SADC sets 5 Feb deadline for Zim constitutional amendment
27 January 2009

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have given Zimbabwian political leaders until 5 February 2009 to pass Constitutional Amendment 19.  Constitutional Amendment 19 makes provision for the creation of the post of prime minister and deputy prime minister for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, respectively.

Addressing local and international media on 27 January 2009 after over 12 hours around the negotiation table, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao said the people of Zimbabwe are faced with very difficult challenges that require an inclusive government.  "The extraordinary summit decided ... the parties shall endeavour to cause Parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment 19 by 5 February 2009.   The prime minister and deputy ministers shall be sworn in by 11 February 2009.  The minister and deputy minister shall be sworn in on 13 February 2009, which will conclude the process of the formation of the inclusive government," Dr Salomao said.

The executive secretary of SADC also told media that the regional organisation again endorsed a previous decision for the co-sharing of the Home Affairs portfolio by MDC and Zanu-PF, which will then be reviewed six months after an inclusive government is formed.  The appointment of Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank governor and the Attorney General will also be dealt with after the inclusive government's formation, Dr Salomao explained.

Current SADC Chairperson President Motlanthe told media the mood behind closed doors was one of great urgency and seriousness aimed at a breaking the political deadlock. "There was a deep sense of urgency, seriousness and frankness ... the talks went on so long because all SADC members were given the opportunity to ask questions and were given detailed answers, after which they could then submit their recommendations.  "[This was done] so that when consensus was arrived at that no question remained unanswered," Mr Motlanthe said.

SADC facilitator and former President Thabo Mbeki joked with media as to why they were still awake so early in the morning, going on to say, however, that the summit continued for such an extended period of time due to questions and recommendations to the SADC secretariat by member states.  A report detailing what has happened in Zimbabwe's political landscape since the last extraordinary SADC summit on 9 November 2008 was given to SADC members at the summit, Mr Mbeki said.

Not present at the media briefing following the marathon talks was leader of the bigger MDC faction Mr Tsvangirai. At the previous SADC summit in Johannesburg on 9 November 2008, Mr Tsvangirai lambasted SADC leadership for their inability to bring about a resolution to the political crisis in Zimbabwe.  "A great opportunity has been missed by the Southern African Development Community [SADC] to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.  We are shocked and saddened that the [Extraordinary Heads of State and Government] SADC Summit has failed to deal with outstanding issues," the prime minister designate said in November last year.

President Motlanthe highlighted that Mr Tsvangirai had again, as at the previous SADC summit, refused to co-manage the Home Affairs portfolio with the Zanu-PF.  The SADC secretariat, however, again decided that the Home Affairs portfolio would be co-managed by the two parties and then reviewed after six months of an inclusive government having been formed, Mr Motlanthe said. 

 Michael Appel, www.buanews.gov.za