Maravi

(HERALD) AU backs Sadc-led dialogue

AU backs Sadc-led dialogue
From Itai Musengeyi in Cairo, Egypt

AFRICAN Union leaders on Tuesday adopted a Sadc-initiated resolution encouraging the continuation of dialogue between Government and the opposition MDC-T in the post-presidential election run-off period following what sources described as tough debate.

According to the sources, Angola — which chairs the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security — introduced the resolution at the start of the discussion of the Zimbabwean issue in a closed session and was supported by Ethiopia, Uganda, The Gambia, Swaziland, Namibia and Senegal.

"Angola introduced the resolution calling on, among other things, for the AU to support the Sadc initiative and encourage the parties (Zanu-PF and MDC-T) to engage in talks and consider an all-inclusive government," a source who attended the closed session said.

The source said after the introduction of the resolution, President Mugabe gave a report to the summit of the situation in Zimbabwe chronicling South African President Thabo Mbeki-brokered talks between Zanu-PF and the MDC-T and the achievements made so far in the dialogue.

Cde Mugabe said President Mbeki’s mediation had resulted in amendments to key laws such as POSA and AIPPA, electoral laws and a constitutional amendment jointly sponsored by Zanu-PF and the MDC-T.

"He told the summit that these were all achievements made through the facilitation of President Mbeki and pointed out that the dialogue continued even up to the March 29 harmonised elections," the source said.

The general feeling during the debate was that Zimbabweans should be allowed to solve their own problems and that Sadc, which had done well in facilitating dialogue between the major parties, should be allowed to continue with the mediation.

Although some countries such as Botswana, Liberia, Nigeria and Burundi were against the resolution, the group that supported the resolution argued strongly in favour of the Sadc-proposed resolution and backed the Zimbabwean Government.

The group that supported the Sadc resolution argued that Mr Mbeki should be allowed to continue his mediation and should be the only one to request for the inclusion of more people in the mediation if necessary.

"Following the tough debate the resolution was adopted as proposed," said the source.

The MDC-T and its Western backers were pushing for the inclusion of other mediators from the AU, presumably those who could influence the process since President Mbeki has steadfastly refused to be told how to handle the Zimbabwean issue.

President Mbeki has stood his ground, particularly against the West who have their own agenda of effecting regime change and reversing the gains of the liberation struggle, notably the land reform programme.

President Mugabe flew from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo after the summit on Tuesday night en-route to Harare.

MDC’s push for inclusion of other mediators outside Sadc has been seen as a ploy to undermine unity in the regional bloc as desired by the British and American governments in their rabid quest for an illegal regime change agenda.

The Government of Zimbabwe has always reiterated its commitment to Sadc-brokered talks and strongly believes that Sadc is the way.

Labels: AU, SADC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 2:14 AM