Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Mbeki heads for Harare

Mbeki heads for Harare
Ralph Mutema
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:37:00 +0000

FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki will travel to Zimbabwe Monday afternoon to continue with the facilitation efforts in the ongoing all-party talks between the ruling Zanu PF party and the two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change, his spokesperson said.

Mbeki will continue with the facilitation as an envoy of the regional Southern African Development Community (Sadc) who recently expressed their confidence in his continued facilitation.

The parties in Zimbabwe also resolved to use the efforts of Mbeki in the final stages of the power-sharing negotiations.

"He leaves this afternoon (Monday)," said his spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, adding that Mbeki had been invited by "all the parties in Zimbabwe plus SADC".

Mbeki spent almost two years negotiating a power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe after being appointed facilitator by Sadc.

He was instrumental in the signing of the 18th Amendment to the Zimbabwe Constitution which saw the scrapping of the appointment of House of Assembly members by the President and changes to the information and media laws, among a raft of other amendments.

Mbeki was also responsible for Zimbabwe’s adoption of the Sadc guidelines on the conduct of elections which saw Zimbabwe, for the first time, displaying election results outside polling stations.

Mbeki was recently removed from office by the African National Congress – a party he has been a member of for more than three decades. The ANC, however, resolved to have him continue as facilitator in the power-sharing negotiations in Zimbabwe.

On his latest visit to Zimbabwe, the former SA President will be accompanied by former provincial and local government minister Sydney Mufamadi, Director General in the Presidency Frank Chikane and advocate Mojanku Gumbi.

The group returns to South Africa on Tuesday.

Labels: THABO MBEKI

posted by MrK @ 2:58 PM