Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai ends Cabinet boycott

Tsvangirai ends Cabinet boycott
Nancy Pasipanodya
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:54:00 +0000

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) have called off their boycott of the inclusive Government with President Robert Mugabe The suspension of their "disengagement" comes only a week after President Mugabe indicated that they will return to Government.

The Zanu PF party had described the boycott as "cheap propaganda" and "all sound and fury, signifying nothing". The MDC-T had been on strike since October 16 over the indictment of that party's treasurer and financier, Roy Bennett, on weapons charges.

PM Tsvangirai said his party will review their position after 30 days adding that they expected President Mugabe to deal with "the pertinent issues we are concerned about".

"We have suspended our disengagement from the GPA (Global Political Agreement) with immediate effect and we will give President Robert Mugabe 30 days to implement the agreement on the pertinent issues we are concerned about," he said.

He did not mention what course of action MDC-T would take if the issues he wanted addressed were not dealt with to his party's satisfaction at the expiry of the 30 days.

The prime minister was speaking after a regional Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit in Maputo, Mozambique's capital.

Four heads of state from the regional grouping met to review the general political situation in the DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

PM Tsvangirai, deputy prime ministers Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe also attended together with negotiators to the all-party talks.

The Sadc heads had earlier indicated that the Zimbabwean problems were not insurmountable and the parties to the Global Political Agreement could resolve these issues internally.

Opening the summit, President Armando Guebuza, who chairs the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (the Troika), said Zanu PF and the two MDC formations had shown commitment to resolving their differences and maintaining political stability for the country’s economic recovery.

He said indications were the parties "share more common views than disagreements".

President Guebuza said they should work on strengthening areas of convergence for the benefit of Zimbabweans and Southern Africa.

The Mozambican leader made similar observations on the political situation in Lesotho.

The summit's final communique urged the Zimbabwe parties to hold talks "with immediate effect within 15 days (and) not beyond 30 days" that would include all outstanding issues related to the implementation of the unity pact.

"The parties should not allow the situation to deteriorate any further," it said.

Labels: ARMANDO GUEBUZA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, SADC

posted by MrK @ 7:18 AM