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(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T urged to enter into all-inclusive govt

MDC-T urged to enter into all-inclusive govt
Our reporter
Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:00:00 +0000

MDC-T urged to enter into all-inclusive govt

THE group of “Elders” visiting South Africa and the South African government have urged the Movement for Democratic Change to enter into an all-inclusive government with President Robert Mugabe amid reports that the top leadership is split over which direction to take next.

The MDC-T party led by Morgan Tsvangirai has defied a Southern African Development Community ruling to be part of an inclusive government to be formed by President Mugabe.

The former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, the US ex- president Jimmy Carter, and Graca Machel, Nelson Mandela's wife and former wife of the late Mozambican President, Samora Machel, had planned to go on what they termed a “fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe to assess the humanitarian situation there,” but the government made clear they were not welcome.

The group urged the MDC-T to join the all-inclusive government “to avert a humanitarian disaster”.

"We have indicated to them (MDC-T) that the most important issues are the lives and the suffering of the people and that must be paramount. I hope they will draw the right conclusions and move expeditiously to form a government,” Annan said

Jacob Zuma, the leader of South Africa's ruling ANC, and Kgalema Motlanthe, the country's president, also pressed the MDC-T party.

"I think it's now an urgent matter because people are dying," said Zuma, pleading with all parties to "exercise their leadership responsibilities".

In a clear reference to the MDC-T party, Motlanthe added: "In this kind of situation once parties are comfortable and not willing to take the bold step and take responsibility, the tendency is for them to start parallel processes."

The call by the two South African leaders was in line with a decision taken by that country’s Cabinet last week.

In a statement issued last week the South African government’s Cabinet said: “Cabinet is extremely concerned about the political impasse that is creating a humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.”

“South Africa calls on the leaders of Zimbabwe to take urgent steps to finalise the amendments to their constitution, the allocation of the remaining Cabinet posts and the formation of a representative Government without any further delay and before the situation of ordinary Zimbabweans degenerates any further.”

The sentiments expressed by the Elders and the South African government echo a ruling made by the Sadc two weeks ago urging President Mugabe to form appoint a Cabinet urgently.

Meanwhile, the MDC-T party’s leadership is split over whether to attend a meeting to discuss a Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill that would allow President Mugabe to appoint an all-inclusive Cabinet.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is facilitating the power-sharing talks, has called for a meeting in South Africa today where the parties would review proposed constitutional changes.

Reports last week indicated that the MDC-T party had snubbed a call by Mbeki to attend the talks.

MDC-T Secretary-General said there was no need to continue with the Sadc facilitation – a move not echoed by Tsvangirai – the party’s president.

A source told Reuters news agency: "Tsvangirai does not want a boycott of the meeting, but other officials, led by secretary general Tendai Biti, don't want that meeting to go ahead until SADC rescinds its decision."

President Mbeki is due to meet with all negotiating teams today in South Africa after the MDC-T party a meeting called last week.

Labels: MDC, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, SADC

posted by MrK @ 3:06 PM