Zanu-PF has never 'negotiated in good faith': Mwonzora

Zanu-PF says it has lost faith with the GPA (Global Political Agreement) forum of negotiators, calling for the establishment of other  platforms to deal with outstanding issues, state media reported

Negotiating teams from Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations met Sadc facilitator South African President Jacob Zuma's facilitation team in Harare yesterday.

The team, comprising Mr Charles Nqakula and Ms Lindiwe Zulu, met with the negotiating teams of Cdes Patrick Chinamasa and Jonathan Moyo (Zanu-PF), Mr Tendai Biti and Mr Elton Mangoma (MDC-T) and Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu (MDC).

Chinamasa said Prof Moyo attended the meeting in place of Cdes Nicholas Goche and Emmerson Mnangagwa who were not available yesterday.
He said the Zanu-PF negotiators made it clear to the facilitation team that the forum for negotiators to resolve outstanding issues had failed.

"It is clear that the MDC-T has withdrawn their co-operation from implementing negotiated and agreed positions.

"We no longer have the energy, inclination or willingness to maintain the team of negotiators as a forum of resolving any disagreements," Chinamsa said.

However, MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora accused Zanu-PF of trying to delay the resolution of outstanding GPA issues.

Chinamasa accused MDC-T negotiators of refusing to own up to agreements even when signed documents are produced.

"They tend to varicate and ponder in successfully undermining the negotiated and agreed positions. This is not the first time they have done this as they have always raised issues that undermine the agreed positions."

He accused a member of the MDC-T negotiating team (Elton Mangoma) of vowing to undermine the agreed positions.

"He had the temerity to say that he would do everything possible to undermine the agreed position.

"We have lost faith in this forum and we cannot continue drifting into the wilderness. We accept their attitude and we will not be seen to negotiate new issues that they do not own up to," he said.

The MDC-T negotiating team, he said, lacked the courage to own up to negotiated agreements and positions.

"We took the opportunity to convey our extreme disappointment towards the MDC-T attitude of undermining the forum of negotiators and making them worthless."

Chinamasa said it took two years to negotiate the Human Rights Bill and electoral Amendments Acts, only for MDC-T to backtrack and refuse to own up to the agreements.

"We feel, as Zanu-PF, that it serves no use to negotiate, agree and subsequently be undermined by people who agreed and appended their signatures.

He said the negotiators had agreed and accepted that they introduce the specific polling station voters' roll to eliminate the issue of double voting.

"It was discovered that their supporters were guilty of double voting in the last election. We agreed that we should work on a new voters' roll to ferret any deceased persons," he said.

Chinamasa said the number of deceased persons appearing on the voters' roll had been highlighted by Mr Biti.

Mr Biti alleged that there were four million ghost voters on the roll which has just over five million registered voters.

"We have agreed on the new voters' roll that everyone buys into and eliminates any shortcomings. The MDC-T are refusing to accept despite the fact that it is an agreed position," he said.

Chinamasa dismissed claims that there was selective application of the law in Zimbabwe.

"No one is ammune to the full application of the law and no one is above the law. We are all subject to the laws of the country.

"They are asking for immunity from arrest and prosecution and that is not the future of Zimbabwe."
He said the MDC-T should not distort facts to present themselves as victims when they are the perpetrators of both intra and inter-party violence.

Chinamasa reiterated that the security sector reforms was not a GPA issue.

"What we have agreed on and implement is for the inclusion of Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Laws in their curriculum," he said.

Mr Mwonzora however said Zanu-PF has never "negotiated in good faith."

"That is a political gimmick to delay the resolution of outstanding issues. They realise that delaying on outstanding issues on the negotiating table is impossible and they want it rejected so that they delay further of the issues," he said.

He sighted issues such as the election roadmap, ZEC secretariat and others as the issues being avoided by Zanu-PF.

"It stands to reason that there be a new secretariat at ZEC. There is need for a resolution of the issue of violence especially were militias who attack people and embarrass the President when he is calling for no violence," he said.

Mr Mwonzora said Zanu-PF had chosen to misunderstand the issue so that Zimbabwe does not go for elections.
''That is a delaying tactic so that they delay the elections," he said.

MDC secretary general, Mrs Pricilla Misiharabwi Mushonga, said the meeting went on well and the parties discussed matters that were affecting the implementation of the poll roadmap.

"It was basically a review of some of the meetings that we have convened. We also discussed the timelines and other members were frustrated by lack of progress. We touched on the issues that have been implemented in the road map and those outstanding," she said.

Mrs Misiharabwi-Mushonga refused to highlight concerns raised by other parties during the meeting.
The negotiators are expected to meet again on November 18 and come up with areas of disagreements ahead of a meeting five days later with the facilitation team.

The negotiators agreed that President Zuma should convene a meeting of GPA principals, the facilitation team and negotiating teams in Harare.