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Power-sharing talks not a solution to current crisis in Zim - Dr Madhuku

Power-sharing talks not a solution to current crisis in Zim - Dr Madhuku
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Friday, November 07, 2008 3:38:11 AM

AN amalgamation of civil society organisations in Zimbabwe has said the current bickering surrounding the proposed inclusive government shows that the unity government will not be a solution to the country's problems.
The National Constitution Assembly, made up of more than 40 civil society organisations, said on Wednesday that the current impasse on the sharing of ministries appears to be more about power-acquisition rather than sorting out the country's problems.

"The NCA notes that the continued impasse between the political parties also reduced the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe to one that appears to be more about the acquisition of power for its own sake as opposed to the setting up of a transitional authority," NCA chairman Dr Lovemore Madhuku said.

"It also points to the possibility that even if this issue of Cabinet ministries were to be resolved at the scheduled SADC summit, the political parties will still dispute over lower government positions and further stall the functioning of a power sharing government. This means that the so-called power-sharing talks are not a solution to the current crisis in the country."

An extraordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit has been called in South Africa on Sunday to attempt to bridge the gap between the Zimbabwean parties, which have failed to agree on sharing key ministries in the inclusive government.

Such a government was proposed by the African Union (AU) and SADC as a compromise for the disputed election earlier this year, which left over 100 people dead and more than 30,000 displaced in election violence.

The civil society organisations urged the SADC summit to adopt a three-point plan they have proposed to deal with the Zimbabwean problem.

The first pillar of the plan is that a transitional government must be set up, whether composed of the political parties engaged in the current dialogue or by neutral people with the immediate responsibility of addressing our humanitarian tragedy resulting from the food, health, water, and cash crises.

The second is that during the life-span of the transitional government, Zimbabweans must be given full freedom to write their own constitution in an open process.

The third is that free and fair elections must be held under the new constitution and under international supervision and monitoring.

"We appeal to SADC to adopt this three-point approach to the Zimbabwean crisis," said Madhuku.

Labels: LOVEMORE MADHUKU, NCA, SADC

posted by MrK @ 3:39 AM