Zuma wants SADC in Zim ahead of polls
2013-03-20 14:59
Special Report
Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party is mulling over a special congress at which top vacant positions will be filled and the succession of President Robert Mugabe would be decided, according to a report.
Cape Town – South African President Jacob Zuma wants SADC to
be more "robust" and to be stationed in Zimbabwe well before the general elections
expected in July, according to a report.
Daily News said that Zuma who is mediating in Zimbabwe also
wanted SADC observers to remain in the country for some time after the
polls.
SADC needs to be "more robust" and to "be based in that
country to make follow-ups and deal with issues as they arise", Zuma was quoted
as saying in a report to the Sadc Troika on politics, defence and security
co-operation meeting attended by Zimbabwean government leaders early this month.
"Differences over the role of observers need to be resolved
and the SADC guidelines as well as the laws of Zimbabwe should be the
baseline," said Zuma.
He called for full implementation of the power-sharing pact
widely known as the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
"It is extremely urgent that all matters agreed upon in
terms of the GPA are implemented speedily so that adequate preparations are
made for a level playing field for the forthcoming elections," Zuma said.
"Without the above steps, it will be difficult to envisage
elections taking place under conditions that are free and fair," he said.
The report comes a few days after Zimbabwe voted in a
referendum for a new constitution which has since been approved by thousands of
Zimbabweans.
The country now awaits the announcement of the election date
by President Robert Mugabe.
The elections are expected to end a shaky coalition government between Mugabe and his rival Morgan Tsvangirai formed after disputed national polls in 2008.
- News24
