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(TALKZIMBABWE) No MDC governors until sanctions are lifted: Chinamasa

No MDC governors until sanctions are lifted: Chinamasa
By: Ralph Mutema
Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010 12:37 am

JUSTICE Minister Patrick Chinamasa says the appointment of provincial governors from the two MDC factions will only be made after the lifting of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe by Western countries.

This comment came as it came to light that Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara had written to South African President Jacob Zuma ahead of the just ended Sadc Ordinary Summit saying the issue of governors had been resolved by the principals.

Minister Chinamasa, who is the chief Zanu-PF negotiator in the inter-party talks, confirmed that such an agreement had been reached but could only be implemented after the lifting of sanctions.

"The principals ... agreed that the issue of illegal sanctions and provincial governors have to be implemented simultaneously," said Minister Chinamasa.

"The issue of provincial governors can only be considered upon lifting of sanctions.

"As long as sanctions remain, we have serious problems," he said.

He said the discredited sanctions were designed to influence political events in Zimbabwe in MDC-T’s favour.

Minister Chinamasa said to date MDC-T leader and Prime Minister, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, had not fulfilled his GPA obligations of lobbying for the lifting of the illegal embargo that his party called for.

He said MDC-T was aware that "in a free environment they would not stand a chance at the polls" and "wanted to reach power on the back of people’s suffering".

"It is sanctions that have slowed down the implementation of the GPA. The MDC-T is dishonest over the issue of sanctions. They have not called for the lifting of sanctions," said Chinamasa.

He said it was surprising that in his mid-year report, Finance Minister Tendai Biti deliberately avoided the issue of sanctions.

Minister Chinamasa, however, noted that the DPM Mutambara-led MDC was playing its part in trying to get the embargo lifted.

The principals, President Mugabe, PM Tsvangirai and DPM Mutambara are also said to have agreed that elections cannot be free and fair if sanctions remain in place.

SADC TRIBUNAL SUSPENSION

Minister Chinamasa shed some light on the the suspension of the Sadc Tribunal.

He said Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama called for the tribunal’s suspension after accepting Zimbabwe’s position that the body was operating outside of the norms of international law.

Minister Chinamasa said all rulings made by the tribunal were null and void.

"It is like those people were just sitting under a tree making pronouncements. They are not judgments," he said.

Labels: MDC, PATRICK CHINAMASA, SADC, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 3:44 AM