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 SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma is expected in Harare on Tuesday in yet another attempt to break the deadlock between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations.
Marathon meetings involving the negotiating teams, Zuma’s facilitation team and the three principals in the unity government will be held between today and tomorrow to prepare for Zuma’s visit on Tuesday.
Zuma’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya yesterday told The Standard that the facilitation team of former ministers Charles Nqakula, Mac Maharaj and Zuma’s international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu would jet into Harare today “to prepare for President Zuma’s arrival on Tuesday”.
“The facilitation team will arrive in Harare tomorrow (today) to continue with the facilitation work they have been doing with the parties and to prepare for President Zuma’s visit on Tuesday,” said Magwenya.
“He (Zuma) will hold meetings with the three principals in the global political agreement – President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. He will meet them individually and as a group. It is part of the ongoing facilitation work.”
Magwenya would not confirm whether or not Zuma would insist on his “park and proceed” proposal for the holding of new elections.
“That is a matter that lies entirely upon the Zimbabwean parties. He is coming to understand and get a briefing on the latest developments and facilitate discussions that will unblock whatever areas of discussion that are in dispute,” added Magwenya.
Responding to claims that the MDC-T recently wrote to Zuma informing him that there was a political logjam, Magwenya said he was “not at liberty to discuss deadlocks and who has declared what”.
“In terms of moving forward, the parties need each other. Our interest is not in whether there is a deadlock or not, but encouraging the parties to implement the agreement and move faster with the entire process so that the situation on the ground improves.”
MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti said they “have not been advised” of the team and President Zuma’s visit.
“We do not know, but that strong rumour is there. We have not been advised officially,” said Biti.
But his principal, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai confirmed last week that he would meet with President Robert Mugabe tomorrow to discuss the stripping of powers of his ministers by the 86-year-old leader as tension in the unity government intensifies.
Tsvangirai has already declared the changes as “null and void” because he was never consulted as required by the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
“On Monday, we will be dealing with assignments of Acts of ministers,” said Tsvangirai. “There is an opportunity to reverse these things.”
Mugabe 10 days ago stripped Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa of his powers, expanding the ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development to also include the department of Communications which was under Chamisa’s portfolio.
The new portfolio is called Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development and is held by Nicholas Goche, a close Mugabe ally.
Other ministers affected by Mugabe’s unilateralism are Regional Integration and International Co-operation Minister, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, State Enterprises and Parastatals Minister, Gabuza Joel Gabbuza, Science and Technology Development Minister, Heneri Dzinotyiweyi.
All the ministers are from the MDC formations and have been left with no Acts of Parliament to administer.
This week’s trip is Zuma’s first since he took over the mediation from his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki in November 2009.
The trip also comes hard on the heels of Zuma’s trip to the United Kingdom, where he reportedly called for international support for the troubled coalition.
The MDC-T has already declared a deadlock on all the outstanding GPA issues and wants them referred back to Zuma.
On the other hand, President Mugabe and his Zanu PF say the talks should be given time, but have also taken a rigid position not to compromise on anything that is against the resolutions of their December 2009 congress.
The South African leader has made it clear that he wants the parties to “park” the contentious issues around key government appointments, sanctions imposed by western countries, and of late, the stripping of powers of MDC ministers.
In an earlier interview, Biti said the “the issue of allocation of mandates is not somebody’s unilateral right”.
“It is an executive process whose matrix is shared between the President and Prime Minister. This business of castrating other ministers cannot happen,” said Biti.
Chamisa said he would not accept Mugabe’s move to make him “a minister in name without any responsibilities”.
Zuma was tasked to mediate in the Zimbabwean crisis by Sadc after MDC-T temporarily pulled out of the unity government last year as frustration intensified over Mugabe’s refusal to fully implement the GPA.
But his intervention has not lived up to expectations with analysts saying he has taken his feet off the pedal.
BY VUSUMUZI SIFILE AND CAIPHAS CHIMHETE
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