mince his words urging the parties to agree to go for elections this year.
After the troika meeting, the extraordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government started in the afternoon and went well into the night after which the summit was supposed to release a communique.
The troika position was later upheld by the full Sadc Extraordinary Summit amid reports that President Sata, King Mswati of Swaziland and President Eduardo dos Santos of Angola urged parties to the GPA not to become too comfortable with the inclusive Government.
President Mugabe has maintained that elections should be held this year adding that whatever process that has to be carried out for the polls to be held should be finished this year.
The organ urged the parties to the Global Political Agreement to go back home and agree on the timeline for the harmonised polls.
The troika also asked the facilitator and South African leader, Mr Jacob Zuma, to fly to Harare to assist the GPA parties find common ground on the remaining contentious issues.
The position by the troika sought to accommodate the stance of both parties as Zanu-PF maintains that elections should be held this year while the MDC formations want the polls in March next year.
Sources who were monitoring the proceedings closely, yesterday said the "notion to go for elections has been upheld".
President Mugabe came out of the troika meeting maintaining that elections will be held this year.
Speaking soon after the troika meeting here yesterday, President Mugabe told journalists that all the parties to the GPA had made their contributions during the meeting, which all negotiators described as having been cordial.
"We discussed the situation in our country and we all made contributions. We should go and finish the business to see when we can have elections within the period left for us. We have to finish what is to be done. We want elections to be held this year," he said.
The negotiators from the two MDC formations Mr Tendai Biti and Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the Troika meeting went well but maintained that elections should be held after the reforms.
It is understood that PM Tsvangirai who quickly rushed to his hotel without addressing journalists, told the troika that he also wanted elections but as usual spoke about the need for the reforms.
It is understood that the troika expressed to all the parties that time was of essence in terms of the lifespan of the GPA as it now only has about 12 months left. Reports say President Mugabe highlighted the constitutional constraint that the terms of Members of Parliament end in March while the inclusive Government can continue beyond March.
Sources said Zambian leader Michael Sata took the MDC formations head on saying they should go for elections this year.
He said if the MDC formations have a message to take to the people, they would not be afraid of the elections.
The troika acknowledged the economic improvements in Zimbabwe despite the sanctions and went on to call for the removal of the embargo.
Recently, United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Ms Navanethem Pillay called for the suspension of the illegal sanctions.
During the troika meeting, Professor Welshman Ncube spoke about the sanctions saying when the inclusive Government started, some parties were not sincere in calling for the lifting of the embargo but now everyone seemed to be pulling in one direction.
He spoke about the recent meeting between representatives from the three political parties and the EU adding that "let's wait and see what happens in July" when the EU is expected to review its position on sanctions. The troika meeting dragged on for over three hours and reports say President Sata did not mince his words urging the parties to agree to go for elections this year.
After the troika meeting, the extraordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government started in the afternoon and went well into the night after which the summit was supposed to release a communique.
The troika position was later upheld by the full Sadc Extraordinary Summit amid reports that President Sata, King Mswati of Swaziland and President Eduardo dos Santos of Angola urged parties to the GPA not to become too comfortable with the inclusive Government.
President Mugabe has maintained that elections should be held this year adding that whatever process that has to be carried out for the polls to be held should be finished this year.
Source - TC
